The 2009 USL First Division campaign marks Gavin Wilkinson's third season as the general manager and head coach and his ninth overall with the Portland Timbers.
 

Since being appointed on Sept. 26, 2006, Wilkinson has assembled one of the toughest defensive teams in the USL First Division. Under Wilkinson, the Timbers have surrendered just 51 goals in 58 regular-season matches and have logged 24 shutouts.
 

In his first season at the helm in 2007, Wilkinson led the Timbers to one of the club’s most successful seasons since joining United Soccer Leagues in 2001. Portland finished the regular season in second place with a record of 14-5-9 (51pts) and advanced the USL First Division semifinals for the first time in modern-franchise history. The team set several modern-franchise records during the 2007 season, including fewest goals allowed in a single season (18), shutouts in a single season (14) and set a new mark with a seven-game winning streak. For his efforts, Wilkinson was named the USL First Division Coach of the Year and the 2007 FieldTurf Coach of the Year for the USL First Division.
 

Wilkinson, 34, first joined the Timbers organization as a defender in 2001 and played in the club's first six seasons in the USL First Division, including the 2005 and 2006 seasons as a player/assistant coach. He currently ranks among modern-franchise leaders in games (124) and minutes (10,181) played.
 

From Auckland, New Zealand, his playing career includes 38 caps as a member of the New Zealand National Team, and played in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France. Prior to joining the Timbers, Wilkinson played overseas in Ireland, Portugal, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. He began his 13-year professional playing career with the Australian club Perth Glory.
 

With a USSF "A" coaching license, Wilkinson also serves as the director of coaching for youth soccer club Eastside United FC based in Gresham, Ore.