What did you want to be when you were younger?
“I think every young football fanatic has the dream of being a professional footballer. When I realised that wasn’t going to be an option, getting involved with coaching was the next best thing.”
Why did you decide to study at Edinburgh Napier?
“I had obtained a HND in Sports Coaching at Elmwood College in Fife and was looking for a degree program that I could transfer into. I visited ENU and loved what the program could offer.”
Can you describe your career since graduating?
“Prior to and throughout my studies I worked as a coach at St Johnstone, my local football team in Perth, Scotland. Immediately after graduating I spent three months working at summer camps in the USA. The following year I was offered a 9-month contract to work at Oregon Soccer Club in Wisconsin, USA, as head coach for three youth teams. I held this role for four years, returning home during each offseason and working at the Royal Mail between November to March.
“In 2015, Oregon offered me a full-time Coaching Director position which involved running a club of over 1000 players. I held this role for two years and continued to expand my coaching knowledge by undertaking the USSF B License course during this time. In 2017 I was recruited by Team Chicago Soccer Club – an elite youth club for boys and girls based in the western suburbs of Chicago. I joined as Boys Director of Coaching and obtained my USSF A License.
“I joined Chicago FC United in 2020 as Boys Development Academy Coach. Chicago is a founding member of MLS Next – a youth football league in the USA affiliated with the country’s premier football league, Major League Soccer (MLS). In 2022 I was promoted to Academy Director.
“I have recently accepted a new job offer and from July I will relocate to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to join Bavarian United SC as the MLS Next Academy Director.”
Please describe your current roles.
“As the MLS Next Academy Director my responsibilities are endless. Some of my main tasks are:
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Creating and implementing the academy's curriculum and training methodology.
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Designing training sessions and sharing the animated activities with all coaches at the club.
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Head Coach to two teams.
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Creating video content for film sessions and opposition scouting reports.
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Oversee and execute the implementation of an individual Development Plan (IDP) for each Academy player to provide feedback and consistent goal setting.
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Collaborate with the staff to advance their goals and aspirations.
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Work with MLS scouts to arrange trials for our players who have been identified as potential pro pathway players.
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Proactively form and strengthen relationships with colleges across the state/country to create pathways for our players to play beyond high school age.”
What does an average day look like to you?
“I get up around 8am, walk my dog Whisky, have breakfast then begin my workday. I respond to emails then look over my planned training session for the evening. I’ll make & take calls on my 1hr drive to the office. Most days I will have meetings to attend or need to check in with our admin person and executive director.
“Later in the afternoon I’ll meet the coaching staff for a coffee by our training facility then head on to the field at 4.30pm and stay until 9.30pm. We have seven teams training, with sessions lasting 75 minutes each. We train 4 days a week (Mon to Thu). Games are on the weekends with Friday often being a travel day. Our league games can be up to 7hrs away so we will often fly or take a team bus on the longer trips.”
What has been the biggest highlight of your career?
“Witnessing the progression my teams make over time.
“In 2007, my Chicago FC United Under 14 Boys team had a tough start. We lost our first 3 games, 6-0, 6-0 & 4-1. However, a year later the players made it to the last 16 in the country at MLS Next Cup as the U15 team. Then, at U16 we won the inaugural National Academy Championship at IMG Academy, Florida, before making it to the Quarter Finals at MLS Next Cup. I believed we had the quality to go all the way to the final, but we unfortunately lost 1-0 to the #1 ranked team after missing a first half penalty and conceding from a corner kick.
“Six of my starting players then moved on to join MLS pro clubs at the end of that season. I am proud of what that group achieved and look forward to seeing where they all end up in their careers.”
Have you had to overcome any challenges?
“One of the greatest challenges was adapting to living in a new country with a different culture and being so far away from all my family. Covid was tough as I wasn’t allowed to visit home for over 2 years. My wife is American but my closest friends over here are mostly British or European. Being from Perth I’m a St Johnstone supporter. In the 2020/21 season we won the double by clinching both the League Cup and Scottish Cup. Amazingly I found two fans here in Chicago to celebrate the achievement with!”