Former high school coach joins Rochester United FC

Rochester United FC is excited to announce that they are joining the Dutch Lions FC organization as the 11th Dutch Lions FC soccer club in the USA. Starting the upcoming 2025 season, the club will be playing as Minnesota Dutch Lions FC in the WPSL, the highest amateur level in women’s soccer in the USA.

Head Coach Bassem Fadlia commented on the change:

After seven seasons as Byron’s boys soccer coach, Dave Bahr will be joining the Rochester United FC as an assistant coach, which is joining the Dutch Lions FC organization as the eleventh Dutch Lions FC soccer club in the country.

According to a press release, the team will begin in the upcoming 2025 season.

The club will be playing as Minnesota Dutch Lions FC in the WPSL, the highest amateur level in women’s soccer, according to the release.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished as Rochester United FC the last five seasons, but I am excited to do even more under the Dutch Lions FC banner. The Dutch Lions FC mission and standards align very much with our ambitions here in Rochester to provide a quality program and unique playing opportunities for young female players in the Rochester region,” Head Coach Bassem Fadlia said.

Bahr has over 35 years of coaching experience at the high school and youth club level.

Aside from coaching Byron for six seasons, he also coached Kasson’s boys team for six years.

“This team is a combination of International and Collegiate Women but also some talented local High School players,” Bahr wrote in an email. “ Aligning with the Dutch Lions Group give players a pathway to a professional career in Europe. I am excited to have the challenge to coach higher level players. In 2019 I was hired by the LaCrosse WI Rush Ducks to coach the men’s UPSL Team but it never got off the ground when COVID hit. So this was my next chance at a Semi-Pro coaching experience.”

In addition Bahr is coaching a U-11 girls’ competitive team for RUSH that has his granddaughter Stevie as a member.

Minnesota Dutch Lions FC is scheduled to start pre-season mid-May in a seven-week season playing eight league games in the WPSL Northern Conference. The team will play their home games at the Rochester Community College. Players that are interested in joining the team can register online at dutchlionsfc.com/registration/.