Colin Clarke, head coach

Colin Clarke enters his second season as head coach of the Carolina RailHawks after being appointed to the position on December 6, 2011.  Prior to joining the RailHawks for the 2012 NASL Season, Clarke enjoyed successful seasons with league rival the Puerto Rico Islanders and FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.  After a successful professional and international playing career, Clarke was hired to his first head coaching job with the Richmond Kickers by then Kickers General Manager and current RailHawks’ President Curt Johnson in 1998.  In his first season, Clarke led the RailHawks to a fourth place league finish accompanied by a run to the NASL Semifinals and a historic run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup highlighted by a victory over the 2011 and 2012 MLS Champion, LA Galaxy.

Over his two seasons in charge, Clarke led the Kickers to a 38 - 18 record.  During the 2003 Major League Soccer season, Clarke took over as head coach of the Dallas Burn (later named FC Dallas) and turned around the club’s fortunes, leading the club to a Western Conference first place finish in 2006.  In 2007 Clarke joined the Puerto Rico Islanders. His tenure in Puerto Rico was highlighted by a league regular season championship in 2008 and a historic run to the semifinals of the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League before losing to Cruz Azul in a penalty kick shootout.  For his accomplishments over the course of the 2008 season, Clarke was named the league’s Coach of the Year.  In 2010, Clarke’s Islanders made headlines in Champions League play once again when they defeated the LA Galaxy 4 – 1 at the Home Depot Center.  Following their Champions League success, the Islanders went on to defeat the RailHawks in the USSF-D2 Pro League Championship Final.  Clarke left his tenure with the Islanders with a league regular season championship (2008), a league championship (2010), two CFU Club Championships (2010, 2011), and five consecutive playoff berths (2007-2011).

Prior to coaching, Clarke established himself as one of the top players from Northern Ireland representing the country in the 1986 World Cup and experiencing a twelve-year playing career in England.  Clarke began his playing career with Peterborough United of the Football League Fourth Division in 1981 and quickly ascended to England’s First Division spending time with Southampton, Queens Park Rangers, and Portsmouth until a knee injury ended his playing career.  Appearing 38 times for the Northern Ireland National Team, Clarke recorded a World Cup goal, a hat-trick, and finished his career as the all-time leading goal scorer for Northern Ireland (13).  Clarke finished his professional career with 147 goals in 436 matches.

Dewan Bader, assistant coach

Bader enters his fourth season as an assistant with the RailHawks, and he will also serve as the head coach for the club’s under-23 team.

Bader is the director of coaching for the Triangle Futbol Club. With TFC, Bader oversees all programs in the 60-team organization. He sets the age-appropriate curriculum, conducts training sessions for teams throughout the club and conducts educational clinics for the club and other local organizations.  

In 2011, Bader guided the Carolina RailHawks U-23's to the USASA Men's U-23 Region III Championship and National Championship. Once again in 2012, Bader led the U-23's to the U-23 Region III Championship.  Over his four year tenture leading the U-23 program, Bader has coached and developed over 20 players that have gone on to play professionally; advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 Premier Development League; and in 2008 led the U-23's to a 2-1 victory over the English club Burnley, which went on to win promotion to the English Premier League later that season.

Bader played at N.C. State from 1989-93, where he helped the Wolfpack win the 1990 ACC championship and reach that year’s College Cup. He went on to play for professionally, indoors and outdoors, until 2004. Bader was a part of three indoor championship teams in Cleveland and Baltimore, and he also played for the Raleigh Flyers, Richmond Kickers and Wilmington Hammerheads. And he was a member of the U.S. National Futsal Team from 2000-04.