The National Coaches Association of America offers a variety of ways for individuals to get involved. One of those is to bring NSCAA courses to your area and better your community’s soccer environment by becoming a Site Coordinator. Keith Jenkins, an NSCAA Associate Staff Coach and the Manager at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, NC, has taken full advantage of serving as an NSCAA Site Coordinator.

“It’s always a pleasure to be a Site Coordinator and I always enjoy the opportunity to be a part of the NSCAA,” Jenkins said. “We want to bring the philosophy and goals of NSCAA courses here to North Carolina in order to improve the level of coaching in our community and our state. In turn, the level of play will increase as well. They go hand-in-hand.”

As the Manager at Wake Med Park, Jenkins is responsible for the supervision of the 150-acre multi-use complex that has featured innumerous high school and college tournaments, including hosting the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer College Cup a record six times. Wake Med also includes a world-class cross country course and hosts other sports such as lacrosse, youth football and ultimate Frisbee.

In addition to his role as the Manager of Wake Med Park, Jenkins has remained highly involved in coaching. He is the current Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Peace College, a position he took over in 2010. Prior to Peace College, Jenkins coached high school soccer in North Carolina for 16 years. The majority of that tenure was spent at Clayton High School, where his teams won five conference championships and four conference tournament championships.  Jenkins also serves as the Director of Coaching Education for the Johnston United Soccer Association. He first became involved with the NSCAA when he began his coaching career in his early twenties.

“I knew right away they [the NSCAA courses] were highly beneficial,” he said. “Once I started with the NSCAA, I found I preferred the philosophy and methodology of the NSCAA, so I put myself on track to get the Advanced National Diploma as soon as possible.”

Today, Jenkins holds the NSCAA Premier Diploma, NSCAA High School Coaches Diploma and the NSCAA Goalkeeping I Diploma.

Jenkins then discovered the opportunity to be a Site Coordinator from participating in NSCAA courses and from the NSCAA website. Although one does not need to have their own facility to be a Site Coordinator, Keith’s current position as Manager of Wake Med Soccer Park offered the perfect situation for facilitating coaching education through the role of Site Coordinator. Keith said he was drawn to the role due to his desire to further education for his players and coaches.

Since then, Jenkins has hosted a number of NSCAA courses that have drawn coaches not only from the Cary, NC community, but from many parts of the country as well.  While the Youth and Junior Level Diplomas hosted at Wake Med have drawn largely from the local population, The National, Advanced National, High School, and Director of Coaching Diplomas Keith has facilitated have drawn coaches from more than 20 states.  Keith believes that pattern will continue this July when Wake Med once again hosts National and Advanced National Diploma courses.

“It’s one of those things where the lead up isn’t time consuming,” he said. “It’s very beneficial to put courses in your area. As Site Coordinator, it’s basically my job to make sure our coaches and staff focus on the teaching and learning, so I take care of all the other little things.”

As a Site Coordinator, Jenkins is responsible for assisting the State Directors with setting up courses, recruiting candidates and securing facilities, among other things.  Doug Williamson, the NSCAA’s Assistant Director of Coaching Education, has partnered with Jenkins on a number of courses.  “Site Directors are invaluable contributors to the success of our coaching education,” says Williamson, “and no one pays more attention to detail or is better organized than Keith.  Our National Staff Coaches love working with him because everything is done in first-class fashion and all the staff have to do is focus on teaching, which is a winning combination for all.”

For additional information on NSCAA Site Coordinator responsibilities and to learn how you can get involved, click here.

Jenkins describes the experience as a positive one due to the interaction between fellow coaches.

“The interaction with others who share a passion with the same game I do is the true benefit,” he said. “If I’m not doing coordinator role stuff or teaching, I can sit back for the learning. It’s really the most enjoyable part.”

Jenkins will be holding an NSCAA Junior Level VI Supplement on June 17 in Cary, NC. For more information regarding this course, click here.

For more opportunities with the NSCAA, learn how to host a course here.

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