Staff

Management

Graham Smith
President - Coaching & Events

Graham Smith a founder of First Wave and graduate of Loughborough University, was formerly an agent Licensed by the English Football Association who worked in the international agency market since 1991. Graham is a former Director of Chelsea Football Club, where he served in that capacity for 5 years. Prior to his involvement with Chelsea, Graham was a Director of Public Relations for Adidas UK and Le Coq Sportif UK. Graham has over 250 league appearances in the English League. In addition to handling First Wave's successful tour and match business, he serves as the Head Coach of PDL side Ventura County Fusion.

Barry MacLean
CEO

A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, Barry MacLean is an agent licensed by the Canadian Soccer Association. Barry has been actively working in the international agency market since 1996 and has been licensed since 2001. Barry has been involved in almost every level of soccer in Canada. He has served as coach, administrator, columnist, and player. As a coach, he has been involved in National and provincial team programs and has coached his university team to 3 Canadian National Championships. He competed as a player where he was honoured as an All Canadian selection. He was recently inducted into his university Hall of Fame.

Patrick McCabe
Executive V.P. and Managing Director

Patrick oversees the daily operations and management of First Wave, including recruiting, negotiation of all contracts and client service. Prior to becoming an agent in 1998, Patrick played for South African side Santos for two seasons, the first American to play in South Africa. He served as Director of Soccer for legendary Boston sports agency Woolf Associates from 2000 to 2002, creating the company’s soccer division. A graduate of Trinity College where he played varsity soccer and hockey, Patrick also holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Illinois.

Scouting

Musa Shannon

Musa Shannon holds a degree in business administration from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pa USA, where he was also selected to the University’s sports hall of fame in 2002. He was selected for both his achievements on and off the field. Following a highly successful college career he played professional in the MLS with both Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Colorado Rapids. Musa, also spent time in Portugal with S.C Maritimo as well as stints in Canada, Sweden and China. He’s won 14 caps for the Liberian national team, where he played with the legendary George Weah ( FIFAworld player of the year 1995). He joins First Wave with, knowledge of the business of soccer, vast knowledge of the beautiful game, as well as an ability to scout and identify players for the professional game. Musa speaks both French and Portuguese, and has a great work ethic.

Zlatko Arambasic

Zlatko Arambasic is a former Australian International and Olympian who played professionally in Europe with KV Mechelen (Belgium), FC Metz (France), NAC Breda (Holland) and with numerous clubs in the former National Soccer League of Australia.  Zlatko has a diverse coaching background.  Holding a degree in Physical Education from the Australian College of Physical Education, and UEFA B qualified, he has coached at the highest Schoolboy level with Trinity Grammar School and at a Senior level with Syndey United from 2001-2003 in the NSW Premier League.

Player Representation

Paul McDonough
Director of Recruiting

Paul McDonough has a storied history in the College ranks holding posts at perennial powerhouses Wake Forest, South Carolina and University of Connecticut.  Through his first five years with the UConn men’s soccer team, Paul McDonough has emerged as one of the most talented and respected assistant coaches and recruiting coordinators in the sport. His recruiting classes have consistently been ranked among the best in the country by College Soccer News and this year is expected to be no different.
In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, the 2005 NSCAA College Assistant Coach of the Year assists in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Husky soccer program, lending his knowledge gained from 10 years as one of the top assistants in the country.
McDonough’s success as a coach and recruiter is evident at each point in his 14-year career. From the early years at USC-Spartanburg to his time at UConn, he has recruited a total of:
•    One M.A.C Hermann Trophy winner
•    Four M.A.C Hermann Trophy candidates
•    11 NSCAA All-Americans (17 recognitions)
•    13 professional players, both in Major League Soccer and abroad
•    11 conference major award winners (Total of 13 awards)
  

Niki Budalic
Director of Recruiting, Canada

Niki budalic is a former professional who played domestically with the Toronto Lynx and Montreal Impact in the USL A-League as well as internationally in Sweden and Norway.  A graduate of James Madison University, Niki completed his Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2001 where he helped lead the soccer program to the national championship.  In addition to his role as Director of Recruiting in Canada for First Wave, the Hall of Fame athlete has entered the coaching ranks with Laurier's soccer program.

Administrative

Rebecca Watts
Sport Information Director

Rebecca Watts is currently a graduate student in Ottawa completing a Sport Business Management program.  This Wilfrid Laurier University alumnus also holds a degree in Kinesiology & Physical Education.  Rebecca has worked actively for national sport organizations, and has experience in various sport administrative roles.