Crook and Henderson named Academy Assistant Coaches

Former professional players Bill Crook and Sean Henderson will be assistant coaches for the Sounders FC Youth Academy. Crook will be an assistant for the U16 boys team and Henderson will assist with the U18 team.

RENTON, WASH. - The Seattle Sounders FC today named former professional players Bill Crook and Sean Henderson as assistant coaches for the Sounders FC Youth Academy. Crook will be an assistant for the U16 boys team and Henderson will assist with the U18 team. Dick McCormick is the Manager/Head Coach of the two academy teams.

"It's exciting to add two quality coaches and two quality people to the Sounders FC Academy," said Darren Sawatzky, Sounders FC director of youth development. "Both Billy and Sean have strong roots in Sounders history. They are established in the youth soccer community and we look forward to the start of team training."

Crook, 45, played 18 years in the pro ranks, beginning with the original NASL Sounders in 1983. He played the bulk of his indoor soccer career with the Tacoma Stars (1984-93) and was a member of the CISL champion Seattle SeaDogs in 1997. Most recently, Crook, a Kent, Wash., native, was coaching the Washington Premier Academy and Washington Premier U18 girls.

Henderson, 37, was a two-time prep All-American at Everett's Cascade High School. He later was an NCAA champion and All-American at UCLA under Sigi Schmid. Henderson represented the U.S. at the U16, U18 and U20 national team level.

He played professionally in Germany and in the U.S. with Colorado (MLS) and Seattle (USL-1). Henderson began his youth coaching career in 1999 and most recently served as a coach for Crossfire Premier since 2005.