Coaching Changes: Chris Flaherty, Elisee Joseph Join Staples Staff
Some familiar faces will be missing from the Staples soccer sideline this fall.
Longtime freshman coach Chris O’Dell has stepped down, as his O Living Experience business responsibilities have grown. Reserves coach Reilly Lynch is getting married, and has moved to Boston.
Their places will be taken by a pair of experienced coaches, who are eager to join the Wrecker program.
Chris Flaherty is the new reserves coach. A member of the University of Bridgeport women’s staff — where he helped win a Division II national championship in 2018 — Chris has also won state championships with the Westhill girls program, and reached the state final with the Darien boys.
A Liverpool, England native who holds Level 1 and 2 badges from the English Football Association, and an Advanced National Diploma from United Soccer Coaches, Chris is a graduate of Mitchell College. He was a 2-time captain at the New London school, earning national 1st and 2nd team All-America honors.
Chris currently coaches for CFC. He owns the Kickerz Soccer Coaching company and is a director for FC New England, a summer program taking players to the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
Chris and his wife Elizabeth live in Trumbull.
Elisee Joseph takes the freshman team reins. He was a 3-year starter at Stamford High School and 4-year starter at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he helped win a North Atlantic Conference championship, and graduated with a major in business management and a minor in marketing.
Elisee served as varsity assistant at King Low Heywood School in Stamford and at New Canaan High School, where the boys team won the state title in 2010.
He holds a US Soccer coaching license, and has worked with the MKS organization since 2011. Elisee is well known for training and mentoring players through private sessions year round.
“These are great hires,” says head coach Dan Woog. “Nearly every soccer player in Westport knows and loves Elisee. And they will very quickly get to know and love Chris.
“They both are passionate about the game. They play it at a high level, they teach it well, and most importantly, they understand the Staples soccer program. They are ready to challenge players to be the best they can be, on and off the field; to set high standards, and to grow and have fun trying to reach them. They can’t wait to get started, and neither can I.”
Chris Flaherty
Elisee Joseph
