Cliff McCrath has been appointed as Technical Director for the Northwest Nationals Premier Soccer Club.

The NWN Board of Directors has directed McCrath, one of the most experienced and influential leaders of the Puget Sound soccer community, to lay the groundwork for the Club’s immediate future, including a search for a permanent Technical Director to begin later this spring.

“Cliff is a true treasure to this game, and he’s one of the reasons soccer has such a tradition of passion and success in the Seattle area,” said NWN president Dan Smart. “We believe Northwest Nationals is already among the top youth clubs, and with Cliff’s help, there is the ability to take it to a higher level still.”

McCrath is serving as Technical Director on an interim basis, and he is being directed to make assessments of all programs, in addition to all coaching personnel. Once the Board reviews his recommendations, McCrath will be asked to enact those plans and begin the search for a permanent Technical Director.

“NWN is one of the truly great clubs with a board of special people who possess great vision for the club and a refreshingly healthy philosophy of what should happen to the youth in the club,” said McCrath. McCrath had been serving NWN as an advisor since Dec. 10, and he will continue in that role through the 2009 season.

“I have been a fan of the NWN for some time now and have been fortunate to participate in their awards banquets and–more recently as an advisor/consultant–their deliberations,” McCrath said. “They have great parents, some very special players, are great people and, I believe, have a great future. I am honored to be associated with them.”

Since McCrath arrived in Seattle in 1970, his influence on the game’s growth has been immense. He guided Seattle Pacific University to five NCAA championships and a Division II record for wins during his 38 seasons. His expertise was tapped by the owners of the original Sounders in forming the region’s original professional franchise in 1974.

McCrath is the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee. More recently, he has served as Director/Liaison of Communications for the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA).

On Jan. 16, McCrath will be inducted into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame during the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis.