Most folks remember the slogan for the National Basketball Association back in the heyday of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. All the big stars – Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Dianne Cannon, Spike Lee – looked straight into the camera with exuberance and saying, “I love this game!”

Schellas Hyndman (born 1951 in Macau) could most certainly be the face of a similar campaign for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  With the same excitement as Spike and the gang, when asked, Hyndman will let you know.

“I love to coach,” Hyndman said.  “It’s that simple. It’s all I have ever wanted to do.  And I love the NSCAA.  The NSCAA continues to make me a better coach. I can assure you that if there are other coaches that truly want to become better coaches, they should be a part of the NSCAA. That’s a fact.”

And cut.  You get the sense that Hyndman could be the “anchor” of this campaign and he could do it in one take. 

He has the credentials to back up a featured role.  One of the most successful coaches in American soccer history, Hyndman compiled a 466-122-49 record as the head coach at Southern Methodist University, along the way winning 1981 NSCAA Coach of the Year honors.

In 2008, Hyndman stunned many when he agreed to leave SMU and accept the head coaching position for Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas.

“I had a lifetime contract at SMU,” Hyndman admitted, “but as a coach, I wanted that next challenge.  I believe in working harder than you need to.  I wanted to work at the highest level in the country.  I wanted to work in Major League Soccer stadiums.  At the end of the day, as long as you are doing what you like with people you like, then it’s easy. 

“Some people say that they make a living in soccer. I say I just live soccer.”

Hyndman is living the MLS challenge, leading FC Dallas to the 2010 MLS Cup championship game and winning the 2010 MLS Coach of the Year Award.

Hyndman claims he is fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to develop soccer players as a coach. 

“When I was at SMU I had the chance to do some administration with the goal of perhaps being groomed to be an athletic director,” Hyndman said.  “It wasn’t for me. I’m a coach.  I am as simple as can be and I plan to coach my entire life.”

Hyndman also plans to help the NSCAA coach its members for his entire life, too.  You could say he’s demonstrated that. 

“I get emails and requests all of the time from the NSCAA staff, even the NSCAA Foundation staff,” said Hyndman.  “As a student of the game, I consider it a huge responsibility to give something back to the NSCAA, so when they call me I can never say no.”

In 2001, Hyndman was selected to serve as a member of the NSCAA Executive Committee. In January 2005, he ascended to the NSCAA presidency, serving in that capacity for one year.  Today, Hyndman remains a Director of Coaching Emeritus of the NSCAA Academy.

“Those roles were natural for me,” said Hyndman, who admitted that his best times with the NSCAA were and continue to be working with the NSCAA national staff.  “Working with the NSCAA Coaching Education staff, I can have a direct influence on young people who want to become better coaches.“

Hyndman has been on the NSCAA Coaching Academy staff for more than 25 years.

“I came on board with some of the great soccer minds: Mike Berticelli, Timo Liekoski, Jimmy Lennox, Bob Gansler, to name a few,” he said “We were all about the philosophy of the NSCAA and how it would work.  We were like a circus show traveling from state to state, teaching courses.  It was some of the greatest times of my life.”

Hyndman said that the NSCAA’s growth over the past 25 years makes him proud.

“Now we have 10 times the amount of staff coaches, with focuses on youth, girls, boys, defense, offense – you name it, the NSCAA has it covered.  For me, it’s been an honor watching the NSCAA grow.”

Do any doubts remain that Hyndman could be the face of an NSCAA promotional campaign?

If there are, one recommendation might be to attend Hyndman’s session at the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City.  Hyndman, in typical Schellas form, will keep it fun as he shares with anyone who attends his clinic session, tabbed: “Favorite Training Sessions of FC Dallas.” It will be held, Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2:15 p.m. in Exhibit Hall E of the Kansas City Convention Center.

Let’s hope the cameras are rolling.  Because Schellas Hyndman loves to coach. 

Learn more about other coaches conducting sessions in Kansas City including: Tom Byer, Jim Cassell, Mike Curry, Theresa Echtermeyer, Jill Ellis, April Heinrichs, Mark Verstegen, Schellas Hyndman, Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Kevin McGreskin, Tom Sermanni, Sam Snow, Taylor Twellman, Peter Vermes, Frank Wormuth and Eric Wynalda. 

You  registered to be in Kansas City

And cut.  You get the sense that Hyndman could be the “anchor” of this campaign and he could do it in one take. 

He has the credentials to back up a featured role.  One of the most successful coaches in American soccer history, Hyndman compiled a 466-122-49 record as the head coach at Southern Methodist University, along the way winning 1981 NSCAA Coach of the Year honors.

In 2008, Hyndman stunned many when he agreed to leave SMU and accept the head coaching position for Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas.

“I had a lifetime contract at SMU,” Hyndman admitted, “but as a coach, I wanted that next challenge.  I believe in working harder than you need to.  I wanted to work at the highest level in the country.  I wanted to work in Major League Soccer stadiums.  At the end of the day, as long as you are doing what you like with people you like, then it’s easy. 

“Some people say that they make a living in soccer. I say I just live soccer.”

Hyndman is living the MLS challenge, leading FC Dallas to the 2010 MLS Cup championship game and winning the 2010 MLS Coach of the Year Award.

Hyndman claims he is fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to develop soccer players as a coach. 

“When I was at SMU I had the chance to do some administration with the goal of perhaps being groomed to be an athletic director,” Hyndman said.  “It wasn’t for me. I’m a coach.  I am as simple as can be and I plan to coach my entire life.”

Hyndman also plans to help the NSCAA coach its members for his entire life, too.  You could say he’s demonstrated that. 

“I get emails and requests all of the time from the NSCAA staff, even the NSCAA Foundation staff,” said Hyndman.  “As a student of the game, I consider it a huge responsibility to give something back to the NSCAA, so when they call me I can never say no.”

In 2001, Hyndman was selected to serve as a member of the NSCAA Executive Committee. In January 2005, he ascended to the NSCAA presidency, serving in that capacity for one year.  Today, Hyndman remains a Director of Coaching Emeritus of the NSCAA Academy.

“Those roles were natural for me,” said Hyndman, who admitted that his best times with the NSCAA were and continue to be working with the NSCAA national staff.  “Working with the NSCAA Coaching Education staff, I can have a direct influence on young people who want to become better coaches.“

Hyndman has been on the NSCAA Coaching Academy staff for more than 25 years.

“I came on board with some of the great soccer minds: Mike Berticelli, Timo Liekoski, Jimmy Lennox, Bob Gansler, to name a few,” he said “We were all about the philosophy of the NSCAA and how it would work.  We were like a circus show traveling from state to state, teaching courses.  It was some of the greatest times of my life.”

Hyndman said that the NSCAA’s growth over the past 25 years makes him proud.

“Now we have 10 times the amount of staff coaches, with focuses on youth, girls, boys, defense, offense – you name it, the NSCAA has it covered.  For me, it’s been an honor watching the NSCAA grow.”

Do any doubts remain that Hyndman could be the face of an NSCAA promotional campaign?

If there are, one recommendation might be to attend Hyndman’s session at the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City.  Hyndman, in typical Schellas form, will keep it fun as he shares with anyone who attends his clinic session, tabbed: “Favorite Training Sessions of FC Dallas.” It will be held, Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2:15 p.m. in Exhibit Hall E of the Kansas City Convention Center.

Let’s hope the cameras are rolling.  Because Schellas Hyndman loves to coach. 

Learn more about other coaches conducting sessions in Kansas City including: Tom Byer, Jim Cassell, Mike Curry, Theresa Echtermeyer, Jill Ellis, April Heinrichs, Mark Verstegen, Schellas Hyndman, Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Kevin McGreskin, Tom Sermanni, Sam Snow, Taylor Twellman, Peter Vermes, Frank Wormuth and Eric Wynalda. 

You still have time to sign up and join us at the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City. Head over to the registration page and register today!

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