Guelph United Recruits Alan Koch In Bid For Relegation Escape

Former Canadian Premier League head coach Alan Koch is taking the reigns of Ontario Premier League second division side Guelph United.

The semi-pro relegation battlers rest dead last in OPL2, having tallied just 5 points from 10 games before his arrival.

Koch was right in the thick of things on the sidelines last night, spurring the side to a 4-3 win over FC London with a hat-trick from Ben Hashimoto and a first half goal from Cameron Glack.

So, make that 8 points from 11 games, now.

Koch, who has coached in Canada, the US, and New Zealand, has plenty of experience in raising the level of underdog sides, like he did with FC Edmonton in Canada’s top flight.

See Also: Catching Up With Alan Koch Ahead Of Canada – South Africa World Cup Clash

Guelph’s Mickael Rougette paved way for the appointment by stepping back from the head coach ahead of last night’s match. He will remain with the team in the capacity of general manager, however.

“We made this call together, and it’s the right one for our players, our staff, and our club,” Rougette said in a news release. Rougette’s last match came as a 2-0 defeat to Windsor last week.

“Alan is a proven professional with the experience and standards our group needs right now, and I’m fully behind this move. Guelph United comes first, always. I’m still here, still committed, and I’ll be supporting this team in every way I can.”

Koch is a familiar face to Guelph’s soccer scene, having led the Guelph Gryphons men’s side in university action since 2025.

Juggling two different head coach roles isn’t new to him: before his move to Guelph, the well-travelled coach had worked with the Ole Football Academy in New Zealand while simultaneously helping Western Suburbs FC qualify for its first New Zealand National League Championship 51 years.

“I am excited to embrace the challenge presented and will do everything that we can with the players and staff to keep Guelph United in OPL2,” said Koch, who said the move will be a challenge he looks forward to.

Just last week the head coach had told us he doesn’t personally care where he coaches, so long as he can influence the group and help players progress.

So far, so good for Guelph, though there’s plenty left to do if the side are to stave off relegation. After all, we’re a far cry from when Guelph United won the league – then just one division – in 2021.

Koch has done well on Canadian soil before, helping an embattled FC Edmonton side operating on a shoestring budget. Assembling a roster of last-chance professionals, green rookies, and journeyman athletes, he made them a competitive side that, despite the team folding, produced many athletes still in the professional circuit today.

Reflections From Alan Koch, FC Edmonton’s Final Head Coach

Koch has proven to be a transformational manager in the coaching scene, helping develop talents like CPL star Tobias Warschewski at FC Edmonton and even handing Canadian superstar Alphonso Davies his professional debut while coaching the Whitecaps FC 2.

Koch’s next game in charge will see the OPL2 side kick off against Scarborugh’s The Borough FC, who rest third in league standings and will prove a tough test for his new side.

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Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques