“Western Kentucky will lose a good assistant coach, and the Atlanta Silverbacks will gain an excellent player,” said Hilltopper head coach David Holmes. “Ron has some excellent qualities that will suit him well in the pro game. He has a great team attitude and a solid work ethic. He also has the size, strength and experience to do well the USL-1 League.”
Plute — a native of Coppell, Texas — was selected by the Silverbacks in the second round (19th overall) in last week’s USL First Division draft. During his four years on the Hill, he anchored a strong Western Kentucky defense, helping the HIlltoppers to three Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and two trips to the tournament semifinals. Plute started 75 matches at Western, tied for the ninth highest total in school history. He also finished with six career goals and seven assists.
He was rewarded for an impressive senior campaign, earning all-MVC honors for the first time in his career. He also earned a spot on the all-Midwest Region third team after finishing the season with two goals and three assists from the defender position.
“Ron came to the November pro-combine where he really stood out as a central defender,” said Silverback head coach David Vaudreuil. “At every combine we’re getting players of better talent and ability. Ron has been one of the best prospects this year at tryouts.”
Plute will begin training with the Silverbacks in preparation for the 2005 season, which gets underway in mid-April.
