Tab Ramos, one of the most decorated players in U.S. soccer history, makes his debut at the National Championships as the head coach of the U-14 NJSA Gunners boys team.

Upon his retirement in 2002 from Major League Soccer, Ramos went into the athletic facility business, opening a multi-purpose athletic facility located in Aberdeen, N.J. He got into youth coaching at the urging of Xabier Azkargorta, whom he had met while playing in Spain.

Ramos, MLS's first signing for its 1996 launch, and former MetroStars teammate Rob Johnson opened the New Jersey Soccer Academy in 2004. Ramos is the club's president.

The Gunners were U-12 regional runners-up before winning Region I titles in 2007 and 2008. They arrived in Little Rock with a 50-8-11 (W-L-T) record in 2007-08 after going 66-6-7 in 2006-07 and 66-7-5 in 2005-06.

Five Gunners have made national team pools. Half the players on Ramos' squad are U-13s, reflecting his desire to develop a possession game and not rely on the physical attributes of his players to dominate opponents.