Soccer Adds Indy Eleven Star Eamon Zayed as Volunteer Assistant

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Accomplished professional and national team player Eamon Zayed, currently starring for Indy Eleven, has joined the Ball State soccer coaching staff as a volunteer assistant.

Zayed is entering his second season with Indy Eleven of the North American Soccer League (NASL) after leading his team to the league's championship game last season. He will utilize his free time from his club obligations to help coach the Cardinals.

The Dublin, Ireland, native was named to the NASL's Best XI list last year after setting his club's record with 15 goals, including a pair of hat tricks, and adding six assists. He helped Indy Eleven win the league's 2016 spring season championship.

"We are very excited for Eamon to join us," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "He brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience, having played at the national team and professional levels for many years. He will be of particular help to our forwards with his insight into finishing techniques and will provide another resource for our players to receive the highest level of coaching possible."

Zayed has scored more than 150 goals in his 16-year professional career spanning time in Ireland, Iran, Malaysia and now the United States. Three of those goals came in a 10-minute span for Persepolis in Iran's 2012 Tehran Derby, leading to his selection as the Goal.com World Player of the Week.

One season earlier, Zayed was named the League of Ireland Player of the Year after scoring 23 goals and leading Derry City to the European championships.

Zayed got his start with the youth academy for Premier League side Leicester City in England and then began his professional career with Bray Wanderers AFC in Ireland. He earned youth international experience with the Republic of Ireland and later declared for Libya's national team.

"I am delighted to be joining such a successful program and to have the opportunity to work under one of the best college women's soccer coaches in the country in Craig Roberts," Zayed said.

"I am here to do two things. One is to learn and enhance my knowledge of coaching at the university level here in America. And two is to pass on to the program at Ball State my expertise and soccer I.Q. gained from 16 years of playing at a high level in various soccer cultures around the world."

Zayed, who owns a UEFA B coaching license, joins the staff of a Ball State program that has won back-to-back Mid-American Conference regular season championships. The Cardinals went 14-3-3 (10-1-0 MAC) last season and reached the program's all-time high of No. 40 in the NCAA RPI.

Ball State is currently in the middle of its spring schedule and will begin its traditional fall campaign in August, seeking another championship run.

Soccer Adds Indy Eleven Star Eamon Zayed as Volunteer Assistant

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