The 1996-97 and 1998-99 NPSL Coach of the Year returns as the Drillers' bench boss for the third season. In the club's first season Ongaro and his staff led the organization to a remarkable 21-19 regular season record. In the playeoffs the Drillers swept the Milwaukee Wave 2-0 in the Conference Quarter-Final, before bowing out in three games to the St. Louis Ambush in the Conference Semi-Final. Last season Ongaro guided the Drillers to a 18-22 regular season record and the club's second straight playoff appearance.
Ongaro grew up in Edmonton and has played for several provincial select teams. In 1979, Ongaro was drafted in the first round of the NASL draft by the Edmonton Drillers. That same year he was named to the Canadian Olympic Team and the Youth World Cup Team that participated in the Japan Youth World Cup.
Ross played for the Drillers from 1979 to 1982 and was a key part of the team which captured the 1980-81 NASL indoor championship. He went on to play for the Cleveland Force and the Memphis Americans of hte Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), and the Milwaukee Wave of the AISL. The AISl became the NPSL in 1990-91. During the 1985-86 season, while with the Wave, Ongaro was the club's top scorer and a Second Team All-Star.
During his time in Milwaukee he got his first taste of coaching, serving as an assistant coach/player. He returned to Edmonton in 1985 to play for the Brickmen of the Canadian Soccer League and was also named as an assistant coach. He held that position until being named as the head coach in 1990.
Ongaro currently teaches and coaches at Archbishop O'Leary High School in Edmonton and serves as the head instructor for the Drillers' "Just for Kicks" Soccer Schools. He resides in Edmonton with his wife Debbie and their children Justin and Katie.
Sean Fleming - Assistant Coach
Sean Fleming returns for his third season as an assistant coach with the Drillers. Sean played on two Alberta Provincial Select teams that won National Championships. He also played three years at the University of Alberta and ten years with Edmonton Scottish of the Alberta Major Soccer League.
Sean has coached several Alberta Select teams, instructs coaching clinics and works with Alberta select players. He has been the assistant coach for the University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer team for the past eight years.
Born in Scotland and raised in Edmonton, he teaches at Austin O'Brien High School in Edmonton and he resides in Edmonton year-round with his wife Ruby.
Joe Petrone - Director of Soccer Operations
>Joe Petrone enters his third season with the Drillers. He is responsible for all aspects off soccer operations including player recruitment, player development and player transactions.
Petrone played a key role in bringing the Drillers and professional indoor soccer back to Edmonton. In 1979 Petrone was involved with the Drillers of the NASL and in 1988 with the Edmonton Brickmen of the Canadian Soccer League. Joe grew up in Edmonton and played for several provincial select teams. From 1967 to 1974 he was a member of Canada's World Cup and Olympic teams. He spent some time as a kicker with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and, in 1971, was the number one draft pick of the Calgary Stampeders. Petrone is the top goal scorer in the history of the Alberta Major Soccer League.
Petrone began his coaching career in 1973 at St. Mary's High School befoe leaving for the United States to serve as an assistant at Eastern Illinois University in 1976. In 1979 he was named as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Drillers and in 1980-81, with Petrone as the Assistant General Manager, the Drillers won the NASL Indoor Championship. Joe served as the Director of Player Personnel with teh Edmonton Brickmen from 1988 to 1990.
Joe is a teacher and coach at Holy Trinity Hight School in Edmonton and in the off-season acts as instructor and coordinator with teh Drillers' "Just for Kicks" summer soccer schools. Petrone resides in Edmonton year-round. He and his wife Karen have five children.
Ross Ongaro - Head Coach
