Craig Surgey - Director of Coaches and Recruitment

Craig brings a wealth of coach education and development skills to US Soccer Coaching as its Director of Coaches and Recruitment. He was born in Loughborough, England and played for professional soccer clubs in England as a youth before developing himself as a professional coach and working toward his UEFA B License. Since leaving the UK to develop a career in the US he has gained further US Soccer Coaching Certifications Craig has established himself as an expert coach educator within the American Youth Soccer Organization market.

Having worked in the USA for several years, Craig has worked with every kind of player, coach, parent, referee and board member within the Northern California Youth Soccer Market. Among many positions Craig has been a Program Manager, Director of Coaching, Head Trainer and Recruitment manager for organizations such as MLS Camps, USG Soccer and local soccer organizations.

In some of the specific programs Craig has developed age groups that ranged from 3-5 year olds at pre-schools, AYSO soccer, competitive soccer teams, city programs, and USSF soccer academies, plus working with local professional club the San Jose earthquakes.

As a coach educator Craig has developed novice coaches that have limited knowledge about soccer and educated them to a level where they are confident to that they can coach their players in an age appropriate, fun and developmental structure. This has been a challenging position but very rewarding, keeping people enthusiastic about soccer and making them feel comfortable on the field, understanding the importance of what they are coaching is a necessary component of the game of soccer.

US Soccer Coaching allows Craig to work with his many relationships at every sort of soccer organization; recreational, competitive and professional soccer clubs and is now looking forward to working with them and extending their knowledge of the game and his own development at a level with US Soccer Coaching unseen before.

While in the UK for an interim period, Craig will head up the US Soccer Coaching UK Office for coach recruitment and training, while extending his coaching skills at a local soccer club and developing community soccer schemes.

Why US Soccer Coaching? ‘A player should never get held back by poor coaching and coaches shouldn’t be held back in their development by a lack of information and support’