October 21, 2009
MOVING ON
Fisher resigns as Rough Riders coach

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Dan Fisher, who directed the Long Island Rough Riders into the playoffs for the first time in six years this past season, said Wednesday night that he had resigned as coach of the Premier Development League team.

Fisher said it was an amicable parting of the ways.

"It was very professional on both ends," Fisher said.

"I just want to clearly state that I had a very good working relationship with Flavio," he added, referring to Riders general manager Flavio Ferri.

"The club is definitely going in the right direction. I wish them luck in the future."

The 35-year-old Fisher said he decided to resign due to professional and family reasons.

"I am looking for another challenge," he said. "The direction I want to do is move up. We'll see what happens.

"right now, this is the best decision for myself and my family."

Fisher has been on the short list of coaching candidates for F.C. New York, which will join the United Soccer League First Division as an expansion team this spring.

"I have met with them," he said. "I have not been offered any position by the team. It's not the reason why I resigned from the club."

Under Fisher, the Rough Riders reached the post-season for the first time since 2003. The Riders finished 12-2-2 in the regulation, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Fisher credited assistant coach Paul Roderick for the team's success.

"We definitely had a very successful year," he said. "Every year I probably challenge myself harder than any other management group around.

Between the Rough Riders and the Brooklyn Knights, Fisher has been coaching in the PDL for six years.

PDL teams usually rely on local college teams to supply them with players and Fisher managed to keep the communication lines open with several schools on Long Island.

“It’s an interesting process,” he said. “You feel that you’re constantly challenged. . . . We really strived on the recruiting part. In the winter we looked at player video. We strived to make sure they [players] would fit into our system.

"It was a great working relationship with all of the Division I and II college coaches.”

Fisher coaches the Nassau Community College men's soccer team. The Lions (14-2) will play the Borough of Manhattan Community College in the first round of the Region XV junior college playoffs at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"Junior college is junior college," Fisher said. "You can go 16-0 during the regular season. You've got to win in the playoffs. That's where it counts."