Founder and Head Coach Departs After Leading Lions to CSL’s Top Division
By Noah Zimmerman | noah@queensledger.com
New York International FC founder and head coach Nick Platt has announced that he is stepping down from the position. Under his leadership, the Lions were able to rise through the CSL, coming within inches of promotion to the APSL.
“Whether as a player, manager, board member, club president, social media maestro, carpool captain, equipment supplier, or shoulder to lean on, Nick embodies the spirit of NYIFC better than anyone else,” the club said in their statement last week.
“When there was nobody to fill the head coach role two years ago, Nick said yes without hesitation. In what was meant to be an interim position, Nick instead led the club to the CSL Division 2 title, promotion to Division 1, back-to-back Kilby Cup victories, and a historic APSL playoff which had us on the brink of semi-professional football.”
To say his time at International was special is an understatement, from success on the field to his tremendous charitable work with the organization. In a CSL game this year, Platt was found wearing a pink tutu on the sidelines as he raised awareness for the club’s charity work with St. Baldrick’s Foundation to battle children’s cancer.
“The first Kilby Cup win was incredibly special. It reaffirmed my belief that the players I had were special and belonged with the very best in NYC,” Platt remarked about his most cherished moments with the club. “The first time I went to EVLovesNYC food bank and soup kitchen was special too. It has always been so important to me that we are community minded and this was a giant step forward in our goal as a club.”
Captain Aaron Forde remarked that Platt was his favorite coach to play under. “His man management is second to none and you can see how much the group respect and admire him,” he said. “He’s helped my progression as a player, I’ve played my best under him, and I can’t thank him enough for everything!”
It won’t be easy for the Lions to adjust to life without Nick on the sideline, though he’ll still suit up for the reserves. Forde is well aware of the looming challenge for their first team.
“The club will lose some great players but we’ll attract some great ones as we always do. That’s down to the culture and spirit Nick has built along with the rest of NYIFC’s management. I’m very happy that Nick is still going to be playing too, it means I won’t be the slowest on the playing squad,” the defender added with a chuckle.
