Award-winning coach Crystal Soderquist has been appointed as full-time Technical Co-Ordinator for 7 Elite Academy in Southern Utah.
She will oversee delivery of the latest coaching curriculum, along with supporting Southern Utah coaches with education, training and mentoring, alongside fellow full-time Technical Co-Ordinator Stuart Dewey.
Crystal, who has guided several 7 Elite Academy Girls South teams to a series of tournament success, was named Coach of the Year by Utah Youth Soccer Association in 2023.
Her appointment is part of a wider expansion of 7 Elite Academy in Southern Utah, with hundreds of new youngsters joining the organisation at tryouts.
7 Elite Academy is a global youth soccer academy with thousands of players at training facilities and colleges in Utah, the United Kingdom and Europe.
She said: “I am so excited to take up this role and it is a dream job for me. Being able to think about and plan soccer full time is a fantastic opportunity.
“7 Elite Academy is a great environment for me to build lasting relationships with parents and share with them our long-term vision for player development here in Southern Utah.
“That relationship is so important to us and of course the players themselves. We want them to take full advantage of the pathways and opportunities we have in place.”
Crystal has been a coach with 7 Elite Academy for a number of years and expects the current expansion plan to encourage even more teams and players to sign up at this week’s tryouts.
She added: “I am very excited for the new season and the opportunities for new and returning players. The key is to have fun with soccer and embrace all the challenges that come your way.
“I am looking forward to seeing the academy grow even further over the next few years and offer more youngsters the chance to fulfil their potential.”
Anthony Godfrey, 7 Elite Academy Global Director, said: “Crystal is the ideal fit for the role of Technical Co-Ordinator here in Southern Utah.
“She cares deeply about the development of young people within soccer and how they use that experience to enrich their lives and wider communities.
“Crystal is also a great communicator and builds productive relationships with parents and fellow coaching staff. That is so important for 7 Elite Academy moving forwards.
“Working alongside current Southern Utah Technical Co-Ordinator Stuart Dewey, she will help to build an inspirational and productive environment for youth soccer players in the region.”
7 Elite Academy administers and coaches teams for thousands of players across the world, in the United States, the United Kingdom and in East Africa.
