Featuring FEBRUARY Coach of the Month – MERIDY GLENN!

 

Meridy Smith in the PAST:

 

High School: Barrington, RI (played club soccer/ran cross country and track)

College/University: Brown U, Providence, RI (4 yrs soccer, 3 yrs ice hockey, 2 yrs track)

Professional: only amateur for women

Famous Players as your Teammates: none – but I played against – Lauren Gregg (former USNational team Ass’t coach; and I coached against: Michelle Akers, April Heinrichs, Shannon Cirovski, Tracy Bates Leone, Carin Jennings Gabarra and nearly all of them became and are great coaches too

Most people you have Played in front of: 100

Best Stadium where you have Played: Brown U – it was one of the best at the time; great grass!

Highlight of career as a Player: playing in Northeast type weather and surviving it

Strongest Area as a Player: speed and left foot

Weakest Area as a Player: tackling

 

Meridy Glenn in the PRESENT:

 

Position with Kings Soccer Academy: College Advisor

Years Coaching Soccer: since 1980 plus I did a lot of soccer camps during college summer breaks

Coaching Experience: 1 yr HS; 26 yrs College

Awards for Coaching: Conference USA Coach of the Year; NCAA Regional Coach of the Year; Ohio Coach of the Year

Famous Players you have Coached: no one famous – but they are all successful career women, moms and individuals

Highlight of career as a Coach: Having former players come back to say “thank you” and seeing many former players coaching successfully; taking program to tournament championships and earning NCAA berths

Coaching Qualifications: NSCAA Premier, USSF “A” license

Strongest Area as a Coach: Expecting the best from players- as a person and as a player

Weakest Area as a Coach: It takes me too long to explain things!

 

PERSONAL with Meridy:

 

Date of Birth: December

Hometown: Cincinnati as this is the longest I’ve lived in one place; then RI, then Northern VA, then FL

Passions: gardening, horseback riding, taking kids to the beach, kids and husband

Family/Kid updates: husband, Keith; daughter – Tegan (9th grade); son – Tavis (6th grade)

Favorite Foods: My college roommate’s cooking (she owns Yuca’s on Hollywood in LA and I crave her food!), lobster

Ambitions: to be able to play soccer with my teammates in the Senior Olympics

Favorite Player TODAY and why: Abby Wambach – b/c she is a great finisher yet still works so hard for her teammates – and now, she has returned from a broken leg

Favorite Player GROWING UP and why: Pele – b/c he was the Master and truly loves the game

 

Featuring JANUARY Coach of the Month – STEPHEN HAUTER!

 

Stephen in the PAST:

 

High School: Park-Tudor School – Indianapolis, Indiana – 4 years Varsity
College/University: DePauw University – Greencastle, Indiana – 3 years Varsity
Professional: Chicago Power [NPSL] – Chicago, Illinois – 3 years

Awards for Playing: Best Defender, Most Valuable Player, Coaches Award

Famous Players as your Teammates: Brad Hauter – Brother played for 3 NPSL Teams – played overseas in Denmark, Brett Hall – former Women’s U.S. National Team Assistant Coach [Chicago Sting, Chicago Power], Karl-Heinz Granitza [Chicago Sting, Chicago Power]

Most people you have Played in front of: 8,000

Best Stadium where you have Played: Allstate Arena – Rosemont, Illinois

Highlight of career as a Player: Playing with my Brother – High School, College, Professionally – Playing Overseas as a Youth Player and In College

Strongest Area as a Player: Very Good Defender - Tenacious

Weakest Area as a Player: Finishing

 

Stephen in the PRESENT:

 

Position with Kings Soccer Academy: Associate Director Of Coaching Girls U11/U12

Years Coaching Soccer: 22
Coaching Experience (Club, High School, College/University, Professional, etc.): See Resume

Awards for Coaching: Selected as the Boys Olympic Development Program Coordinator – Illinois; Selected as the Olympic Development Program Cincinnati District ODP Director of Coaching

Famous Players you have Coached: Michael Bradley – Sockers F.C. Chicago, U.S. National Team, currently playing overseas; Jonathan Spector – Sockers F.C. Chicago, U.S. National Team currently playing overseas; Brad Guzan – Illinois Olympic Development Program, Major League Soccer; Ned Grabavoy – Illinois Olympic Development Program, Major League Soccer; Mike Magee – Sockers F.C. Chicago – Major League Soccer; Doug Warren – Sockers F.C. Chicago – Major League Soccer

Highlight of career as a Coach: Positively Impacting the Lives of Thousands Of Players

Coaching Qualifications: U.S.S.F. A License, U.S.S.F. National Youth License

Strongest Area as a Coach: Getting the Most Out of Each Player

 

PERSONAL with Stephen:

 

Date of Birth: 10/22/1966

Hometown: Glenwood, Illinois

Passions: Photography, Hiking, My Family

Family/Kid updates: Trevor 10 years old; Taylor [Girl] 7 years old; Cooper 1 year old [never sits down!], Laura my Lovely Wife, Cookies [Boy] & Oreo [Girl] - Kittens

Favorite Foods: Steak, Potato Skins, Fruit, Pasta, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Ambitions: To Positively Impacting Kids Lives on and off the Soccer Field

Favorite Player TODAY and why: Jonathan Spector – great to watch him play now vs. when I Coached him

Favorite Player GROWING UP and why: Lothar Mateus – Former Member German National Team – People said I looked like and played like him except when we went on Offense!

 

Featuring DECEMBER Coach of the Month – DEREK SMITH!

 

Derek in the PAST:

 

High School: Hopkinsville High (KY) 3 years on Varsity Team

College/University: Union College (KY)

Professional: Virginia Beach Mariners 1 year, Cincinnati Kings 2 years, Columbus Crew Reserves 1 year, Minnesota Thunder 2 years

Awards for Playing: 2-time NAIA College All-American, USL-2 Defender of Year Finalist, 2-time USL, 2 All-League First Team

Famous Players as your Teammates: John McGinley, Tony Sanneh

Most people you have played in front of: 25,000

Best Stadium where you have played: Montreal Impact Saputa Stadium

Highlight of career as a Player: scoring first professional goal

 

Derek in the PRESENT:

 

Position with Kings Soccer Academy: Associate Director of Coaching U11-U12 Boys

Years Coaching Soccer: 6 years

Coaching Experience: Assistant Coach Turpin High School, St Paul Blackhawks (MN), Covenant of Visitation High School (MN), Ohio Elite, Cardinals FC, Men’s and Women’s Assistant Coach College of Mount St. Joseph, Kings Soccer Academy

Coaching Qualifications: USSF C Licensce

 

PERSONAL with Derek:

 

Date of Birth: July 17, 1980

Hometown: Hopkinsville (Hoptown), KY

Passions: playing soccer, Xbox360, cooking, fantasy premier league and Manchester United

Family/Kid updates: Maria, Wife and Olivia, 1-year old Daughter

Favorite Foods: Chicken and Steak

Ambitions: Go to World Cup - 2014 Brazil

Favorite Player TODAY and why: Ronaldihno of 2005-06!! Was the best and amazing to watch!

 

Featuring NOVEMBER Coach of the Month – ROBY STAHL!



Roby in the PAST:


High School: Normandy High School - Parma, Ohio, Youth National Team Pool Player

College/University: University of Akron, four years (two as captain), NCAA D-1 playoff - three in Elite Eight, All Midwest selection and Olympic Team pool

Old Dominion University - Norfolk, VA – Masters Degree in Education

Professional:

Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

NASL (1)

Cleveland Cobras

ASL (3)

West Ham United

England (1)

Cork Celtic

Ireland (2)

Famous Players as your Teammates: Trevor Brooking, Frank Lampard Sr., Bobby Tambling, Gordon Banks (all four players above - English national team), Alan Curbishley (former coach of Charlton, West Ham in EPL),

Most people you have played in front of: 20,000

Best Stadium where you have played: Upton Park, West Ham United

Highlight of career as a Player: Playing against Polish and Israeli national teams: Bayer-Leverkusen, FC Cologne, Armenia Biefeld (Germany), Ujpest (Hungary), man-marking the third leading scorer from 1974 FIFA World Cup bronze medalists Poland in an international match, training at West Ham United (England) and playing in the Irish First Division

Strongest Area as a Player: Technical ability on the ball, goal scorer, good vision/passing as a midfielder, leadership on field and work rate

Weakest Area as a Player: Heading



Roby in the PRESENT:


Position with Kings Soccer Academy: Head Coach Kings, PDL, Associate DOC U9/U10 boys and girls

Years Coaching Soccer: 35 years

Coaching Experience: 4 major clubs in 4 different states, 9 years College Coach, 3 years Professional Coach in Stockholm, Sweden, 1 year Assistant Coach with Columbus Crew - MLS, regular feature clinician for the NSCAA and USYSA Conventions, former Region II ODP Staff Member

Awards for Coaching: Former Technical Director and Head National Team Coach for SYL and US Club Soccer Programs

Famous Players you have Coached: Michelle Akers (Stahl), Kristin Lilly, Julie Fouty, Danielle Fotopoulos: - ALL FIFA World Cup and Olympic Champions, 9 Women’s National Team Players in Sweden, 20 under 20 Women’s National Team Members, Brian McBride, Jeff Cunningham (US Men’s National Team), 15 players who have or are currently playing in MLS

Highlight of Career as a Coach: Winning Women’s World Championship, Coaching in Sweden, Coaching the Cincinnati Kings, coaching the SYL U15 boys National Team in Germany and competing against the Bundesliga Youth Teams

Coaching Qualifications: US Soccer ‘A’ License, Swedish and Brazilian Elite levels, Canadian ‘B’ License, NSCAA Advanced and National Youth Licenses, studies abroad with Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), clubs in Grand Canary Island, Hammarby FC (Sweden), First FIFA Women’s Seminar (Zurich, Switzerland), training through International Sport Science Association and the International Youth Conditioning Association, NSCAA Premier License

Strongest Area as a Coach: Teaching high level techniques, good role model for Youth, leadership and ability to relate to players/coaches of all levels and experience and look to learn at least one new thing daily about coaching/educating

Weakest Area as a Coach: Administrative work, lack of patience with players/coaches with high potential but low motivation



PERSONAL with Roby:


Date of Birth: July 10, 1952

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Passions: Watching Professional and International soccer, watching my son Brandon play sports, weight training and living a healthy lifestyle, playing with two Labradors, reading and improving my knowledge about coaching/leadership

Family/Kid updates: Married to Lynne and son Brandon

Favorite Foods: Pasta, Pizza and Hamburgers

Ambitions: Help build KSA from the top – down (Kings PDL team) and from the bottom – up (KSA U9-U12 boy and girls) into a Regionally/Nationally recognized Soccer Academy

Favorite Player TODAY and why: Christiano Renaldo who was discovered by my friend/colleague Lazlo Boloni at Sporting Lisbon. I have had the opportunity to observe his progress from age 16 until present. I love his immaculate ball control and his ability to do everything at the highest level of speeds

Favorite Player GROWING UP and why: Johan Cryuff of Ajax, Barcelona and Dutch National Teams. This is the player I patterned my play after when young. His style, grace and fantastic ball control with vision and the ability to take over a game and make all players around him better. I have also studied him immensely as a coach

Featuring OCTOBER Coach of the Month - JON PICKUP!

 

Jon in the PAST:

High School: Moorhead High School ENGLAND

College/University: Accrington and Rossendale College ENGLAND

Professional: 17 years as a professional player

Signed 1st contract in 1990-1 season

Blackburn Rovers FC English Premier League

Carrick Rangers Irish Premier League

Wigan Athletic English 2nd Div

Chester City English 2nd Div

Columbus Xoggz USL Div 1 USA

Foshan FC Chinese 1st Div

Indiana Blast USL Div 1 USA

Cincinnati Riverhawks USL Div 1 USA

Cincinnati Kings USL Div 2 USA

U16 England National team squad


Awards for Playing: None, but I consider 17 years of contracts enough!

Famous Players as your Teammates: Alan Shearer (England’s Captain), Henning Berg (Norway’s Captain), Kevin Moran (Republic of Irleand’s Captain), Colin Hendry (Scotland’s Captain) and Patrick Anderson (Sweden’s Captain)

Most people you have Played in front of: 85,000 fans in China

Best Stadium where you have Played: Wembley, England’s National Stadium and Shanghai’s National Stadium in China

Highlight of career as a Player: Signing my first professional contract under Kenny Dalgliesh as my Head Coach

Strongest Area as a Player: Fitness, attitude and the ability to neutralize the oppositions best players

Weakest Area as a Player: Passing

 

Jon in the PRESENT:

 

Position with Kings Soccer Academy: Director of Coaching U8 - PDL

Years Coaching Soccer: 14 years

Coaching Experience: Director of Coaching - Kings Soccer Academy

Head Coach - Cincinnati Kings Men’s USL Div 2

Director of Coaching - GSE Cardinals Soccer Club

Stand-in Head Coach - Cincinnati Riverhawks USL Div 1

Director of Player Development 8 -14 Boys - Classics Soccer Club

Team Trainer 15-19 Classics Hammer Soccer Club

Team Trainer - Cincinnati Country Day Middle School

Helped and assisted in the Men’s Soccer Program at the University of Cincinnati

Camp Director - Indiana Blast, Professional Soccer Camps

Camp Director - Columbus Xoggz, Professional Soccer Camps

Awards for Coaching: Coach of the year USL Div 2 2006

Highlight of career as a Coach: Coaching Professionally

Coaching Qualifications:

NSCAA Premier License

USSF A license

USSF National Youth License

English Football Association Preliminary Coaching license

**Start my NSCAA Master Coach Cohert Diploma in January 2010

Strongest Area as a Coach: Hard working on the training field and behind the scenes to give my players the best opportunity to be successful

Weakest Area as a Coach: At the professional level I would say my composure on the sideline. Having to win brings out the worst in you, especially when you are new to the environment!

 

PERSONAL with Jon:


Date of Birth: August 24, 1974

Hometown: Accrington ENGLAND

Passions: Soccer and spending time with my Family

Family/Kid updates: Married to Tiffany in 2002, Daughter Madeline who was born on Oct 29th 2005

Favorite Foods: Pasta

Ambitions: To grow KSA into the best organization in the Midwest, Coach professionally again and continue to get better

Favorite Player TODAY and why: Ronaldo for Real Madrid as he has the ability to win games on his own.

Favorite Player GROWING UP and why: Alan Hansen who played for Liverpool; Being a defender myself it was wonderful to watch a player back then who had the ability of players today out of the back. He was not only a defender but a player also. Liverpool at the time had a great team of soccer players and he was one of them.