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Rick Titus (soccer)

Rick Wayne Titus (born 10 March 1969) is a Canadian-born Trinidadian soccer coach and former professional player. He played as a defender. He is the former head coach of the Masters FA League 1 team after winning a championship in 2019, and University of Toronto Mississauga soccer team. Born with Indigenous ancestry, he announced he will be changing his name to Netshetep Ma'at, which is an Ancient Egyptian Order name as well as Songan Ohitekha Tawa El (which means Strong Brave Sun), an Indigenous Appellation name.[1]

Rick Titus
Titus in 2019
Personal information
Full name Rick Wayne Titus
Date of birth (1969-03-10) 10 March 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
North Mississauga SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Toronto Varsity Blues
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1995 Toronto Italia
1995 Scarborough Astros 8 (0)
1996 St. Catharines Wolves 9 (0)
1996–1997 Toronto Shooting Stars (indoor) 20 (12)
1996–1997 Edmonton Drillers (indoor) 13 (4)
1997–1998 Toronto Lynx 49 (1)
1997–1998 Montreal Impact (indoor) 17 (2)
1997–1998 Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) 15 (7)
1998 Edmonton Drillers (indoor) 11 (2)
1998–1999 Quan Li
1999 Philadelphia KiXX (indoor) 14 (3)
1999 Hershey Wildcats 17 (0)
1999 Staten Island Vipers 11 (0)
1999–2000 Edmonton Drillers (indoor) 48 (29)
2000–2001 Buffalo Blizzard (indoor)
2000–2001 Vancouver 86ers/Whitecaps 44 (1)
2000 → Toronto Olympians (loan) 1 (0)
2002 Colorado Rapids 25 (0)
2003 Charleston Battery 15 (0)
2004 Edmonton Aviators 6 (0)
2004 Toronto Lynx 1 (0)
2004 Charleston Battery 12 (0)
2005–2008 Toronto Lynx 61 (0)
2008 → Toronto FC (loan) 1 (0)
2008–2010 Italia/York Region Shooters 45 (1)
International career
2002 Trinidad and Tobago 4 (0)
Managerial career
2005–2015 North Mississauga SC
2016–2017 UTM Eagles
2017– Master's Futbol
2017–2019 Caribbean Stars AC (indoor)
2019 Mississauga MetroStars (indoor)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Throughout his playing career he competed in all levels of the American and Canadian soccer pyramid system. Originally beginning in his native country in the National Soccer League, soon after to the USL A-League, and eventually reaching the highest level of soccer in North America with the Major League Soccer. After reaching the MLS, he would shift between various United Soccer Leagues clubs, until returning to the MLS on a loan deal and appeared in a single match at the age of 39. He would concluded his outdoor career in the USL Premier Development League and Canadian Soccer League. Titus also competed in indoor soccer with various clubs in the National Professional Soccer League, and played at the international level with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team.

After his retirement from competitive soccer he made the transition to the managerial side. He received his first experience in coaching as a player/assistant coach for the Toronto Lynx in the PDL in 2007. He later joined the TFC Academy managerial staff as the U14 head coach, and subsequently began coaching in League1 Ontario initially with North Mississauga SC.

Playing career

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Early years: 1986–1996

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After playing college soccer with the University of Toronto he signed with the Toronto Blizzard, but due to shortage of funds he ended up playing his youth soccer after three months; he then signed for the Toronto Italia in 1988 of the National Soccer League playing with Italia until 1995.[2][3] In 1995, midway through the season he was traded to the Scarborough Astros.[4] During his tenure in Scarborough he helped the club reach the Umbro Cup finals against St. Catharines Wolves, but lost the penalty shootout by a score of 3–0.[5] In 1996, Titus signed with St. Catharines Wolves where he claimed the Umbro cup by finishing first in the cup standings. He featured in the two game finals match against his former club Toronto Italia, but were defeated by a score of 11–0 goals on aggregate.[6]

He began playing indoor soccer in 1996 in the National Professional Soccer League with the Toronto Shooting Stars.[7] During the season he was traded to the Edmonton Drillers, where he would eventually have a noted tenure by playing three separate seasons with the organization.[8][9] Where he became a league all star in the 1999–2000 season, but later was selected by the Buffalo Blizzard in the dispersal draft after the folding of Edmonton.[10] However the Blizzard would fold at the end of the season and the Milwaukee Wave selected Titus in the August 2001 dispersal draft.[11]

USL A-League: 1997–2001

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In the spring of 1997 he signed for the newly established Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League.[12] In his two-year stint he was named the 1997 and 1998 Lynx Defensive Player of the Year. In the winter off season he continued to playing the NPSL with the Montreal Impact in 1997, and was later traded to the Buffalo Blizzard.[13]

In 1998, he went overseas to play for Quan Li, a team managed by former Lynx teammate Gong Lei in China.[14] After a brief stint abroad he returned to the NPSL to play with Philadelphia KiXX for the 1998–1999 indoor season. Titus moved to the Hershey Wildcats for the 1999 A-League season, but was traded midway through the season to Staten Island Vipers for cash and a first round draft pick.[15] On June 13, 2000, Titus signed for the Vancouver 86er, where he was named Vancouver's 2000 Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All A-League.[16][17][18] In 2001, he was named the A-League Defender of the Year and First Team All A-League.[19]

When the 2000 A-League season came to a conclusion he was loaned out to the Toronto Olympians in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.[20] He made his debut for the club in the Open Canada Cup semi-final match against the Toronto Croatia, which resulted in 3–2 victory for the club in penalties.[21] He appeared in the Open Cup tournament final against his former club St. Catharines, and won the cup in a 1–0 victory.[22] In the postseason he scored the lone goal in the semi-final match against Glen Shields, which advanced Toronto to the finals.[23] In the finals the Olympians where defeated by Toronto Croatia by a score of 2–1.[24][25]

MLS and USL First Division: 2002–2006

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This brought Titus to the attention of Major League Soccer scouts and he signed with the Colorado Rapids as a Discovery Player for the 2002 season. He started all 25 games in which he played, and at the end of the season he was awarded the ADT Defensive Player of the Year award.[26] The Rapids put him on waivers in October 2002. On March 12, 2003, Titus signed a two-year contract with the Charleston Battery, helping them win the 2003 USL A-League Championship.[27] At the end of the season he requested a release from his contract to join the Edmonton Aviators, and signed a three-year contract.[28][29]

Shortly into the season he was released from his contract, and on June 19, 2004, he returned to the Toronto Lynx.[30] After less than a week with the Lynx, he fell out with the management which led his release from his contract by mutual consent on July 7.[31] He then rejoined the Charleston Battery for the remainder of the season.[32] The following season he returned to the Lynx for a third playing stint.[33] In 2006, Titus became team vice-captain, and featured in the Open Canada Cup final against Ottawa St. Anthony Italia.[34] At the conclusion of the season he was named the 2006 Toronto Lynx Most Valuable Player, and was a four-time member of the United Soccer League's team of the week.[35][36]

PDL and CSL: 2007–2010

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Rick Titus wins CSL Defender of the Year in 2010

When the 2006 season ended the Lynx organization decided for financial reasons to drop two divisions to the Premier Development League.[37] Titus was one of few seniors players to remain with the Lynx for the 2007 season, where he was named player/assistant coach for Toronto.[38] In 2008, Titus helped the Lynx reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000, but unfortunately for the Lynx, the Cleveland Internationals scored a late winner to take the game 2–1, sending the Lynx home early.[39]

In 2008, he went on loan to Toronto FC for one game against Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.[40] This was due to Toronto missing nine first-team players due to international duty, and in order to protect his amateur status he was unpaid for his Toronto FC appearance.[41] After the conclusion of the PDL season he returned to the Canadian Soccer League and signed with the York Region Shooters.[42] During his tenure with York Region he helped clinch the International Division title in 2008, and the regular season title in 2010. He was awarded the CSL Defender of the Year award in 2010.[43][44]

International career

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He made his international debut for the Trinidad and Tobago national team on November 15, 2002, against St. Kitts and Nevis national football team in the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification.[45] He later appeared in four Gold Cup qualifier matches in 2002.

Managerial career

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In 2012 Rick Titus would coach the 98 boys youth team at North Mississauga Soccer Club. The team would go on to win the Ontario Cup and eventually the Canadian National Championship. Also, the 98 boys would also be named the number one sports team at the Mississauga Sports Council banquet. In 2007, he gained his first experience in managing at a professional club as an assistant coach for the Toronto Lynx in the USL Premier Development League under Duncan Wilde.[38] He later was appointed the head coach for the TFC Academy U14 team, and also a regional scout for the Mississauga/Brampton region.[46][47] In 2016, he became the head coach for North Mississauga SC in League1 Ontario, and was named the head coach for the University of Toronto Mississauga men's team.[48][49] In 2017, he was appointed the head coach for Masters FA Saints.[50] In the 2017 winter season he was appointed head coach for Caribbean Stars AC in the Arena Premier League.[51] During the 2021 League 1 Ontario season Titus received a year suspension due to an off-field altercation with match officials.

In 2019, he replaced Phil Ionadi as head coach for the Mississauga MetroStars in the Major Arena Soccer League.[52] In 2019, he would go on to win the League 1 Ontario Championship with Masters FA In 2021, he would go on to the semi-finals of the League 1 Ontario Championship, losing to the eventual 2021 Champions from Guelph

References

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  1. ^ "Indigenous Roots - Red Reflections with former Toronto FC player Rick Titus". Toronto FC. YouTube. 21 June 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Charleston Battery". 7 July 2003. Archived from the original on 7 July 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. ^ Da Costa, Norman (5 June 1989). "Benfica showdown puts Italia on the map". Toronto Star. p. D8.
  4. ^ "North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. ^ Glover, Robin. "Cup Playoffs". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. ^ Glover, Robin (27 October 1996). "Here are the results of the CNSL game of Sunday October 27, 1996 between Toronto Italia and St Catharines Wolves played at Rainbow Creek Stadium in Woodbridge at 5:00pm. This was the 2nd Leg in the two game final of the Playoff Championship". Rocket Robin's Home Page.
  7. ^ "Rick Titus Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. ^ Massey, Benjamin. "Return of the Edmonton Drillers Part One: History". Eighty Six Forever. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Drillers' Roster 2000/2001". Angelfire. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ Dispersal draft draws final curtain on Drillers
  11. ^ "Misl Holds Dispersal Draft". Oursportscentral.com. 20 August 2001. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  12. ^ Hendren, Paul. "Lynx Claw Rhinos". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Rick Titus | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  14. ^ "December 18, 1998 Transactions". The New York Times. 17 December 1998. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Charleston Battery". 24 June 2003. Archived from the original on 24 June 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. ^ Courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps. "Rick Titus To Return...popular All-Star defender is back after playing every minute of every game since joining Vancouver". A-League.com. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  17. ^ "A-League 2001 Season". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  18. ^ Davidson, Neil. "Lynx host Whitecaps in A-League | CBC Sports". CBC. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  19. ^ "2001 A-League Awards". Charlestonbattery.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  20. ^ "Toronto Olympians Team Roster 2000". Archived from the original on May 29, 2001.
  21. ^ "Olympians advance on penalties/Roma Wolves Dominate the Sun Devils". Rocket Robin's Home Page. CPSL press release. 23 September 2000.
  22. ^ Glover, Robin (24 September 2000). "CPSL game between Toronto Olympians and St Catharines Roma Wolves played at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough at 3:00pm. This was the League Cup Final". Rocket Robin's Home Page.
  23. ^ Kippen, Steve (1 October 2000). ".Olympians, Croatia reach final". Rocket Robin's Home Page. London Free Press.
  24. ^ Glover, Robin (1 October 2000). "CPSL game between Toronto Olympians and Toronto Croatia played at Cove Road Field in London at 3:15pm. This was the Playoff Tournament Final". Rocket Robin's Home Page.
  25. ^ Rumleski, Kathy. "LFP Sports: Croatia bags Primus Cup by upsetting Olympians". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. London Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Rick Titus - MLSsoccer.com".
  27. ^ "A-LEAGUE PREVIEW: Eastern Conference". www.socceramerica.com. 16 April 2003. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  28. ^ Titus Returns To Edmonton Archived October 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "A-League 2004 Season". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  30. ^ Nutt, David. "Titus Coming Back To Toronto!". 22066.vws.magma.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  31. ^ Nutt, David. "Titus Released". 22066.vws.magma.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  32. ^ "Charleston Battery". 16 December 2004. Archived from the original on 16 December 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  33. ^ Nutt, Dave. "Lynx Re-Sign Core Players". 22066.vws.magma.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  34. ^ Glover, Robin. "September 24, 2006 Open Canada Cup final Toronto Lynx vs Ottawa St Anthony's Italia (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  35. ^ Irwin, Rob. "September 12, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx season wrap up (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  36. ^ Irwin, Rob. "September 10, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx vs Minnesota Thunder (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  37. ^ Ryan, Allan. "October 13, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx drop to PDL league for 2007 (from Toronto Star/Waymoresports)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  38. ^ a b Irwin, Rob. "June 14, 2007 PDL Jamie Fairweather Toronto Lynx named PDL Player of the Week (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  39. ^ Irwin, Rob. "July 23, 2008 PDL Cleveland Internationals vs Toronto Lynx playoffs (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  40. ^ Millson, Larry (8 September 2008). "Titus's soccer odyssey runs through Toronto FC". Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  41. ^ Morgan Campbell (8 July 2008). "Delicate patchwork disintegrates on TFC". Toronto Star. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  42. ^ "Canadian Soccer League". 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  43. ^ Glover, Robin. "October 31, 2010 CSL Finals—Award Winners (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  44. ^ "October 31, 2010 CSL Final—Hamilton Croatia vs Brantford Galaxy (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  45. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Rick Titus". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  46. ^ "Academy Staff | Toronto FC". 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  47. ^ "Academy Starts Five-Month Pilot Project". torontofc.com.
  48. ^ Colpitts, Iain (27 April 2016). "League1 soccer season begins for Peel clubs". Mississauga.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  49. ^ "RICK TITUS TO TAKE OVER UTM'S OCAA MEN'S VARSITY SOCCER TEAMS". Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  50. ^ staff, League1 Ontario (27 April 2018). "Match Preview: Aurora FC v Masters FA Saints". League1 Ontario. Retrieved 5 August 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ "Caribbean Stars AC – APL". apl.teamsnapsites.com. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  52. ^ Davidson, Neil. "Mississauga MetroStars fire head coach/GM after lengthy losing run". Bridge River Lillooet News. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
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