Coaching Staff

The Philadelphia Independence is very fortunate to have a great coaching staff, with the right combination of coaching and playing experience, skills, capabilities, professionalism, and work ethic to attract and keep world-class players on the Independence roster and to develop an honest rapport with the city’s communities and fans. Head Coach Paul Riley, a highly respected member of the soccer community with an impressive coaching resume, is assisted by Paul Royal and Skip Thorp. Royal is the current LaSalle University women’s soccer coach and former Philadelphia Charge coach, and Thorp is a US Soccer “A” License holder and former Wake Forest University Coach. The combination of skill sets that each Independence coach brings produces a synergy that will elevate the Independence to the top of the league.

We encourage you to get to know our coaching staff better. For more information on each member, please click on their photo for a detailed bio.

Paul Riley – Head Coach

The Philadelphia Independence is proud to have Paul Riley as its Head Coach. Originally from Liverpool, England, Paul has a long and illustrious career coaching men’s and women’s youth, college, and minor league soccer. Paul’s distinguished soccer career includes many honors and awards as both a player and a coach. He has earned honors such as A-League National Coach of the Year; New York Regional Coach of the Year; Umbro A-League All-Star Coach Selection; and 5-Time New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. As Head Coach of the CW Post Pioneers (Long Island University) from 1991-1997, he accumulated a record of 98-48-11. In addition, under Paul’s direction, his Albertson Soccer Club youth teams have won numerous New York State Championships and are considered some of the most dominant in the country. Paul has served as head coach of the Long Island Fury WPSL team since the team’s inception in 2006 and has led the minor league women’s team to two National Championships (2006 and 2009). After the Fury defeated defending National Champions Ajax America in the 2009 Championship, Paul was named WPSL Coach of the Year. Most recently, Paul was named Personality of the Year by Bigapplesoccer.com.

As a player at Adelphi University, Paul was MVP in three of his four years there, and still holds school records for all-time leading points and assists. He continued his playing career after college with the Albany Capitals, New Jersey Eagles, and Long Island Rough Riders, where he was part of the National Championship teams in 1994 and 1995. When he is not coaching, Paul runs the Paul Riley Soccer School, which hosts regular training camps and skill sessions for players of all ages.

Paul has earned countless awards and recognition for his coaching successes and will be a great leader for the Independence in its inaugural season. GM Terry Foley knows Paul’s value to the organization: “He is a former standout player, distinguished youth club coach and executive, and two-time WPSL National Champion” says Foley. “Paul has coached players on the U.S. National Team and in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league over the course of his career and is well-respected for his knowledge of the game and his ability to find and use talent. I am impressed with Paul’s ability to bring diverse talents and skills together for successful results on the field. He is a tremendous asset to this team, its incoming players, and to the WPS.”

Paul Royal – Assistant Coach

Paul’s coaching experience spans every level of soccer, having led successful teams from the youth through the professional ranks. As the Head Coach of La Salle University Women’s Soccer since 2003, Paul has become the winningest coach in the 23 year history of the program. With two A-10 tournament appearances and a national ranking as high as 29th, Paul’s impact on the program has been remarkable. Similarly, in his time as assistant coach at Villanova before taking the position at La Salle, the Wildcats achieved national rankings as high as 14th and ranked sixth nationally in goals-against average (0.55). At the youth level, his FC Delco club team has been consistently ranked top five in the country and placed 3rd in the US Youth Soccer National Championship in 2008. Additionally, Paul helped to lead the Eastern PA U-17 ODP team to a Regional and National ODP championship in 2007.

During his playing years, Paul established himself one of the top goalkeepers in the game. After graduating from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Paul played eight professional seasons and after his last season with the South Jersey Barons in 2001, he was recognized as the winningest goalkeeper in USL history.

This is not the first time that Paul has been involved with women’s professional soccer in Philadelphia. Paul was a member of an unbelievable coaching staff for WUSA’s Philadelphia Charge. The staff, which was led by Mark Krikorian and Pia Sundhage, allowed Paul to establish himself as one of the top goalkeeping coaches in the league.

“Paul Royal is a fantastic coach with an array of specific talents” says Head Coach Riley. “He knows the game, understands its intricacies and his energetic aura makes him a brilliant man manager. I’m tremendously excited to have Paul on board and his experience and expertise will be massive in the long WPS season.” Paul Royal’s trademark as a defensive specialist is apparent in the success of every team that he has coached, and his prior experience with women’s pro soccer, his impressive coaching skills, and extensive involvement in the Philadelphia soccer community make Paul an invaluable asset to the Independence.

Skip Thorp – Assistant Coach

Skip Thorp joins the Independence from the Austin United Capitals Soccer Club in Austin, Texas where he served as the Director of Goalkeepers, as well as the Assistant Director of Coaching. Before working with the Capitals, Skip was with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, lending his expertise to the Under-17 Women’s National team in preparation for the Under-17 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier. Skip was brought in by Trinidad to help build the program based on his strong reputation from nine years of success at Wake Forest University. At WFU, Skip worked with both the men’s and women’s teams before switching to the women’s program full-time in 2000.

Skip is a highly qualified coach, holding an “A” License from US Soccer in addition to being a certified FIFA instructor and US Soccer Coaching instructor. He has worked with various US National teams, and has been a part of the Regional coaching staff for Region I, Region III, and Region VI, and currently serves as a scout for the US Soccer Academy League. Over the years, he has worked in various capacities with numerous youth clubs, including Kirkwood, AU Capitals, North Meck, Twins, TASC, and Richmond Kickers, in addition to working with several professional organizations. Skip has worked with the USL’s Carolina Dynamo, the W-League’s Piedmont Spark, the Delaware Wizards of the USISL, and the Delaware Genies of the USWISL as both a coach and a member of the front office. With each of these organizations, Skip strengthened his knowledge in the planning and execution of camps, clinics, and ticket sales.

Head Coach Paul Riley is looking forward to having Skip as a part of the coaching staff this season: “Skip is a detail guy with a passionate and organized approach to training and coaching. He has a vast array of knowledge and he is a disciple of the sport. His honest, no nonsense approach bodes well for a professional team in WPS. He will be a huge plus in our goal to win the WPS in our inaugural season.”