RICHMOND, Va. (November 6, 2026) - The ECNL and Coaches' Voice are proud to announce the first graduating class from the ECNL's Coach Development Diploma program, an expansion of the ECNL Coaching Education Center, powered by the Coaches' Voice, providing coaches with deeper, more specialized content in specific learning areas for ongoing coach education and development.
The class spent 12 weeks during the summer and into the fall earning their Expert in Youth Football Diploma, which focuses on coaching in the U12 and younger age groups, providing coaches with methodology, guidance and research-backed principles for coaching young athletes in critical ages of development.
The content in the Expert in Youth Football Diploma was developed by the Coaches' Voice School and has been implemented by coaches at Manchester City, LAFC, River Plate and national federations across the Americas. The diploma consisted of four units and 40 hours of content, including a framework for planning sessions and seasons, and a deeper understanding of how young players learn, develop physically, and grow in their game.
"Sharing best practices and increasing the development and support of coaches in Zone 1 is something we are very passionate about, and is one of the most impactful ways to improve the trajectory of players over the long-term," said ECNL President Christian Lavers. "Congratulations to all of these coaches on their fantastic commitment to self-development, and thank you to the clubs that have invested and supported them in this journey. We are excited for more coaches and clubs to take these steps in the next class."
The graduates from the Expert in Youth Football Diploma are as follows:
Leonardo Santin - Alabama FC
David Belfort - Arizona Arsenal
Elvin Arbaiza - Arlington Soccer Association
Darion Green - Boise Timbers | Thorns
Eric Simmonsen - Boise Timbers | Thorns
Gavin Kempe - Boise Timbers | Thorns
Jeff Turner - Boise Timbers | Thorns
Mackenzie Bray - Boise Timbers | Thorns
Kevin Plech - Capital FC
Luis Padilla - DKSC
Ruairi McGuinness - East Meadow SC
Desiree Castillo - El Paso Locomotive FC
Martin Hernandez - El Paso Locomotive FC
Chris Le - Empire State Youth Soccer Club
Thomas O'Daniels - Empire State Youth Soccer Club
Erik Casterline - FC Alliance
Shawn McDonough - FC Stars
Monica Gonyo - FC Wisconsin
Jesus Garcia - Great Falls Reston Soccer Club
Ian Smith - Minnesota Thunder Academy
Matt VanBenschoten - Minnesota Thunder Academy
Steven Barnes - NWI Lions United
Paige Knorr - Ohio Elite SA
Jimmy Galvan - Ohio Premier
Daniel Gibson - Oklahoma Celtic
Connor Roth - Oregon Premier FC
Nate Jackson - Oregon Premier FC
Eric Madrigal - Palo Alto SC
Matthew Hanson - Pateadores
Kevin Luber - PDA
Paul Lester - Phoenix Rising
Chris Resseguie - Pipeline SC
Daniel Lawson - PSA Monmouth
Andy Mittler - Reno Apex Soccer Club
Amanda Galbraith - Santa Rosa United
Marty Golightly - Scorpions SC
Alex Schnobrich - St. Croix SC
Cole Schwartz - St. Croix SC
Irvin Gonzalez - St. Croix SC
Christian Valdez - St. Croix SC
Jermaine Bell - Team Boca
Bobby Puppione - VDA
Brandon Clegg - VDA
Connor Andrews - VDA
Jov Hall - VDA
Matt Lacey - VDA
Matt Rowe - VDA
Mike DiNuzzo - VDA
Tyler Andrus - VDA
Andres Frick - Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC
Rob Jackman - WNY Flash Academy
"Congratulations to all 51 coaches on becoming the first ECNL Diploma graduates," said Ben Sciama, Chief Revenue Officer for Coaches' Voice. "This cohort is now better equipped to give their players the best possible development environment. The Diplomas are just one part of an evolving partnership, and together with the ECNL we're building new ways to support coaches and raise standards."
Originally announced at the 2026 ECNL Coaching Symposium and launched in May 2026, the ECNL's Coach Development Diploma program furthers the ECNL's mission to continue to raise the quality of coaching in America. Since the initial announcement, more than 300 coaches have expressed interest and registered for future Coach Development Diploma program offerings. Details regarding the next Coach Development Diploma program will be announced soon.
The ECNL's Coach Development Diploma program serves as an additional, elective extension of the ECNL's Coach Education Center, a groundbreaking digital education platform providing online professional development resources to coaches and clubs across America. The launch and expansion of the ECNL Coach Education Center is in furtherance of the league's vision to provide the best youth sports experience in the world by investing in the on-going development of innovative and ambitious youth coaches. Through online courses, modules, resources and more, the ECNL Coach Education Center will help improve the environment and accelerate the growth of the next generation of American players.
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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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