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Professional Soccer Player Jon Akin Joins
Oglethorpe University
Atlanta – Jon Akin, professional soccer player for the Atlanta
Silverbacks, was recently hired as Oglethorpe University Head Soccer
Coach for both the Men’s and Women’s teams. Gilbert Jean-Baptiste,
also a professional soccer player for the Atlanta Silverbacks, was
hired as assistant coach for the Men’s and Women’s teams. Oglethorpe
University is believed to be the only college to have current
professional players as coaches.
While at Oglethorpe, Akin plans to improve soccer facilities and
concentrate on targeted recruiting. “This is a great coaching
opportunity for me because I know Oglethorpe’s soccer teams have the
ability to become nationally competitive,” said Akin. “The team will
be managed like a professional team; except for students will get
the great academic programs and the fun of college life at
Oglethorpe.”
Oglethorpe Men’s and Women’s soccer teams both finished out the
2002 fall season 2-7.
Akin was first drafted by The Charleston Battery in the first
round of the A-League draft. In 2000, Akin played in all 32 games
for the Battery, who lost in the second round of the playoffs to the
eventual champs, Rochester Raging Rhinos. During the 2000
off-season, Akin played with Kilkinney City of The Irish Premier
League.
In 1995, Akin attended Saint Leo University as a freshman and was
named first team All-Conference and All-South. In 1996, Akin scored
28 goals and had 16 assists to lead the nation in scoring. He was
All-American, All-South, and All-Sunshine State Conference Player of
the Year. In 1997, Akin was First-Team All-American, All-South, and
All-Sunshine State Conference. In 1998, he ended his career at Saint
Leo finishing second all-time in career goals with 61 and first time
in assists with 45. In 1998, Jon spent three months with
Independiente of the Argentinian 1st Division.
Prior to joining the Atlanta Silverbacks, Gilbert Jean-Baptiste
spent three seasons with the Charleston Battery competing and 89
matches and recording 6 goals and 2 assists. He was named the
A-League Defender of the Year in 2000 and in 1999 he was named to
the A-League Second Team and earned Battery Rookie of the Year.
Jean-Baptiste turned professional after graduating from Southern
Connecticut State University.
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