RICHMOND, Va. – The ECNL announced that the eighth annual ECNL Coaching Symposium, powered by US Club Soccer, will take place February 4-5, 2025, at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV with more than 10 industry leaders from across the world sharing insights and expertise during this incredible educational event.
The ECNL Coaching Symposium will feature experts on a variety of subject matters, with presentations covering technical and tactical concepts, leadership and personal development, club and organizational development, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow leaders and coaches, share ideas and best practices, and will return to their clubs with ideas to innovate and push the game forward. Get a sense of the size, scope and excitement of the event from last year!
Below is the fantastic lineup of speakers at this year’s event (listed alphabetically).
Jeremy Boone: Winning Leader
Jeremy is an internationally recognized performance coach, best-selling author, published researcher, and the creator of Winning Leader™—a groundbreaking platform that accelerates influence, creates lasting impact, and helps leaders in sports and business accomplish their missions. He was named among the top 5 in the ’50 Under 50′ category for Entrepreneur of the Year by Disruptor Magazine, and has earned acclaim for his award-winning 2019 TEDx Talk, ‘The Courage To Connect,’ which has been incorporated into leadership curricula across Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, colleges, and high schools nationwide.
Ceri Bowley: ECNL Technical Advisor
Ceri is the ECNL Technical Advisor where he oversees content development in the ECNL Coach Education Center and leads various seminars for league coaches throughout the year. Bowley worked as a first team assistant for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 2023.
Emily Cosler: Senior Director of Strategy, US Soccer
Emily joined U.S. Soccer’s strategy department in October of 2022. As the Senior Director of Strategy, Emily’s work has primarily focused on strategic projects including the U.S. Way Sporting Strategy, the Safe Soccer Clearance program, 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup bids, and partnerships with key landscape stakeholders such as National Member Organizations and Professional Leagues.
Matt Crocker: Sporting Director, US Soccer
Matt became U.S. Soccer’s Sporting Director in August of 2023, overseeing the entire Sporting Department and focusing on the Men’s and Women’s National Team programs, Youth National Teams, and the Extended National Teams. Crocker is responsible for setting U.S. Soccer’s sporting vision, overseeing the performance of all national teams, implementing the technical development plan, developing sporting culture, philosophy, ensuring greater communication, and sharing of best practices. Matt is formerly the English Football Association Head of Development Teams and Southampton Director of Football Operations – he brings more than 25 years of experience in player development and coaching with proven success at the club, youth, and senior international levels.
Anson Dorrance: Former UNC Head Women’s Soccer Coach & USWNT Head Coach
Anson Dorrance is considered by many to be the most influential person in the history of American women’s soccer, and one of the most influential leaders in women’s soccer globally. As the head women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, Dorrance won 22 NCAA National Championships and his program was rated as one of the most successful dynasties of the 20th Century. He is a seven-time NCAA Women’s Coach of the Year, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008, and received the US Soccer Federation Werner Fricker Builder Award in 2016.
Peter Kenyon: Former CEO Manchester United and Chelsea
Peter Kenyon is a distinguished football executive celebrated for his transformative leadership at two of England’s biggest clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea FC. At Manchester United, Kenyon expanded the club’s commercial reach, solidifying it as one of the world’s most profitable football brands. Later, as CEO of Chelsea, he oversaw the club’s dramatic rise under Roman Abramovich, driving its global brand recognition and footballing success. Known for his strategic vision and negotiating expertise, Kenyon remains a pivotal figure in the sports industry.
Marieke Laurens: US Soccer Talent ID Education Lead
Marieke Laurens is from the Netherlands where she worked extensively with the Dutch Women’s National Teams, including serving as an assistant coach for the KNVB U-15 Girls’ National Team.
Nicole Lukic: US Soccer Director of Talent ID – WYNT
Nicole Lukic is the US Soccer Director of Talent ID for the women’s youth national teams. Previously, she was the Sporting Director and Head Coach at Minnesota Aurora FC in the USL W League where she was the 2022 USL W Coach of the Year and a 2024 Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree.
Eric Potterat: High Performance Psychologist, Retired US Navy Commander and Bestselling Author
Eric Potterat, Ph.D. is a high-performance psychologist, retired US Navy Commander and bestselling author. Eric served for 10 years as the psychologist for the US Navy SEALs, responsible for the mental assessment, selection, development, maintenance and enhancement programs for the Navy’s best warriors and highest performers. Eric is credited with developing and implementing the mental toughness curriculum for the U.S. Navy SEALs and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal upon his retirement from the Navy in 2016.
Dawn Scott: Washington Spirit NWSL Senior Director of Performance, Medical and Innovation
Dawn Scott is the Senior Director of Performance, Medical and Innovation at the Washington Spirit. Prior to the Spirit, she was the Performance Director at Inter Miami CF of MLS where she oversaw performance for the First Team, MLS Next Pro and Inter Miami CF Academy. She also worked as the High Performance Manager for the US Soccer Women’s National Team from 2010 – 2019 while the team won 2 Women’s World Cup championships and one Olympic Gold medal.
Drew Watson: ECNL Medical Advisor
Drew Watson, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Public Health and board certified in pediatrics and sports medicine. He is a team physician for the University of Wisconsin and Forward Madison FC in USL League One and serves as the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor.
For a more in-depth look at each of the ECNL Symposium Speaker bios, click here.
The 2025 ECNL Coaching Symposium is part of the league’s club and coach development platform, a key component in the league’s mission to Raise The Game by providing unique coach and club development opportunities to youth soccer coaches and organizations. The event is open to coaches regardless of league affiliation.
