RICHMOND, Va. (December 31, 2025) - The ECNL is excited to announce that the ninth annual ECNL Coaching Symposium, powered by US Club Soccer, will take place February 3-4, 2026, at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Ten leaders from across the world will be sharing insights and expertise on a wide variety of topics during this incredible educational event.
The ECNL Coaching Symposium will feature experts with presentations addressing technical and tactical development, leadership and personal development, club and organizational development, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow leaders and coaches, share ideas and best practices, and will return to their clubs with ideas to innovate and push the game forward. Get a sense of the size, scope and excitement of the event from last year!
Below is the fantastic lineup of speakers at this year's event (listed alphabetically).
Neil Bath - Former Academy Director, Chelsea Football Club
Neil Bath has spent the majority of his professional career at Chelsea FC, where he built a distinguished reputation in youth development and football operations. He began with eight years as an Academy Coach before moving into a 20-year tenure overseeing the club's Youth Development Programme. In his final two years, he served as Director of Football Development and Training Ground Operations.
During Bath's leadership, Chelsea's academy grew into one of the most recognised and productive talent pathways in global football. The youth team secured seven FA Youth Cup titles, reached four UEFA Youth League finals—winning two—and achieved multiple additional honours. The academy also r0ose to No. 1 in England for player productivity, with numerous graduates progressing to Chelsea's first team or generating significant value through transfers.
In July 2024, Bath chose to step away from the club, taking a year to reflect and learn from a range of clubs, sports, and business environments. He now works as a consultant, supporting organisations with leadership development, coach education, and high-performance talent systems.
Amie Bracken - Director Of Brand Services, ECNL
With more than 20 years of experience, Amie Bracken is an accomplished brand builder and organizational leader who excels at harnessing creative talent to solve complex business challenges. After consulting the ECNL from its inception in 2008 to the rebrand in 2018, she recently joined the organization to help steer the brand through its continued growth and expansion.
As a brand and marketing strategist, she uses positioning, architecture and visual identity to build brands worth fighting for. She spent her career leading major initiatives across a wide variety of categories with companies like Cincinnati Children's, Allergan, Smuckers, P&G, Bayer, and the Cincinnati Reds.
Bracken is driven by a commitment to cultivating a culture of connection and co-creation. A dedicated advocate, she champions both the work and the people behind it, defining success through the growth of her teams and the measurable progress of the brands she nurtures.
She holds a degree in Marketing and Communications from Georgetown College, is a three-time Boston Marathon qualifier, and a mediocre downhill skier.
Ceri Bowley - Chief Soccer Officer, NC Courage (NWSL)
Ceri Bowley is the Chief Soccer Officer for the North Carolina Courage where he oversees all player and staff development. Bowley worked as a first team assistant for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 2023. Prior to that, he worked for many years for City Football Group (CFG) where he led the creation and implementation of the City Football Methodology, which remains in place at CFG clubs across the globe. Bowley holds a PhD in Sports Psychology and Coaching Science, and has worked with Barry Town, the English FA, Swansea City and Merthyr Town in various roles.
Thomas Christiansen - Men's National Team Coach, Panama
Thomas Christiansen is the head coach of the Panama Men's National Team. Since he took the reins of the Panama team in 2020, he has led the team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and to two CONCACAF Gold Cups, finished as finalists in both the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, and finished as quarterfinalists in the 2024 Copa America. Prior to coaching Panama, Christiansen was the manager at Belgium's Union SG (2019-2020), England's Leeds United (2017-2018), and Cypress clubs APOEL (2016-2017) and AEK Larnaca (2014-2016). He led AEK Larnaca to their best ever league finish in both seasons (2nd place), and led APOEL to the league title and Round of 16 of the Europa League. As a player, Christiansen had a 15-year career with clubs in Denmark, Spain and Germany, leading the Bundesliga in scoring for Bochum in 2002-2003, and earned two caps for the Spanish National Team.
Andrea Cortez - Director Of Creative Services, ECNL
Andrea Cortez is a seasoned creative strategist and communications professional with a 10+ year track record of driving digital engagement and brand development in competitive sports environments. She currently serves as Director of Creative Services for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), where she leads creative direction, social strategy, and digital content for one of the most visible and respected youth sports platforms in the country.
Her creative work and digital strategies have been featured by major national media outlets, including ESPN, ABC, and USA Today, and earned national honors from CoSIDA, SkullSparks, and others, underscoring her innovation, impact, and excellence in digital strategy and sports communications.
Before transforming youth sports marketing, Cortez spent over eight years in Division I athletics. She rebranded and elevated four university athletic departments, building creative infrastructure from the ground up and pioneering the long-form, athlete-driven content strategies now standard across collegiate and youth athletics.
A former Division I collegiate athlete, Cortez uniquely blends creative leadership, brand development, cross-platform storytelling, and media strategy. She holds a B.S. in Sports Management from North Carolina Central University and an M.S. in Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University.
Russel Earnshaw - Former Premiership Rugby Player; Coach Educator
Since graduating from Cambridge in 1997 with a Masters in Economics and Mathematics, Russel Earnshaw has been involved in sport as a player and a coach. He played and coached in the World 7's Series and in the Commonwealth Games, winning multiple events and finishing in 2013 with a silver medal in the 2013 7's World Cup. He also coached the England U18's and U20's Men, U18's Women and GB Students.
In 2013, Earnshaw took a two-year sabbatical to teach Economics (the best CPD he ever did!) and now works cross-sport (with organizations including NZ Rugby, GB Hockey and the Premier League) and in business (including Google and Abbott) with a focus on developing people, leadership, coaching, working as effective teams and creative thinking. He currently works with coaches from International to Champions League to grass roots. There is nothing earnshaw loves more than being on the pitch with coaches.
Brent Gleeson - CEO Exceler8; Former Navy SEAL
A Navy SEAL combat veteran, award-winning tech entrepreneur, three-time bestselling author, and Forbes leadership columnist, Brent Gleeson is a globally recognized expert and acclaimed speaker on topics ranging from resilience, mental toughness, leadership, and building high-performance teams to culture and organizational transformation.
Gleeson is the Founder and CEO of EXCELR8, an enterprise software and management consulting firm whose mission is to equip committed teams with the leadership tools and professional development necessary to navigate change and growth with accuracy and precision.
Gleeson holds degrees in finance and economics from Southern Methodist University, degrees in English Literature and Criminal Justice from Oxford University, and an MBA from the University of San Diego. He is the #1 bestselling author of Embrace the Suck: The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life and TakingPoint: A Navy SEAL's 10 Fail-Safe Principles for Leading Through Change. His third book, All In: The Pathway to Personal Growth and Professional Excellence, was released on December 2, 2025 and became an instant USA Today bestseller. Gleeson is married with four amazing children.
Doug Lemov - ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor
Doug Lemov is the ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor and an impactful educator of both teachers and coaches. He is the international best-selling author of the best-seller Teach Like a Champion and of the highly acclaimed The Coach's Guide to Teaching. He is also the co-author of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered, Teaching in the Online Classroom, and Reconnect. Lemov has been an instructor with the US Soccer Federation in their Pro License and other courses, and has consulted with coaches and sporting organizations around the world, including in MLB, the NBA, MLS, and more.
Stephen Torpey - Academy Director at Manchester United
Stephen Torpey, appointed Academy Director of Manchester United in September, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and forward-thinking leaders in youth development in English football. His career spans elite roles at Liverpool FC, Manchester City, and Brentford, where he has consistently transformed coaching environments and accelerated player pathways.
At Manchester City, Torpey played a central role in creating one of Europe's most successful academy models — delivering three consecutive PL2 titles, multiple U18 national titles, and helping produce a generation of players who progressed into top European leagues. At Brentford, he led the academy's full strategic rebuild and delivered the unprecedented jump from Category 4 to Category 2, redefining the club's long-term development structure.
A former FA National School scholar and Liverpool FC professional, Torpey is also a highly respected keynote speaker and coach educator, contributing to the FA's highest-level coaching awards. His leadership is recognised for combining innovation, clarity of vision, and a relentless commitment to developing world-class talent.
Drew Watson - ECNL Medical Advisor
Drew Watson, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Public Health and board certified in pediatrics and sports medicine. He is a team physician for the University of Wisconsin and Forward Madison FC in USL League One and serves as the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor. He is the Director of both the ECNL Center for Athlete Health and Performance and the University of Wisconsin Human Performance Laboratory, conducting research in pediatric exercise physiology, injury prevention and the impacts of injuries on well-being and mental
The 2026 ECNL Coaching Symposium is part of the league's club and coach development platform, a key component in the league's mission to Raise The Game by providing unique coach and club development opportunities to youth soccer coaches and organizations. The event is open to coaches regardless of league affiliation.
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About the ECNL:
The ECNL is the nation's leading youth soccer development platform for America's top soccer players. The ECNL mission to provide the best youth sports experience in the world drives constant innovations in competitions and experiences for players, parents, families, coaches, referees, and partners. The ECNL has questioned convention and challenged the status quo of youth sport since 2009, pushing boundaries and striving for unmatched excellence. Together with its clubs and club leaders, the ECNL creates unforgettable memories and supports the development of youth players into college stars, professionals, world champions, and leaders.
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