| Remco de Jong |
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Remco de Jong enters his fourth season with the University of Memphis men's soccer team as the volunteer goalkeeping coach. De Jong has helped the U of M goalkeepers become some of the best in the league.
Under de Jong, former U of M keeper Tyler Strom had the lowest goals against average in the conference in 2007 with 0.92 and had the third best save percentage with .791. Strom's 1.17 career GAA also ranks second all-time at Memphis.
"Remco is a product of one of the best programs in the world, so he brings a great deal of expertise to that position," said head coach Richie Grant. "He's very committed to improving our young keepers.
De Jong has been responsible for goalkeeper Michael Goodlett's development during his time at the U of M. The Memphis men's soccer team has high expectations of Goodlett following a solid spring. Head coach Richie Grant credits de Jong for helping Goodlett make progress toward becoming one of the top goalkeepers in the C-USA. In addition to Goodlett, de Jong will be working with three incoming goalkeepers in 2008.
A native of Amsterdam, de Jong started playing soccer at Ajax in the Netherlands when he was 10-years-old. As a goalkeeper with Ajax, he played with John van het Schip, Stanly Menzo, and Marco van Basten, who coached the Dutch National team to a Round of 16 appearance at the 2006 World Cup. In Holland, he coached the amateur club RKAVIC from 1996-2000. He came to the US in 2001 where he began coaching goalkeepers with the West Tennessee Futbol Club Dragons. He is currently in his seventh year with the club that just recently merged with the Tennessee Rush Soccer Club.
De Jong's U-18 team, coached by three-time European Cup champion Johan Cruyff, won the Netherlands National Championship in 1981-82. His Ajax 3 team also won the national championship in 1985-86 and was a regional champion from 1985-88.
De Jong is married to Angela de Jong-Angelici, a freelance writer/producer and karate instructor in Bartlett. The couple has two children: daughter Alyssa and a son Luca.
