LA Galaxy Academy update: Mike Munoz new U-16 head coach

It was announced last night that Mike Munoz has been named the new LA Galaxy U-16 coach. Munoz, who made one appearance with the Galaxy during his professional career, is an LA county native and a Development Academy Coach of the Year.

Mike Munoz will be the new LA Galaxy U16 head coach. Munoz was 2010-11 Dev Academy Coach of Year. He previously coached at RSL & Chivas USA

— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) July 8, 2013

Munoz was head coach of RSL Arizona's U-16 squad when he won US Soccer Development Academy coach of the year in 2011. In the first year of the academy side's existence, Munoz took them over partway through the season and finished second in the So-Cal division for an automatic playoff spot. He left an assistant coach position with the LA Galaxy U-16's to take the job. RSL AZ was able to make it through their group into Finals Week where they took third. The LA Galaxy U-16's took first.

Those Galaxy U-16s from 2011 are now the U-18s of 2013. Raul Mendiola was named USSDA Player of the Year while with SoCal's Arsenal FC, his second straight year winning the award. Justin Dhillon was named to the Western Conference starting XI as part of the Galaxy academy and Oscar Sorto as well with Pateadores.

Also named that year to the Development Academy starting XI are current MLS Homegrown stars Diego Fagundez and Kekuta Manneh. The one clear thing is that US soccer is getting better at identifying talent at a young age, something that's been of concern as MLS players wait until their late twenties to have breakout years.

Mike Munoz's job will be to develop that next generation of Galaxy Homegrown players. Here's hoping he's up to the challenge.

Another big of Galaxy academy news:

LA Galaxy Academy defender Nathan Smith, 18, trained with Real Madrid last month. Smith was a member of U.S. U17 MNT in 2011. #usmnt

— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) July 9, 2013