John Wolyniec

John Wolyniec (born January 24, 1977) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of USL Championship side New York Red Bulls II.

During his playing days, Wolyniec played for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls three separate times: In 1999 as the MetroStars, from 2003 to 2005 as the MetroStars, and from 2006 until he retired in 2010. He also played for MLS clubs Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, and Los Angeles Galaxy. He also played for USL A-League clubs Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Milwaukee Rampage, winning titles with them in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Wolyniec also represented the United States national team in 2004, earning two caps.

After retiring as a player, Wolyniec was appointed head coach of New York Red Bulls II, the reserve side for the New York Red Bulls. In his second season as head coach, Wolyniec guided Red Bulls II to both the regular season and championship titles.

Playing career

Youth and amateur

Wolyniec is native of Staten Island, New York City and attended Monsignor Farrell High School before playing four years of college soccer at Fordham University, where he led the nation in goals in 1998.

Professional

Wolyniec was drafted by the MetroStars as the seventh–pick overall in the 1999 MLS College Draft. However, despite being a high pick, he was cut before playing any games. Wolyniec then signed with the Long Island Rough Riders of the A-League and led the team in goals. In the midst of the worst season in league history, the MetroStars called him up for a late-season stretch and he promptly scored in his first game with the team.

In 2000, the Chicago Fire re-drafted Wolyniec with the 44th overall pick of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. That season, the Fire sent him on loan with the MLS Project-40 and the Milwaukee Rampage where he scored three goals in four games. Back with the Fire, he scored just one goal all year, and, after scoring one early in 2001, was traded to the New England Revolution for Eric Wynalda. Wolyniec was cut after he playing one game. He spent the next two years in the A-League, with the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 2001 and with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002. He was named league MVP during his time with the Rampage.

In 2003, then MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley re-acquired Wolyniec in the MLS Supplemental Draft. Wolyniec came into his own during his second stint with the team, scoring a number of key goals, including two overtime game-winners and a late winner in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals against D.C. United. He finished the year with five MLS goals (seven in all competitions).

On May 26, 2004 Wolyniec scored two goals and assisted on another in a 3-1 victory over Boavista F.C. of the Portuguese Liga. Even as the team signed a trio of foreign strikers in 2004, he kept his starting place, scored ten goals to tie for the team lead, and began to mature into a team leader. But after scoring two goals in eight games in 2005, he was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for prolific scorer Ante Razov.

After scoring three goals for the Crew, Wolyniec was dealt in May 2006 to Los Angeles Galaxy in a four-player deal. In August, he was traded again, joining New York Red Bulls for his third stint with the club formerly known as MetroStars.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw Wolyniec primarily as a reserve player for New York, managing to score 3 goals in 21 appearances in 2007 and being held scoreless in 19 regular season appearances in 2008. With the Red Bulls barely qualifying for the 2008 MLS Playoffs, Coach Juan Carlos Osorio surprisingly inserted Wolyniec into the starting lineup for the club's first leg match against the defending champion Houston Dynamo, Wolyniec would assist on Juan Pablo Angel's goal in a match that ended 1-1. With New York needing a victory to advance out of the first round for the second time in team history, Osorio repeated the same lineup that drew 1-1. Wolyniec was again a key figure scoring the third goal in a 3-0 rout of Houston in Robertson Stadium. Wolyniec continued his fine play in the Western Conference Final, helping set up the Red Bulls' lone goal in the 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, and thus advancing to the club's first ever MLS Cup Final. In the MLS Cup Final, Wolyniec scored the Red Bulls lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew. During the 2009 season Wolyniec was the only New York player to score in all competitions that the club participated in (League, US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League). On May 12, 2010 Wolyniec had his first multi-goal game for the New York Red Bulls scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory over New England Revolution in a 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification match. On May 26, 2010 Wolyniec recorded another two goals in a 3-0 victory over Colorado Rapids leading the club to the Round of 16 of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Wolyniec was waived by New York on July 30, 2010 to make room on the roster for new signing Thierry Henry. On September 9, 2010, Wolyniec announced his retirement from professional soccer in order to take a position in the Red Bull Academy. Wolyniec ended his Red Bulls career beloved by supporters and ranks among the all-time club leaders in games played. On February 15, 2013 was promoted to Reserve Team Coach/Player Development Coordinator by the club.

International

Wolyniec earned a call-up to the U.S. national team in 2004, getting his first cap against Denmark on January 18, 2004. He earned a total of two caps.

Coaching career

New York Red Bulls II

Wolyniec was appointed as the inaugural head coach of New York Red Bulls II on March 2, 2015. His first match as head coach was against his former club as a player, Rochester Rhinos, on March 28. The match ended as a 0–0 draw. In 2016, in his second season as head coach, Wolyniec lead New York Red Bulls II to both the regular season and championship titles.

Statistics

Honors

Player

Chicago Fire

• U.S. Open Cup: 2000

Rochester Raging Rhinos

• USL A-League: 2001

Milwaukee Rampage

• USL A-League: 2002

Head coach

New York Red Bulls II

• USL Championship: 2016

Individual

• 2016 USL Coach of the Year