Real Salt Lake Selects Two Players In MLS SuperDraft

Jan 11, 2019, 5:38 PM

(Real Salt Lake Twitter)

KSL Sports

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake selected two players in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft as they picked Sam Brown with the 17th overall pick and Syracuse, Utah native Kyle Coffee with the 41st overall pick.

Both players will join the club before the 2019 preseason.

“The big thing for us right now is our culture,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “These young players need to be committed to their development and we want to be committed to them. Our roster is in a good spot right now. The balance of the roster is very good right now and we’re fortunate and happy to add players like Sam and Kyle to the mix.”

Brown started 61 of 62 matches during his four year career at Harvard. The Ann Arbor, Michigan native had 12 assists while with the Ivy League school and scored 3 goals. He was a co-captain during his senior season and earned All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. Brown was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2014-15. He previously spent time training with RSL and Real Monarchs of the USL Championship.

“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to play professional soccer and now I just can’t wait to get to work,” Brown said. “I think the people at the club make it so great. From the front office, the staff and the players make RSL such a special club. I’m excited to meet all of the guys and the fans and get to work.”

“My heart was beating through my chest.” pic.twitter.com/7NHQNAp694

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 12, 2019

Coffee made 45 starts in 74 appearances for the University of Washington in four years. He had 15 goals and 9 assists during his time in a Huskies uniform. Coffee is a native of Syracuse, Utah, where he played his club soccer for La Roca FC and featured for Syracuse High School where he became the first ever division one college player in his school’s history. He has previously trained with RSL and Real Monarchs.

“It’s an incredible feeling getting to be here with my family then getting the call to play for my hometown team,” Coffee said. “I’ve been to so many RSL matches in my life being from Utah. To be able to go to games as a kid and become a fan, to now being a part of it is surreal. I just can’t wait to get started.”