Men's Soccer | August 15, 2023

MORROW, Ga. – Head Coach Pete Petersen announces his coaching staff for the 2023 season.  His staff includes four new additions and two familiar faces serving in different roles. Coach Petersen adds Assistant Coaches Jonathan Mercado and Ludvig Rhodin as well as Graduate Assistant Joel McIlroy and Director of Operations Stephen Agyemang.  Current coaches Jordan Davis and Jonny Evans return to the team in a Technical Advisor capacity. 
 
"This year we have two young fellas that have a lot of experience and have a lot of energy," said Petersen.  "The guys are picking up their vibes and gravitating toward them. It is good to see that there is not a huge learning curve with them coming in and they have not skipped a beat while working with our guys."
 

JONATHAN MERCADO
"Jonny Mercado has been in the youth scene in Atlanta for 10 years and has a history of working with nearly a third of the team and nearly half the team knows him," said Petersen. He coached our captain, Geo {Rios}, when he was younger. Our current coaches Jordan Davis and Jonny Evans as well as the women's coach Ross Henderson knows him and he will be a vital part to our team this season."
 
Coach Mercado, who has an exceptional coaching resume, comes to Clayton State from the club and high school level.  Mercado was an Assistant Coach for Providence Christian Academy, St. Pius X Catholic High School, and the Greater Atlanta Christian School.  Coach Mercado also held several leadership roles at the club level for the Gwinnett Soccer Academy (2013-18), TOCA Football (2016-20), Southern Soccer Academy (2021-23), and is most recently involved with the Concorde Fire Soccer Club. 
 
Mercado holds various certifications which includes a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Coaching "E", "D", and a National Youth License.  From 2009-13, Coach Mercado also had a successful playing career at Presbyterian College.  In his four years on the Blue Hose men's soccer team, Jonathan played in 60 matches, scored six goals, and tallied 15 total points.  He also added 52 shots and three assists.   Jonathan attended high school in Lilburn, Ga. at the Providence Christian Academy.  There, he won the team's Golden Boot award in 2009 with 16 goals as a senior and in 2007, he led his team to a second-place finish at the GHSAAA State A/AA Tournament. 
 

LUDVIG RHODIN
"Our goalkeeper coach Ludvig {Rhodin} is helping both the men and women this season," said Petersen.  "He is coming from a division II program, and he brings a lot of excellent experience.  He is an excellent trainer for goalkeepers and one of the best out there."
   
Coach Rhodin, who is a proven winner, arrives to Clayton State with NCAA Division I and II experience as well as at the club level.  Prior to Clayton State, Coach Rhodin was the Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at NCAA Division II Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV. during the 2022-23 season. That season, Ludvig was a part of a staff that led the Senators to a Sweet 16 appearance and a 16-3-1 record.  Before his time at Davis & Elkins, Coach Rhodin was a Graduate Assistant for the men's and women's soccer teams at Western Illinois University, where he was from 2020-22.  There, Ludvig coached the goalkeepers on both the men's and women's side.
 
Prior to Western Illinois, he started out his collegiate coaching career at the University of Incarnate Word where he was a Volunteer Assistant Coach from 2019-20.  There, he oversaw the goalkeepers.  Coach Rhodin began his soccer coaching career as a staff coach with the San Antonio Soccer Club.  He coached and mentored a pair of teams, and he was also a girls academy coach.  Rhodin also holds a variety of U.S. Soccer licenses which includes a license in Grassroots 4v4 in-person coaching, Grassroots 11v11 in-person coaching, and a National "D" license. Coach Ludvig will also bring a new insight to recruiting because of the relationships that he made from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Spain, Italy, and New Zealand to just name a few. 
 
Rhodin started his playing career as he suited up for the Helsingborgs IF in Sweden.  There, he played in a highly competitive Swedish league and was a starter from U15 to U19.  Ludvig played his collegiate soccer at the University of Mary from 2015-17.  As a Marauder, Rhodin played in goal in 44 matches, made 203 saves, and pitched seven shutouts. He was the captain of his team as a sophomore and as a junior.  Ludvig then transferred to play at Montana State University Billings from 2018-19.  In his one season as a Yellow Jacket, he started in goal for 18 matches, made 72 saves, and pitched a pair of shutouts. 
 

JOEL MCILROY
"Joel McIlroy is a graduate assistant and will also help out with practice and home games," said Petersen.  "He played here two years ago and knows half the team.  He was our defensive leader back in 2021.  It is great to have him too."
 
Coach McIlroy, who is a Clayton State Alumnus, comes back to his Alma Mater after starting his coaching career at Southern Nazarene University. Last season, the Crimson Storm went 12-6-3.  That season, Southern Nazarene won Great American Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
 
Prior to his coaching career, McIlroy had a successful playing career from 2017-21. McIlroy started his playing career at the University of Mary.  There, he played in 23 matches and knocked in five goals.  Additionally, Joel accumulated 10 points and attempted 31 shots.  McIlroy then transferred to Quincy University for the next two seasons.  In 32 matches, he scored a pair of goals and added an assist.  Joel then used his final season of eligibility to play for Coach Petersen at Clayton State.  In his one season as a Laker, McIlroy notched a pair of assists in 19 matches.
 

STEPHEN AGYEMANG
"Stephen is helping with gameday operations and practice logistics," said Petersen.  
Stephen, who is a senior at Clayton State, studying Psychology, also enters his first year as the Director of Operations.  Coach Petersen has tasked Agyemang to help with practice logistics and gameday management.  Stephen also works with the department as whole overseeing different aspects of facility and gameday management.   
 


JONNY EVANS & JORDAN DAVIS
"Coach Davis and Coach Evans are still on our staff as technical advisors," said Petersen.  "They are still part of the gameday and practice sessions. Jordan was our top assistant two years ago while Jonny took over that position last year.  He both have great soccer IQs, and they will be a vital part of our staff this season."
 
Coach Petersen returns Jordan Davis and Jonny Evans for their first season serving as Technical Advisors. Last season, both Davis and Evans served as Assistant Coaches.  Davis was an Assistant Coach on Coach Petersen's staff from 2009-14 before returning in August of 2021. Jordan, during his time away from Clayton State, served as an assistant at Columbus State and worked with various clubs.  Coach Davis played collegiately at Georgia State and Charleston Southern University while suiting up professionally for the Atlanta Silverbacks in the NASL and the Georgia Revolution out of the NPSL. 
 
A mainstay at Clayton State since he was a player, Jonny Evans goes into his first year as a Technical Advisor and he is going into his third year on Petersen's staff.  Coach Evans has many great experiences coaching club teams including the Concorde Fire Soccer Club and the Atlanta United Developmental Club.  He also holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "C" Coaching License.  During his playing career, which spanned from 2012-15, he played in 65 matches netting seven goals, notching 17 assists, and tallying 31 points.  In addition, he attempted 81 shots, and was a 2x PBC All-Conference and All-Tournament selection. 
 
Prior to his playing career at Clayton State, Evans played on the Hartlepool United FC Academy and on the Gateshead FC U19's and U21's teams.  He also represented England Schoolboys and England Colleges at U18.  Evans also played professionally for the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2013 and with Peachtree City MOBA.
 
WHAT'S NEXT? 
The Lakers open their 2023 season hosting the 15^th Annual Laker Loch-In Tournament on Thursday, August 31^st and Saturday, September 2^nd. Coach Petersen's squad will open play on Thursday against Catawba before hosting Montevallo on Saturday.  Both matches are slated to kickoff at 7 p.m. at Laker Field.   
 
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