Carl Craig named Director of newly combined REV/Woodbury youth club

(Via REV/Woodbury) – Carl Craig has been hired to be the Director of the boys and girls Tier 1 teams for the newly combined REV/Woodbury club. Carl is an outstanding addition to the club already possessing one of the most qualified and licensed staffs in Minnesota.

Carl’s previous experiences include coaching professional soccer, PDL and NPSL, directing clubs, coaching youth, and being a coach educator.

As Assistant Manager and Coach in 2010 with Minnesota Stars/Minnesota United the team achieved success in the NASL Soccer Bowl Championship in 2011, were Finalists in 2012, were Spring Champions in 2014 and were overall NASL League Champions in 2014. In 2016 Carl was promoted to Head Coach of MN United FC. Carl left the club in December 2017.

Carl was Head Coach for Premier Development League (Twin Cities Phoenix) and National Premier Soccer League (Burnsville Blast). Both teams were recognized as being the reserve teams of Minnesota’s sole professional team at the time, Minnesota Thunder.

Carl started coaching at an early age due to injuries sustained from playing. Carl served as a coach with the Centres of Excellence of Sheffield Wednesday FC and Newcastle United FC as well as being a football development officer in Northumberland, England.

Since moving to the USA, Carl has worked as Director of Coaching and Player Development for a number of youth clubs, prepared and coached State Teams in Minnesota and traveled both domestically and internationally with the USSF Region 2 Boys ODP teams. Carl also coached at the US Soccer Development Academy level with Shattuck – St. Mary’s in Faribault, MN.

Carl has been actively involved in coach education including delivering licenses for the The Football Association (The FA) to candidates in the counties of Northumberland and Durham (England, UK). In the US he has been a coach educator and clinician on behalf of Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, United States Soccer Federation, and United Soccer Coaches (Formerly NSCAA). Carl studied at Newcastle College, England gaining a qualification in Sports Management.

Carl earned The FA Advanced Coaching Award (Full Badge) in 1992, gained UEFA A License in 1998, the USSF A License and the NSCAA Premier Diploma in 2002. In addition to the formal vocational qualifications, Carl has spent time in Italy visiting FIGC, observing and learning at Coverciano, Tuscany and attended a 10 day work shop with KNVB. Coupled with “football” education, he has studied and attended conferences dealing with the psychological aspects of the game, obtaining certification in Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming.