Ken Krieger joins Arlington Soccer after brief stint with D.C. United

Veteran youth coach Ken Krieger has joined Arlington Soccer Association as the director of the club’s new U.S. Soccer Development Academy program, ASA announced this week.

This development brings another experienced hand to Arlington’s staff and adds another line to Krieger’s resume, which now features four major Washington, D.C.-area clubs over the past three years following a quarter-century-long stint at Prince William Courage (PWSI). The Virginia Youth Soccer Association Hall of Famer coached D.C. United’s Under-16 DA team last year (his second stint at the club) and prior to that, served as boys technical director at McLean Youth Soccer from February 2014 to July 2015.

+READ: Veteran coach Ken Krieger lands at D.C. United Academy: “It’s more than just simply a job”

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be working again with a U.S. Soccer Development Academy Program and even more so with one of the top clubs in the state of Virginia at Arlington Soccer Association,” said Krieger in a statement.

“The successes German Peri, ASA’s Director of Travel Coaching, and his staff have achieved at Arlington Soccer have been noticed nationwide and I am proud to be a part of ASA.  I truly believe that we can make Arlington a top class academy/club, and with the staff that has been assembled and mentality they possess, the future looks very bright ahead.”

Krieger will coach ASA’s U-13 and U-14 boys Development Academy teams and “will be responsible for managing, directing and coaching over 60 U-12 to U-14 players within the Academy structure at ASA,” according to the release. ASA’s competitive programs have made rapid strides in recent years and this spring the club signed a “Development Academy Partnership” with D.C. United – alongside Loudoun Soccer – to create “a clear and defined pathway for aspiring youth players to their hometown MLS club.” ASA’s 2016/17 DA tryouts kick off this weekend.

The father of U.S. Women’s National Team and Washington Spirit player Ali, Krieger has been a successful youth, high-school, ODP and college coach for more than 30 years. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” coaching license and an NSCAA Director of Coaching diploma, and was inducted into the VYSA Hall of Fame in 2010.

+READ: D.C. United announce “Development Academy Partnership” with Loudoun, Arlington

He led PWSI teams to the US Youth Soccer National Championship semifinals in 1996 and the final in 2000, and his Courage teams won more than a dozen Virginia State Cups and two regional championships over the years. He previously built a solid NCAA coaching career at Hartford College, American University and George Mason University and won four state championships and two NSCAA Division I high-school national championships at Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ken for many years. His knowledge of the game and his passion for teaching are an incredible asset for ASA and our membership,” said Peri in the release. “I am thrilled to be able to secure one of the region’s premier soccer coaches and add him to the ranks of our impressive coaching staff.”