Tuesday, July 5, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Saad returns from Europe, signs with MLS By STEPHEN J. NESBITT Daily Sports Editor Michigan soccer fans may never see record-setting freshman strik- er Soony Saad step onto the pitch at the U-M Soccer Complex again, but they might catch him on TV. According to reports, Saad has signed a contract with the MLS and will enter the lottery draft on Tuesday. Saad, the younger brother of Hamoody Saad, a sophomore mid- fielder for the Wolverines, spent the past semester testing the waters of professional soccer in Europe after carrying Michigan to its first-ever College Cup appear- ance in Santa Barbara, Calif. Reports linked him on trial with several teams, but most notable with Belgian giant RSC Ander- lecht. Soony catapulted Michigan into national contention with one brilliant season, leading the nation with 19 goals and 43 points in 23 games, but his departure after the fall semester was a major setback to the program. He set single-sea- son records for goals (19), points (43) and shots (152). After being named Soccer America Freshman of the Year, Soony was gone. "Soony feels that now is the right time for him to pursue his lifelong dream of playing professionally overseas," Michigan coach Steve Burns said after Soony's January departure. "We wish him the best in all of his future endeavors." Fourteen MLS clubs are cur- rently eligible to enter the weighted lottery and bid for the prized strik- er's services. Soony won't, however be joining his Michigan teammate Justin Meram with the Columbus Crew. Columbus drafted Meram with the 15th-overall pick in the January SuperDraft. The Crew, along with the Phila- delphia Union and Real Salt Lake, have already signed playersthrough the lottery. The lottery draft is in place for players who sign with the MLS after the SuperDraft. Soony and Meram set a torrid pace for the Wolverines and tore up opposing defenses, accounting for 36 of Michigan's 53 goals in the 2010 campaign. It will be an uphill battle for the Wolverines on offense this fall. Meram and the Saad brothers combined to make a trio dubbed the "three amigos." "At first, I was trying to score on my own," Meram said after defeat- ing Central Florida to reach the Sweet Sixteen. "Now, I've changed my outlook on everything. "With Soony and Hamoody on the attack ... no team can defend all three of us." Now the "three amigos" are gone, leaving Hamoody as the last lonesome cowboy. But the sting of losing Soony - the nation's top prospect and the 2009 MHSAA Mr. Soccer and 2009 Gatorade National Soccer Player of the Year - will be felt for years to come. While at Dearborn High School, Soony broke the state record as a senior with 76 goals, finishing his high school career with a state-record 172 goals. But Soony's mark will certainly be left on the Michigan soccer program. Along with scoring the first- ever goal in the new U-M Soccer 11 10 Former striker SoonySaad set Michigan records in goals, points and shots in 2010. Complex, Soony garned NSCAA second-team All-American hon- ors, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and to the All-Big Ten First Team, as well as the Big Ten Tournament Offensive Player of the Tournament. Now Soony has the the opportu- nity to change Michigan's miser- able luck in the pro ranks. Prior to the 2011 MLS season, six players had been drafted into MLS, with none achieving regular start- ing jobs. The most glaring example of that is forward Peri Marosevic. Drafted No. 5 overall by FC Dallas in 2009, Marosevic has only played four times in league play for Dal- las. Rodriguez moving on from Ann Arbor Pair added to rebuilt 'M' staff' By STEPHEN J. NESBITT Daily Sports Editor It's July, and Rich Rodriguez is officially moving on. The former Michigan football head coach, who was relieved of his coach- ing duties in First seen on early January -the ame by Athletic ih Director Dave Brandon, accepted a college foot- ball broadcasting job with CBS Sports Network on June 14. Two weeks later, the Rodriguez fam- ily home in Saline, Mich. is up for sale. The 2006 home was listed on Julylby Edward Surovell Realtors - in Saline for a sum of $1,895,000. The house features five bedrooms, six bathrooms and a massive 5,683 sq. foot structure. According to the deed on the house, it was originally purchased by the family in May 2008, the spring Rodriguez moved from his post in West Virginia to Michigan. "Distinctive home is the per- fect choice for the discerning buyer with an eye for the finest craftsmanship and amenities," the online listing states. "The grand foyer features a breathtaking view of the 3 story atrium framed by the sweep of the curved stair- case. Rooms of gracious propor- tions open to the private pool with waterfall for unequaled entertain- ing." Just don't expect this one to come fully furnished - but you might get a football or two. A photo of the study shows no less than five footballs, and two additional football-shaped tro- phies. It's no question that a tried and true football coach has been prowling the lengths of that study. A Michigan football helmet peeks out of a cabinet in the corner of the study. Rodriguez lived in the home with his wife, Rita Rodriguez and their children, Raquel and Rhett. By LIZ VUKELICH Daily Sports Writer Sean Bormet won't be uncom- fortable next fall when he arrives at Cliff Keen Arena to start his new job - then he'll finally be home. The Michigan wrestling pro- gram recently announced the hir- ing of two new assistant coaches, including Bormet, a former Wolver- ine wrestler. "It's an honor and I am excited to be heading back to the University of Michigan," Bormet said. "Given our extraordinary coaching staff and a new state-of-the-art UM Wrestling Center, I am eager to get started and begin mentoring young men to reach their full potential on and off the mat." Bormet certainly has the creden- tials to carry on the Michigan tradi- tion. During his time as a student- athlete from 1991-94, Bormet won two consecutive Big Ten 158-pound titles and finished his career with a 125-21 record. A two-time recipi- ent of the CliffKeen Award for most outstanding Michigan wrestler, Bormet also captured the coveted Gorriaran Award presented to the wrestler who scores the most pins at the NCAA Championships. While the list of Bormet's achievements on the mat goes on, his post-collegiate career is equally as impressive. In 2001, Bormet founded the Overtime School of Wrestling, which has not only shaped into the top training center in the country, but also shaped Bormet into a top- tier coach. Since the opening of the school, he has instructed everyone from high school wrestlers and World Championship silver medal- ists to Olympic athletes. With all he's accomplished, Bormet has a right to be confident about the skills he brings to Ann Arbor. "Over the last decade, I have gained tremendous insight and experience at every level of amateur wrestling as a coach both nationally and internationally," Bormet said. Joining Bormet as second assis- tant coach will be former colleague Donny Pritzlaff. The two worked briefly together at Pritzlaff's alma mater Wisconsin, where as a stu- dent, Pritzlaff finished his career as one of the Badger's top wrestlers of all time. Last year, he was inducted into the University of Wisconsin's Athletics Hall of Fame to honor his contributions to the program. "I am very excited to be at the University of Michigan," Pritzlaff said. "I have always had great respect for the Michigan program. (Head coach Joe McFarland) and Sean are both great Michigan men and I am positive this staff will lead our student-athletes to excellence." McFarland cited winningthe Big Ten and NCAA Championships as the primary goals for the Wolver- ines, something his new staff mem- bers certainly have experience with - between the two of them, they hold five conference titles and four national ones. "I consider Sean and Donny two of the best coaches in the country," McFarland said. "Both of them are champions. They are great students of the sport. There is no question that they are going to help elevate this program to new and great heights."