Each summer the National Soccer Coaches Association of America features 6-8 college campuses where we offer our residential National, Advanced National and Premier Diploma courses.  We have already previewed courses at Methodist University and Regis University. Over the next several weeks, we will take a look at the remaining sites where you can take either the National or Advanced National Diploma. Today, we preview the National and Advanced National Diploma courses being held at Curry College.

For the first time in over a decade, the NSCAA has a new site in New England for its residential course offerings.  The picturesque, tree-shrouded Curry College campus in Milton, Mass. will host both the National and Advanced National Diploma courses during the week of June 25-July 1.  Located just seven miles from downtown Boston and near the Blue Hills, Curry is a great option for coaches desiring to immerse themselves in soccer for a week.  With housing, meals, classrooms and fields all on campus, you won’t have anything to worry about other than the course.

Are you worrying about getting to Curry?  Don’t.  Large airports, including Boston Logan and TF Green, located in Providence, RI, are both options, as well as public transportation.  Late June weather in Massachusetts is typically nice, but warm.  Temperatures range from lows in the upper 50s to highs in mid to upper 70s.  And if you have a few vacation days to spare after the course, there is no place better to spend the Independence Day holiday than “the Hub” of American revolutionary history.

We work hard to put together a top notch staff for each of the courses we offer.  This summer’s course Directors at Curry College are Peter Gooding and Doug Williamson.   Peter will be directing the National Diploma while Doug will serve as the Director for the Advanced National Diploma.  Joining Peter as staff for the National Diploma will be Felicity Day, Deb Raber, Giovanni Pacini and Gary Cook.  Doug will be joined by Nancy Feldman and Jeff Vennell for the Advanced National Diploma.  Each of these coaches earned their spots on our National Staff by virtue of their outstanding ability to help other coaches become more capable teachers of the game, and each has served as more than just a Coaching Academy Staff coach.

Peter Gooding, a successful coach at Amherst College for more than 30 years, was a founder and principal architect of our Coaching Academy and served a term as Director of Coaching Education.  He is an NSCAA Past President, Honor Award winner, Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education award winner and currently serves as the Chair of the NSCAA Education Committee.

Doug Williamson, the Assistant Director of Coaching Education for the NSCAA, has over 300 victories and a nearly 70 percent winning percentage in coaching stints at both the college and high school levels.  A member of the NSCAA Coaching Staff since 1984, Doug was a candidate in the first ever National Diploma course in 1984 at Quincy College in Illinois.  When asked what he thought was the best thing about the NSCAA Coaching Academy, he responded: “The quest on the part of all involved in the Academy - staff and participants alike - to grow and develop in learning how to coach the game produces both collegiality and an incredible learning environment.”

A former collegiate All-American, Felicity Day, joined the NSCAA National Staff after receiving a Distinguished Passing grade in the Premier Diploma.  Away from NSCAA, Felicity has spent time playing for Arsenal’s Women’s team in England and served as a collegiate coach for two years before returning home to serve as the Coaching Director at John Smith Soccer Schools and Sports Center. 

Another NSCAA Premier Diploma holder, Deb Raber, brings almost 20 years of coaching experience to the NSCAA.  The Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Deb has also spent time at Springfield College and Castleton State College.  Deb has led her team to a conference championship and two ECAC post-season tournament appearances in the past three seasons.  Her involvement with the NSCAA includes the Ethics Committee and a position on the National Goalkeeping Staff.

Giovanni Pacini, Lasell College’s Head Men’s Soccer Coach for 14 years, has led the Lasers to 11 winning seasons and appearances in both NCAA and ECAC post-season play.  He is heavily involved in the NSCAA outside of the Coaching Academy, currently serving as the State Director for Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as a member of the NSCAA Education Committee and as the chair of the Technical Committee.  Giovanni is also a graduate of the NSCAA Master Coach Diploma, the highest Diploma we offer.

Gary Cook, NSCAA Regional Director for Region 1, is also a very successful coach.  With more than 200 wins, Gary has been the head coach at Wilbraham-Monson Academy in Massachusetts for 30 years.  He was named the Massachusetts Prep/Parochial Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 2004.   A member of the NSCAA Associate National Staff, Gary has taken both the Advanced National and Premier Diploma courses.

Nancy Feldman is the Head Women’s Coach at Boston University, where she has led the Terriers to 10 NCAA tournament appearances and nine America East Conference championships.  Additionally, Nancy serves as the Chair of the Education Subcommittee for Convention Education Programming.

A coach for more than 40 years, Jeff Vennell brings a wealth of experience to the NSCAA Coaching Academy.  In addition to conference championships and postseason honors as a college coach, Jeff has been heavily involved with the NSCAA.  He served on the NSCAA Executive Committee and was President of the Association for a two year term in 1992-93.   Jeff has served as a member of the National Coaching Staff since 1987 and currently serves on the NSCAA Education Committee and Board of Governors.  Among his NSCAA honors, Jeff is an Honor Award and Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education award winner.

For additional information about each of these coaches, click here.

As is always the case at our Coaching Academy, the NSCAA National Staff Coaches listed here are scheduled to teach at this venue.  This list is subject to change.  The course Director will assign, on site and at random, all course registrants to a squad to be led and evaluated by one of the Staff Coaches listed here.

Are you ready to sign up?  Save a step and register online for either the National or Advanced National Diploma.  It is fast, convenient and you get immediate confirmation with additional course specific information right after you register  Don’t wait though, the courses fill up fast!!

We are excited to get our summer courses under way.  If the Curry College dates or location don’t work for you, please visit http://www.nscaa.com/education/courses for a full list of coaching course opportunities. 

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