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Andy Butler: Technical Director of Coaching
Personal Info:
Born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Played for Guiseley AFC in the Unibond Premier league in England and was also selected to play for England boys clubs at u16. Moved to America after receiving a soccer scholarship in 2001. Went to Louisburg College in NC and University at Buffalo. After graduating was appointed graduate assistant coach as Lock Haven University in Pa, completed masters in Liberal arts in 2007 and helped guide LHU to NCAA sweet sixteen. Favorite team is Liverpool. Came to work for TCYSA in 2007
Coaching Education:
USSF National ‘B’ License
NSCAA Advanced Nation Diploma
USSF National Youth License
Coaching Experience:
TCYSA Technical Director of Coaching – Boys and Girls 2012 - Present
North Carolina Soccer Fusion Staff Coach – 2011 – Present
NCYSA ODP Staff Coach 2007 – Present
TCYSA U15 – U18 Boys Director of Coaching 2010 - 2012
TCYSA Assistant Director of Coaching 2007 – 2010
NCYSA ODP Staff Coach 2007 – Present
Lock Haven University of PA, Assistant Men’s Coach 2005 – 2007
STN Soccer Club PA, Staff Coach 2005 – 2007
Playing Experience:
England National Boys Clubs
Louisburg College, NJCAA
Richmond Kickers Future, PDL
University at Buffalo, NCAA
Awards:
England Boys Clubs Captain
NSCAA All American (Louisburg)
All MAC Conference (Buffalo)
Education:
BA: Social Science (University at Buffalo)
MLA: Liberal Arts (Lock Haven)
Getting to know Technical DOC Andy Butler...................................
How young/ old were you when you decided to coach?
As for as i can remember back i have always liked the idea of becoming a coach, or i guess it was more of a manager when i was younger. Watching the likes of Kevin Keegan, and Bobby Robson be so passionate about the game. My first love of course was playing the game. But when i realized i couldn’t quite make it as a professional i wanted to coach. Just to be involved in the game i love is brilliant.
How did you get into coaching?
I first started coaching during the summers when i was in college. After my Sophomore year i played PDL for the Richmond Kickers. We would train in the mornings, and had fantastic opportunities to coach the Kickers Camps and earn a little extra cash. It was fun, and having banter with the little kids was great. Most of my summers during my college years were spent coaching camps, and it was ultimately how i was introduced to the Twins after working a WFU camp.
What do you like about coaching?
I’m a fairly young coach, and in fact in most soccer playing countries i’d be deemed a little too young to be coaching, i guess that’s what is great about this county, the opportunities you get, so i feel quite privileged to be a teacher of the game. The best part for me is watching the guys i coach play the game the right way. When i watch both my 99’s and 96 boys teams have a great sequence of passing and movement it’s really enjoyable. If it ends up leading to a goal, great if not, so be it. The main thing is that the kids are enjoying it, and that is what keeps coaches and players coming back for more.
What has been your greatest coaching moment?
I think its a combination of moments. I’ve been fortunate to coach some really great kids over the last 4 years. The 96 boys i coach, i have been with some of them since u11 and most since u12. So watching the guys develop and mature in to great kids and players has been brilliant. When the team was u12 we struggled to compete physically at times, whilst all the time out playing the other teams. I kept preaching to them that when we grow we will be able to compete physically and outplay these teams. Luckily the boys grew a little and last year reached the state cup final four. A great achievement really for the guys, and i was very proud.
What was your greatest moment as an athlete?
Without a doubt playing for The England Boys clubs when i was 16. We competed in the home nations tournament in Scotland, and won the tournament. It was absolutely magnificent representing my country. Listening to the national anthem at the start of each game was brilliant and will stay with me forever.
When you stop coaching one day, what will you most want to be remembered for by the athletes you have coached?
Hopefully my ability to help the kids foster a love of the game. I always want to be remembered as a coach who played the right way, and treated the kids with respect. Hopefully at the end of that the relationships i have built along the way will be remembered by my players so hopefully they can have the same love of the game as i do.
What aspects of sports have you learned to appreciate since you have been a coach rather than an athlete?
The work that goes on behind the scenes of any sporting organization is a massive aspect of any club. As a player you sometimes dont realize how much goes on behind the scenes...you just rock up there and play, then go home. People like Lyn Halstead are massive parts of clubs. Without them we’d be in disarray. Hopefully players appreciate these people and look to do the same when they have finished playing.
