U.S. Soccer announced on Monday the crop of coaches to achieve their Pro License in 2018, a list spanning the landscape of professional soccer that includes six MLS coaches.
Assistant coaches Kenny Arena (LAFC), Brian Callaghan (Philadelphia Union), Robin Fraser (Toronto FC), Sean McAuley (Orlando City) and Junior Gonzalez and Ezra Hendrickson of the LA Galaxy all earned the country's highest coaching license, the culmination of a year's work in high-level skill development.
“It's an awesome experience to work with coaches every time,” Wim Van Zwam, U.S. Soccer lead instructor for the course, said in a statement. “To start with a group in January, to see them develop and to see the difference in their behavior, individually and as a group at the end of the course is amazing. Learning to reflect on why you do what you do has been the central thread during this course.
“For us, that's the most important question: Why do I do the things I do every day? Why do I ask this question to my players? Why do I work this way? Why do I organize practice in this way? Is there a more efficient and effective way? Because at the end of the day, it's all about being more effective in what you do. That translates a lot of times to winning more games.”
This year's Pro License course is just its third edition. The course features in-person instruction, visits by coach educators to participants' home club environments and a final assessment, among other attributes designed to help coaches realize their full potential.
Orlando head coach James O'Connor and Houston head coach Wilmer Cabrera each began the course in 2018 and are slated to finish it next year.
The complete list of coaches that obtained their Pro License in 2018 is below.
- Vlatko Andonovski (Head coach, Seattle Reign, NWSL)
- Kenny Arena (Assistant coach, LAFC, MLS)
- Brian Callaghan (Assistant coach, Philadelphia Union, MLS)
- Robin Fraser (Assistant coach, Toronto FC, MLS)
- Junior Gonzalez (Assistant coach, LA Galaxy, MLS)
- Ezra Hendrickson (Assistant coach, LA Galaxy, MLS)
- Sean McAuley (Assistant coach, Orlando City SC, MLS)
- Mike Munoz (Head coach, LA Galaxy II, USL Championship)
- Anthony Pulis (Head coach, St. Louis FC, USL Championship)
- Paul Riley (Head coach, NC Courage, NWSL)
- Ian Russell (Head coach, Reno 1868, USL Championship)
- Steve Trittschuh (Head coach, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, USL Championship)
