My visit to the 2023 Coaches Convention is quite likely, it seems to me, to be my last to this enjoyable get together. I go back a long way with the Convention, back to my first memory of a New York session (in those distant days the Convention was always held in New York). Allen […]
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Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Relentless: Tim Schum on the coaches who helped grow the American game
Those of us who embraced soccer in the USA several decades ago are drawn to sharing stories about the lengths we once went to enjoy the sport. One of mine is listening to the Bundesliga report on Deutsche Welle while my father maneuvered the shortwave radio antenna in hopes of decreasing the static as I […]
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Awards: United Soccer Coaches' 2022 Letter of Commendation recipients
Joe Amorim, Gavin Donaldson, Candice Fabry, Al Miller and Jason Neumann will be honored at January’s convention in Philadelphia with Letters of Commendation for service to, impact on and/or positive influence on the United Soccer Coaches association and/or the game of soccer in the United States. Joe Amorim (Pennsylvania)Head coach of Haverford College’s men’s team […]
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Vince Ganzberg on coaching coaches beyond Xs and Os
An arm around the shoulder changed Vince Ganzberg’s life. The Indiana native was 24 years old, in his second year as head coach of South Bend’s St. Joseph High School. Ganzberg had just delivered a rousing halftime speech that helped turn a 0-0 deadlock into a 6-0 rout. Legendary University of Notre Dame coach Mike […]
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Lee Jarrell on high school soccer's massive impact and her mission to support its coaches
Several years ago, a referee told one of Lee Jarrell’s players to remove the beads from her new hairstyle. Jarrell appealed, but the official stood firm. Sorrowfully, the girl’s mother stripped all the beads out. Jarrell never forgot that “awful” incident. In February – in her new role as United Soccer Coaches’ first-ever high school […]
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United Soccer Coaches: Vince Ganzberg is new Director of Coaching Education
United Soccer Coaches’ new Director of Coaching Education Vince Ganzberg succeeds Ian Barker, who held the position for the last 10 years. Ganzberg has been the Associate Director of Coaching Education since 2015. Before joining United Soccer Coaches, Ganzberg served U.S. Soccer as an education consultant (2013-15) and was Indiana Youth Soccer Director of Coaching in […]
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Lynn Berling-Manuel completes an American soccer trifecta
After decades in soccer, Lynn Berling-Manuel was quite well known. But a group of Europeans did not realize that in the USA, “Lynn” is a woman’s name. When she walked into a high-level meeting, they looked shocked. Berling-Manuel reacted with her usual aplomb. She took her place, offered her opinions, and — as she did has […]
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Dean Linke's path to dream job began with serving U.S. national teams during their historic rise
Growing up in Fremont, Ohio, Dean Linke wanted to be either an NBA basketball star or a sports broadcaster. He “failed miserably” at the first goal, he says. But he’s “blessed” to have followed the second path. In a career spanning three decades, he’s called just about every sport imaginable. He’s best known now as […]
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Joe Cummings on helping American soccer grow at every level
Joe Cummings coached his first youth team in 1965, his first high school team in 1976, and his first college team in 1984. He founded the Northborough (Massachusetts) Youth Soccer Association and proceeded to work in the men’s and women’s pro game. His career included serving as assistant general manager (1996-99) and technical director (2004-05) […]
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Ashlee Fontes-Comber: United Soccer Coaches' new president took unique path to the 'family business'
Ashlee Fontes-Comber may have been born to coach. Her father was an NFL, college and high school football coach. One of her three coaching uncles was head coach of the Detroit Lions. But it was a high school basketball coach who unintentionally set her on her career path. He made her quit volleyball – and pressured […]