coaches corner

April 3, 2020

Who was your biggest soccer role model growing up and what inspired you about him/her?

“My father Gene Williams is absolutely the inspiration for me to love being a coach in the game so much. My dad never played the game, but he saw how much I loved playing soccer at an early age and decided to immerse himself in learning the sport that he then knew virtually nothing about. He quickly became a soccer coaching guru. He started one of the first known independent select teams in North Texas and we quickly began to challenge the more established clubs. Our select team began winning North Texas Sanctioned tournaments. He was an innovator in his competitive tryout regiment and teaching skills training. He was well ahead of his time. He motivated me in training, and this propelled me to become a national skills finalist in 1978 competing in New York City with other finalists from all 50 states. Ultimately I became inspired by my own father who was initially inspired by me and my love of the sport at a very young age.”

What is the most important thing that you have learned from your players through coaching?

“In 20 years I have coached an estimated 700 different players which means I have learned many different things from the range of players I have had the privilege of coaching. However, the common thing I have learned from most (if not all) is that at the end of the day, these youth players all simply want to PLAY the Game. They want to feel the joy of being out there on the pitch in the arena with their teammates. They want to feel the competition and feel like they’re making a real contribution to the success of the team and we cannot forget that when we step on the field to coach.”

How do you find time for your family, a full-time job, and coaching multiple teams?

“I have often been asked this question over the years. Some people like to fish, hunt, or golf. For me, I knew I wanted to coach from a very young age. I remember in elementary school, I organized a soccer league at recess. I was completing written detailed training sessions at 9 years old and leading practices on the playground. This sport has been a part of my life for 40 plus years. My wife always tells me, people will find time for things that mean the most to them. Somehow, I manage to find time for all three (family, job and coaching) because I love coaching that much.”

What is hardest aspect of coaching competitive soccer in North Texas?

“The biggest challenge in my opinion for competitive coaches is in our ability to communicate effectively with the parents of the players. We must be very skillful at painting the picture to the parents that helps them understand the goals and philosophy of the club, the goals of the team and ultimately the goals for developing the individual player in the game. Being transparent, honest and above all being available to communicate and answer questions that parents might have. Showing the parents that you genuinely care and have a real desire to helping the player achieve a very meaningful experience is important. Of course, getting some real results is also a must. Ultimately the coach’s ability to be successful in the area of team management has become just as important as the on the field coaching piece of the job.”

What is the biggest thing you think sets our club apart from the rest of the clubs?

“Over the course of my coaching career, I have coached for some really large clubs. I have worked for Clubs such as Texas Longhorns, Andromeda, etc. I often refer to them as Big Box clubs. These types of clubs which could also include others such as Dallas Texans and FC Dallas seem to be interested in one basic idea: build up a large quantity of as many teams as possible by whatever means possible to promote the idea of a few top level teams which are supported financially by all the other teams. Pay handsomely the top coaches to take care of those highest level teams and spend very little effort to care for the majority of the other club teams. Coppell FC was a natural choice for me as a coach a few years back. There are a few key ingredients that make Coppell FC a good fit for me and to help set this club apart from other clubs. Here is the list that I can speak to:

Local Presence – We are a great club to choose for a hometown feel and are extremely convenient logistically for families to participate and not have the sport consume their schedule
Coaching staff is committed to the same goals which benefit the players in every way
Facilities are top notch, including lights and turf for inclement weather days
Best value for the experience (nearly half the cost of the Big Box clubs)
Growing quickly in the North Texas soccer arena
True non-profit with no strings attached (all the money collected is accounted for and goes toward the benefit of the players)
Visionary leadership (providing great direction for growth and keeping a great coaching staff)
Extra programming for added value (if you want the training, the club will provide it)”