Coaches and managers

In order to serve as coach, assistant coach, manager, or work in any capacity with a member club, one must complete a background check, Concussion test, and SafeSport. To get an account created in Play Metrics, the CSA software used for tracking completion of these requirements, please contact your club.

Click here to view the CSA Safe Soccer Policy.

Below is a chart of what is risk management requirements are needed for each role, as well as how frequently they need to be completed.

Role Background Check SafeSport Concussion Test
Coach or Asst. Coach Required every two years Required every year Required every year
Manager or Chaperone Required every two years Required every year
All Club Staff Required every two years Required every year Required every year
Board Member Required every two years Required every year

Coaching Education Overview

CSA offers a variety of coaching courses within the Coaching License Pathway through US Soccer, as well as offering diplomas through United Soccer Coaches, with each diploma focusing on a different aspect of the game.

Please read the sections below to learn more about each course and click the link in the section to view upcoming courses.



Introduction to Grassroots Coaching

The Introduction to Grassroots Coaching is a FREE online course that is run through the US Soccer Learning Center. In order to enter the US Soccer Coaching Pathway and take further courses, this introduction course is a requirement. It only takes 20 minutes to complete and will set you on your way to becoming a licensed coach!

Click here to access the Introduction to Grassroots Coaching course in the US Soccer Learning Center.


Grassroots Modules

Each of the Grassroots Modules focus on a different playing size: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11. After completing the Introduction course, you can take as many of the Grassroots Modules as you wish. The course can either be taken online or in-person.

Click here to read more on the Grassroots Modules and view upcoming courses in Colorado.

US Soccer Coaching Licenses

The D License and C License are the courses offered and run by CSA and are the first licenses that can be taken after completing the prerequisite courses (Introduction to Grassroots Coaching & two Grassroots Modules).

The higher-level licenses (B, A-Youth, A-Senior, and Pro) are offered and administered by US Soccer at different locations across the country.

Click here to read more on the US Soccer Coaching Licenses and view upcoming courses in Colorado.

United Soccer Coaches

United Soccer Coaches offers a variety of courses across the spectrum of youth soccer, with each course focusing on a different aspect of the game. The courses are aimed at both developmental and advanced coaches, with some courses being run online-only and others being in-person courses.

Click here to read more on United Soccer Coaches and the education courses they offer.

Boys and Girls Coach of the Year (1987-1998)

1989 COTY
    1987
    Boys- Dan Huber (Fort Collins Arsenal)
    Girls- Rob Malmsten (Riverside Renegades)
    1988
    Boys- Larry Hopkins (Northglenn Thunder)
    Girls- Roland Struk (Club Denver)
    1989
    Boys- Al Lisi (Aurora SC)
    Girls- Gary Gustafson (Littleton)
    1991
    Boys- Mike Haas (Northglenn Thunder)
    Girls- Bill Schulmeister
    1992
    Girls- John Wray (Northglenn Thunder)
1993 COTY
    1993
    Boys- Carl Crayton, Sr.
    Girls- Duane Van Vleet (Littleton United)
    1994
    Boys- Jay Southern (FC Boulder)
    Girls- Ed Shaw (Lakewood Fury)
    1995
    Boys- Ben Oswald
    Girls- Ed Gonzales
    1996
    Boys- Dave Hughes (Club Columbine)
    Girls- Gordon Vellotta (Northglenn Thunder)

Al Ashton Boys & Girls Advanced Coach of the Year and Wilmer Vermilye Boys & Girls Recreational Coach of the Year (1999-Present)

1999 COTY
    1999
    Boys Adv- Al Lisi (Colorado Rush)
    Girls Adv- Todd Gette (Arvada SC)
    Boys Rec- John Thompson (Littleton)
    Girls Rec- Bill Heffernan (Colorado Rush)
    2000
    Boys Adv- Frank Kohlenstein (Douglas County SC/Real Colorado)
    Girls Adv- Phil Vigil (Table Mountain)
    Boys Rec- Dan Daugherty
    Girls Rec- Mike DeChadenedes
    2001
    Boys Adv- Kelvin Norman
    Girls Adv- Hossein Kazemi
    Boys Rec- Marcus Mullis
    Girls Rec- Lisa Dozier
    2002
    Boys Adv- Kim Perez
    Girls Adv- Todd Morris
    Boys Rec- Kaira Haycock
    Girls Rec- Larry Friend
2001 COTY
    2003
    Girls Adv- Stuart Sinclair
    2005
    Boys Adv- Krzysztof Myszkowski (Pride SC)
    Girls Adv- Rick Dressel (Arvada SC)
    Boys Rec- Jim and Candy Temby (Douglas County SC/Real Colorado)
    Girls Rec- Layne Corbin (Aurora SC)
    2006
    Boys Adv- Mike Roark (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    2007
    Boys Adv- Tony Minatta (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    Girls Adv- Ed Montojo (Riverside)
    Boys Rec- Dan Georgopulos (Colorado Rush)
    Girls Rec- Theresa Echtermeyer (Littleton)
2002 COTY
    2008
    Boys Adv- Arturo Hernandez (Chivas)
    Girls Adv- Scott DeDycker (Colorado Storm)
    Boys Rec- Nick Erlenburg (Real Colorado)
    Girls Rec- Curtis Rueter (Colorado Edge)
    2009
    Boys Adv- David Proctor (Colorado Fusion)
    Girls Adv- Tracy Tate (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    Boys Rec- Cathie Vitro (Pride SC)
    Girls Rec- Nicole Annest (Colorado Edge)
    2010
    Boys Adv- Steve Martin (Pride SC)
    Girls Adv- Carisa Bendico (Pride SC)
    Boys Rec- Bob Boyle (Colorado Fusion)
    Girls Rec- Clint Eccher (Arsenal Fort Collins)
2009 COTY
    2011
    Boys Adv- Chad Lauber (Pride SC)
    Girls Adv- Heather Solar (Boulder County Force)
    Boys Rec- Greg Sumlin (Littleton/Colorado United)
    Girls Rec- Tom Widera (Westminster)
    2012
    Boys Adv- Terrance Gunnells (Colorado Fusion/Rapids)
    Girls Adv- Paul Garcia (Colorado Rush)
    Boys Rec- Dennis Brooks (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    Girls Rec- Desiree Vasquez (Pueblo Rangers)
    2013
    Boys Adv- Chico Lara (Real Colorado)
    Girls Adv- Roby Monroe (Colorado Rapids)
    Boys Rec- Cole Sweetser (Durango SC)
    Girls Rec- Derek Starkey (Northern Colorado SC)
2011 COTY
    2014
    Boys Adv- Jeff Carroll (Colorado Storm North)
    Girls Adv- David Castro (Broomfield SC)
    Boys Rec- Pete Stuart (Skyline)
    Girls Rec- Dan Zur (Colorado Rush)
    2015
    Boys Adv- Tony Mortenson (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    Girls Adv- Travis “Tito” Ward (Littleton SC)
    Boys Rec- Ryan and Shanna Henkel (FC Boulder)
    Girls Rec- Levi Applegate (Basalt)
    2016
    Boys Adv- Brett O’Connor (Colorado United)
    Girls Adv- Daniel Nestor (Colorado Rapids)
    Boys Rec- James Wurth (St. Vrain FC)
    Girls Rec- Joanna Tucker (Durango)
    2017
    Boys Adv- John Calhoon (Colorado Storm Castle Rock)
    Girls Adv- Luis Dominguez, Jr. (Arsenal Fort Collins)
    Boys Rec- Kon Apostolopoulos (Westminster AFC)
    Girls Rec- Lindsey Hollingsworth (Boulder County SC)
2012
    2018
    Boys Adv- Timothy Laxson (St. Vrain FC)
    Girls Adv- Ryan Henkel (Real Colorado Edge)
    Boys Rec- Darren Kelly (FC Boulder)
    Girls Rec- Sean Seery (St. Vrain FC)
    2019
    Boys Adv- Salvador Avalos (CASA)
    Girls Adv- Rob Hilbert (Pride SC)
    Boys Rec- Avery Ball (Colorado Rapids Fort Collins)
    Girls Rec- Dan Giles (Broomfield SC)
    2021
    Boys Adv- Benjamin Sandoval (CASA)
    Girls Adv- Phil Cooper (Arsenal Colorado)
    Boys Rec- Rimini Hickey (Colorado Rapids Fort Collins)
    Girls Rec- Scott Barlow (HRSA)
2023 COTY
    2022
    Boys Adv- Scott DeDycker (Skyline SC)
    Girls Adv- Amber Bender (Colorado Ignite)
    Boys Rec- Nate Trussell (Steamboat SC)
    Girls Rec- Rachael Knable (Roaring Fork Valley SC)
    2023
    Boys Adv- John Hillman (Real Colorado)
    Girls Adv- Jayme Beamer Halsey (Arsenal Colorado)
    Boys Rec- Bobby Aldighieri (Steamboat Soccer Club)
    Girls Rec- Brian Haag (Telluride Youth Soccer)