Just weeks after naming Australian Leah Blayney as team head coach, the Calgary Wild FC have recruited more bench talent from down under.
The Calgary Wild FC have added coach Kory Babington to their existing coaching staff. With him, the Australian brings professional and international experience to Calgary, with more than a decade of coaching high-performance clubs in both the men’s and women’s game under his belt, according to a team-issued statement.
“The chance to work professionally abroad for a club that is serious about its women’s team, invests heavily in its program and competes in a league with huge potential was an opportunity I had to explore,” Babington said in the statement.
“I’ve enjoyed a long professional relationship with Leah, and the opportunity to work alongside her again is incredibly exciting. She is one of the most highly regarded coaches in the game, and I’m looking forward to helping build something special here in Calgary.”
According to the team, Babington and Blayney have worked together since 2015 across several elite Australian football programs, playing key roles in developing many of the country’s top male and female players.
“Kory is an excellent signing for us and will complement an already strong coaching staff,” Blayney said in a statement.
“We’ve worked together for many years across a number of elite programs and national team environments. He is not only a high-quality coach but also an incredible person. Bringing someone of Kory’s calibre to Calgary is a massive coup for both our Club and me as we continue building this program.”
After the team’s loss on Wednesday, Blayney said that any new additions to the organization, whether players or otherwise, are with the team for the long run.
The Wild, who are the NSL’s only remaining team without a win this season, will return to the pitch on July 28 in Toronto and return to McMahon Stadium on August 1.
