Former RailHawks defender Caleb Norkus is returning to the organization to help coordinate the club’s youth initiatives and community outreach activities, the team announced Friday.
Norkus, who played for the RailHawks from 2007-2010, will serve as the club’s Youth Soccer Ambassador and Manager of Community Outreach. He will also serve as an assistant coach on Martin Rennie’s staff.
“I have always enjoyed working with Caleb and I’m glad he’s still going to be involved with the RailHawks,” Rennie said. “He has been a key part of the club’s success since it started, and he’ll be a major contributor to our success in the future.”
Norkus was an active participant in the RailHawks’ community efforts during his playing career, and President Curt Johnson sees his return to the club as another enhancement to the organization’s already strong community presence. The RailHawks currently have more than 200 community appearances on the schedule for the 2011 season. Norkus, who is bilingual, will also serve as a liaison to the Triangle’s Hispanic community.
“Caleb distinguished himself during his RailHawks career both on and off the field,” Johnson said. “He has been a fan favorite for many years and has done a tremendous amount of work in the community in support of the RailHawks and the Triangle’s youth. This, combined with the fact that he is a hometown boy who grew up playing youth soccer here in the Triangle, positions him well to work as a RailHawks youth soccer ambassador and community outreach manager. We are thrilled to be able to add a former RailHawks player with deep local ties to our front office and coaching staff.”
Norkus, a Raleigh native, ended his playing career after the 2010 season. He ranks fourth all-time on the club’s appearances list (66), and he is one of seven players in club history to have played at least 4,500 minutes. Primarily a defender for the RailHawks, Norkus scored one of the most important goals in the club’s infancy. His eighth-minute goal against the California Victory in the 2007 season-finale led to a 2-0 win and the RailHawks clinching their first-ever postseason berth.
As a CASL youth player for 14 years, Norkus was a member of seven state championship teams, and he was inducted into the CASL Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also a part of the U-17, U-18 and U-20 U.S. national teams. In 1997, he led Raleigh’s Sanderson High School to a state championship. He went on to play collegiately at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1998-2001, where he was an All-ACC standout and ACC Champion.
“This is a perfect fit for me,” said Norkus, who is also coaching for CASL and will continue his community outreach role with their organization. “It has to do with my love for the game and I want to share that and impart that on kids. I want them to realize how beautiful the game is. Ever since I could be a part of the RailHawks, I wanted to be here. I want this franchise to be successful, and I want to help out in any way I can so that people know we’re here, come check it out and fall in love with it. I’m just so excited to be back as a part of the RailHawks."
Former RailHawks defender Caleb Norkus is returning to the organization to help coordinate the club’s youth initiatives and community outreach activities, the team announced Friday.
Norkus, who played for the RailHawks from 2007-2010, will serve as the club’s Youth Soccer Ambassador and Manager of Community Outreach. He will also serve as an assistant coach on Martin Rennie’s staff.
“I have always enjoyed working with Caleb and I’m glad he’s still going to be involved with the RailHawks,” Rennie said. “He has been a key part of the club’s success since it started, and he’ll be a major contributor to our success in the future.”
Norkus was an active participant in the RailHawks’ community efforts during his playing career, and President Curt Johnson sees his return to the club as another enhancement to the organization’s already strong community presence. The RailHawks currently have more than 200 community appearances on the schedule for the 2011 season. Norkus, who is bilingual, will also serve as a liaison to the Triangle’s Hispanic community.
“Caleb distinguished himself during his RailHawks career both on and off the field,” Johnson said. “He has been a fan favorite for many years and has done a tremendous amount of work in the community in support of the RailHawks and the Triangle’s youth. This, combined with the fact that he is a hometown boy who grew up playing youth soccer here in the Triangle, positions him well to work as a RailHawks youth soccer ambassador and community outreach manager. We are thrilled to be able to add a former RailHawks player with deep local ties to our front office and coaching staff.”
Norkus, a Raleigh native, ended his playing career after the 2010 season. He ranks fourth all-time on the club’s appearances list (66), and he is one of seven players in club history to have played at least 4,500 minutes. Primarily a defender for the RailHawks, Norkus scored one of the most important goals in the club’s infancy. His eighth-minute goal against the California Victory in the 2007 season-finale led to a 2-0 win and the RailHawks clinching their first-ever postseason berth.
As a CASL youth player for 14 years, Norkus was a member of seven state championship teams, and he was inducted into the CASL Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also a part of the U-17, U-18 and U-20 U.S. national teams. In 1997, he led Raleigh’s Sanderson High School to a state championship. He went on to play collegiately at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1998-2001, where he was an All-ACC standout and ACC Champion.
“This is a perfect fit for me,” said Norkus, who is also coaching for CASL and will continue his community outreach role with their organization. “It has to do with my love for the game and I want to share that and impart that on kids. I want them to realize how beautiful the game is. Ever since I could be a part of the RailHawks, I wanted to be here. I want this franchise to be successful, and I want to help out in any way I can so that people know we’re here, come check it out and fall in love with it. I’m just so excited to be back as a part of the RailHawks.”
