Placer United is proud to congratulate Paul O’Brien on his successful completion of the U.S. Soccer Academy Director course offered by invitation only to candidates who are working Club Academy Directors with a USSF A license.
Paul was selected as one of only fourteen participants from across the country to participate in the year-long course. U.S. Soccer developed the Academy Director (AD) course to assist in better improving, educating, and informing youth soccer leaders from around the country. The course includes face-to-face interactions, numerous individual and group projects, as well as 7-course modules which included one held in Manchester City, England.
The accomplishment goes beyond the certificate of completion. Upon the conclusion of the course, Paul was selected as a training mentor for candidates in the next course due to his demonstration of leadership from the prior year.
“It was both an honor and a privilege to be selected for this invitation-only course by USSF,” said Paul. “The course was pretty intense at times as it’s a pass or fail environment with absolutely no allowances given to anybody regarding assignment deadlines or attendance at the out-of-state meetings. But I did have a great time learning and working alongside some of the top USSF Academy Club Directors from all over the U.S . We all share the same goals of raising the standard and daily training environments in our clubs for the betterment of the players.”
Placer United is proud to have Paul at the helm of our Club and look forward to all the exciting things he will continue to offer with his new license designation.
Congratulations and #placerproud!
“I am so excited and happy to announce that I have verbally committed to play D1 soccer at Eastern Washington University! I can’t wait to continue my academic and soccer career there! Thank you so much to my coaches, team, family, and friends for the constant support. And a special thank you to my coach Ron Benjamin for his continuous support and dedication. He has helped me grow so much as a player, and also helped me throughout the process. I am forever grateful. I’m excited for my journey to continue at such a great school! GoEags!”
