2024 Release/Map
2024 ECNL Coaching Symposium Speakers
Drew Brees: Drew is the 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. A native of Austin, TX, Brees attended Purdue University where he earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from the prestigious Krannert School of Management, was a two-time Heisman finalist, and led the Boilermakers to a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl appearance during the 2000 season. In that same year, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top collegiate player as well as being named Academic All-American Player of the Year and was a recipient of the National Football Foundation's post-graduate scholarship. In Brees' five years with the San Diego Chargers and fifteen years with the New Orleans Saints, he was elected to 13 Pro Bowls while being named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 All-Pro Team, 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 2008 and 2011 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl XLIV Champion and MVP. Off the field, Drew and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 and have contributed over $50,000,000 to help improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need. Brees has also proudly participated in five USO trips visiting Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Turkey, Djibouti, Dubai, Okinawa, and Guantanamo Bay. Brees currently serves on the board of directors for multiple franchise companies, C3 Bank, and Pioneer Sports. He has been a strong advocate for advancing the opportunities for youth through sports, including co-founding a youth flag football league called Football N America that hosts leagues, tournaments, and clinics nationwide.
Ceri Bowley: Ceri is the ECNL Technical Advisor and a consultant for Double Pass, one of the world’s leading football consultancy organizations. Most recently, Ceri worked as a first team assistant for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Prior to that, he worked for many years for City Football Group 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.
Martin Diggle: Martin has been the Head of Coach Development at Liverpool FC since 2019, is a UEFA A and Advanced Youth Award coach and tutor, and holds a Masters in coaching/ coach development. Martin has worked in professional player and coach development for over 20 years. Working with Academy Director Alex Ingelthorpe, Martin has overall responsibility for the development of coaches working with players from age 8-21 and implementation of the clubs coaching and playing methodology across the academy. Previously, Martin worked at Bolton Wanderers, Leeds Beckett University, and the English Football Association. At the FA, Martin managed 20 technical staff supporting all 92 professional clubs, and also was responsible for delivery of all professional game UEFA L4 (A) and 5 (PRO) qualifications and CPD, as well as working strategically with the Technical Director Dan Ashworth, UEFA, Premier League (PL), English football League (EFL), League Managers Association (LMA) and Professional Football Association (PFA) on coach development in the professional game.
Paul McVeigh: Paul is a Performance Psychologist and previously played professional soccer for nearly 20 years in the English Premier League. He has competed with and against some of the best players in the world like Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Paul Scholes, David Ginola, Jurgen Klinsmann and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. These tacit lessons have elevated Paul's understanding of what it takes to be an elite performer on a global scale. Paul’s credibility comes from the unique combination of reaching the pinnacle of elite sport as well as being the first English Premier League player to qualify with a Master’s Degree in Psychology. He is also an established broadcaster on TV and radio with the BBC, Sky Sports, BT Sport, and a published author with Bloomsbury of the ironically entitled book ‘The Stupid Footballer is Dead’. Paul has recently worked with Rolls Royce, PWC, Grant Thornton, Aviva, Barclays, KPMG, Accenture, Deutsche Bank, Invesco, Swiss Reinsurance, Nat West, Cisco, Microsoft, Volvo, Investec, NHS, BT, GlaxoSmithKline and many more.
Sean Nahas: Sean just finished his second season as the head Coach of the Carolina Courage in the NWSL, and signed a 3-year extension for the future. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the Courage from 2017-2021 helping them to multiple league championships, while also holding director roles with the Capital Area Soccer League (now NCFC Youth / NC Courage Academy) since 2004. He also held various assistant coach and scouting roles with U14, U15, U19 and U20 US Soccer Youth National Teams.
Charlie Stillitano: Charlie is the Chairman for Serie A USA, working to strengthen the league’s expansion in the US through new commercial opportunities like regional deals with clubs and leagues, friendlies and fan events.
In 2017, Stillitano was named to ESPN FC’s Top 50, and theScore’s Top 25 most influential people in world soccer. Stillitano is regarded as one of the most experienced and well-connected Americans in the global game. He has built strong relationships and friendships with the most powerful people in the sport for over 30 years.
In 2013, Stillitano co-founded Relevent Sports Group and helped create the preeminent pre-season tournament for European soccer, the International Champions Cup (ICC). The tournament spans multiple continents each summer and fields the premiere European soccer clubs in the world. Stillitano is also a board member of Street Soccer USA and co-hosts “The Football Show,” a pioneering radio talk show, every weekday morning from 7:00am–9:00am on Sirius XM FC (Channel 157).
Prior to RSG, Stillitano held several leadership positions in the soccer business, including Venue Executive Director for the 1994 FIFA World Cup (NY/NJ), General Manager of the NY/NJ MetroStars of Major League Soccer and Vice Chairman and board member of the US Soccer Foundation. Stillitano also served as Founder, President, and CEO of ChampionsWorld, L.L.C. from 2000-2006, and he worked with the Creative Artist Agency from 2007-2012 as a senior executive in the soccer business division, which he helped launch.
Stillitano graduated in 1981 from Princeton University where he was an All-American and captain of the men’s varsity soccer team. He earned a law degree in 1987 from Rutgers University School of Law. In 2020, he was awarded the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Pingry Alumni Association, The Letter-in-Life Award. This recognition honors those who, in gaining distinction for themselves, have also brought honor to the school. Stillitano’s network and experience make him one of the most connected, respected and influential figures in international soccer.
Shari Summers: Shari is the Chief Soccer Growth Officer for US Soccer. In her role she focuses on growing participation in soccer across the U.S. and fostering high-quality, safe, and fun environments for play and development. Shari formerly served as the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations at WAVE Sports & Entertainment (WSE), and worked in strategy consulting at Bain & Company. Shari played professional soccer for FK Fortuna in Norway, after playing all four years at Stanford University.
Drew Watson: Drew Watson, MD, MS is the ECNL Medical Advisor. He is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Pediatrics and Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and a team physician for Badger Athletics. He is board certified in pediatrics and sports medicine, serves as the head team physician for Forward Madison FC (USL), and earned his US Soccer “A” license in 2001. He also directs the UW Human Performance Laboratory, conducting research in both pediatric exercise physiology, injury prediction and the impacts of injuries on well-being and mental health in youth and collegiate athletes.
ECNL Coaching Symposium Past Speakers
Margueritte Aozasa: Margueritte Aozasa led UCLA to the 2022 Division I NCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship in her first season as a head coach, after six years as an assistant at Stanford University where the team also won two national championships. Aozasa coached club soccer in the ECNL with MVLA for nearly 10 years while with Stanford. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 Class in 2018.
Tom Byer: Byer has impacted the development of millions of children across Asia over the past 20 years, presenting in over 20 countries worldwide, and is currently the Head Technical Advisor for the Chinese School Football Program Office and the Official CSF Grassroots Ambassador. He is the author of the book “
Football Starts at Home,” has traveled the world speaking to clubs, federations, and leagues regarding youth development, and was profiled in HBO’s Real Sports last year.
Didier Chambaron: Didier Chambaron is the US Soccer Director of Coaching Education. Prior to this position, he was the US Soccer “A” license Technical Lead. From 2007-2016 he held different roles as Head of Coach Education for the Oceania Confederation, player development and methodology consultant for FIFA, and coach and coach educator for the French Football Federation (FFF).
Fergus Connolly: Fergus Connolly is one of the world’s leading experts in team sport and human performance, the only coach to have worked full-time in every major league around the world, and the author of the highly acclaimed books “Game Changer – The Art of Sport Science” and “59 Lessons – Working with the World’s Greatest Coaches, Athletes and Special Forces.” Fergus has been Director of Elite Performance for the San Francisco 49ers, Sport Science Director with the Welsh Rugby Union, and Performance Director for University of Michigan Football.
Cristina Fink: Cristina Fink is the ECNL Mental Performance Advisor, and a licensed Performance Psychologist who has worked with Olympic Medalists, World Champions, and various professional and national teams. As a former two-time Olympic High Jumper (Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992) who held the Mexican High Jump Record with a 6’4’’ jump that stood for 22 years, Fink brings her personal experience to her professional expertise when educating coaches on how to more impactfully work with athletes.
Codey Gandey: Codey Gandy is a former U.S. Marine, and current leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor for Echelon Front, the globally renowned leadership consultancy founded by retired U.S. Navy Seals Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, also co-authors of the #1 NY Times bestseller “Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALs Lead and Win”. Codey spent over 5 years as a ground combat leader for various units in the Marine Corps. He brings unique experience in demonstrating leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization.
Ryan Hawk: Ryan Hawk is the host of The Learning Leader Show, called “the most dynamic podcast around” by Forbes Magazine and “one of the 5 podcasts to make you smarter” by Inc. Magazine. Hawk is also the author of “Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader” and “The Pursuit of Excellence: The Uncommon Behaviors of the World’s Most Productive Achievers.” Ryan speaks and consults with some of the world’s leading brands.
Luke Hobbs: Luke Hobbs is the Head of Academy Coaching for Arsenal Football Club in London. He has worked at Arsenal since 2013 in a variety of roles, including as U9-U12 lead phase coach, and as U12-U14 lead phase coach. Prior to his time at Arsenal, Hobbs was the Center of Excellence Manager and Head of Coaching for Southend United, and the Head of Recruitment and Youth Development for Cambridge United, among other roles.
James Kerr: Kerr is the best-selling author of international best-seller “Legacy: What the All-Blacks Can Teach Us About Business and Life,” studying the world’s most dominant sports team of all time. Kerr brings powerful and practical lessons in leadership and culture from the All-Blacks and translates them to all sports.
Doug Lemov: Doug Lemov is the ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor and impactful educator of teachers and coaches. He is the international best-selling author of the international best-seller Teach Like a Champion and of the highly acclaimed The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. 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.
Meg Nemzer: Meg Nemzer is the head coach at the University of Maryland. In her first year, she led the Terps to their most wins in Big Ten play since 2019. Prior to Maryland, she spent eight seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Rutgers University, helping the Scarlet Knights to two College Cups. At the club level, Nemzer worked for many years with PDA, and in 2015 became the first female head coach to win an ECNL national championship with her U17 team.
Missy Price: Dr. Missy Price is the Vice President of Education and Development at US Club Soccer, after previously serving as the Vice President of Women’s Soccer at the USL (United Soccer League). Dr. Price holds numerous coaching licenses and has served as a coach educator for United Soccer Coaches and US Soccer, including the federation’s SheChampions mentor program for women coaches. She has a Ph.D. in sport psychology and brings more than 25 years of experience as a college coach, instructor, consultant, author, and public speaker.
Tiffany Roberts: Tiffany Roberts is the Director of Coaching for Utah Royals FC – AZ, after previously being the Executive Director for Kings Hammer SC (OH) for 8 years and coaching at the University of Cincinnati. She was also an assistant coach for the United States U-17 YNT at the 2022 World Cup in India.
Kris Van Der Haegen: Kris Van Der Haegen is the Director of Coach Education of the Royal Belgian Football Association, a member of the JIRA Panel advising UEFA and UEFA’s member associations on coaching education, the assistant coach for the Belgian Women’s National Team, and was a scout for the Belgian Men’s National Team in the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Kris was a key part of the transformation of the Belgian youth system that is based upon the vision of development of the Belgian FA. The change of philosophy in the FA, and collaboration with Belgian professional clubs, has led to the “golden generation” of players that just finished 3rd in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Mark Williams: Mark Williams is a world-leading sports scientist with a focus on expertise and skill acquisition in sport and other professional domains. He is currently a Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Utah, having previously worked in the UK and Australia, and has published almost 500 articles in fields including sports science, psychology, neuroscience, medicine and education. His book ‘The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made’ was published in August 2020, and he has previously delivered courses or services for UEFA, IOC, FIFA, The FA, as well as a multitude of professional sports teams in the Premier League, Premiership Rugby, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and several Olympic sports including GB Hockey and Sailing and the US Ski Team.
Ronnie Woodard: Ronnie Woodard is the Director of Member Services and Community for Tennessee Soccer Club, as well as a coach for their ECNL and USL W-League programs. She is also a US Soccer Coaching Educator, US Soccer Talent Scout, and a Jill Ellis “She Champions” Mentor, a program designed to retain, encourage, and support female coaches. Previously, she was the head women’s soccer coach at Vanderbilt University and the College of Charleston, as well as an assistant at multiple colleges.
