Ballistic United appoints Craig Scheer as head coach of MLS NEXT U-19 squad

Ballistic United has rounded out its elite MLS NEXT coaching staff for the upcoming season with the hiring of Craig Scheer to coach the U-19 team.

Scheer has been with BUSC in the past and was recently with the SF Elite Academy before returning to Ballistic.

“We are pleased to announce that Craig Scheer will be guiding our U-19 MLS NEXT Development Academy at Ballistic United for the upcoming season and into the future,” said Jerry Losson, the MLS NEXT Director of Coaching for BUSC.

For Scheer it is a chance to come full circle, being back with one of his early youth soccer coaching experiences.

“I’m completely honored to be offered the coaching position with the U-19 MLS NEXT team. I look forward to working with this highly motivated and talented group of players,” said Scheer. “I view it as a great opportunity to pass on my years of playing and coaching experience, as well as a chance to continue my coaching development.”

Scheer was born and raised in Missouri where he played youth and high school soccer. Following his high school playing days he took his skills to Lewis and Clark Junior College in Illinois on scholarship. In his sophomore year Scheer was honored as NSCAA All-American.

That was followed by two years at the University of Illinois, Springfield, also on scholarship. After yet another All-American campaign, his collegiate career culminated with an invitation to the prestigious Umbro Senior Bowl in Florida.

Scheer was drafted by the Hershey Wildcats in the United States A-League. After three seasons in Hershey, he spent some time playing in Belgium before returning to the United States.

Scheer spent eight seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League, where he was on two championship teams with the Baltimore Blast.

Once he moved into coaching, he continued his success, both at the youth and junior college level. He had stints with Ballistic, the Livermore Fusion, and the SF Elite at the youth levels, as well as an assistant coach with Las Positas College in Livermore.

In 2017, Las Positas went undefeated and finished the season as the No. 17 ranked team in the country.

His playing success, matched with his knowledge of the game, has brought Ballistic a coach with the perfect skill set to coach kids in their last year of youth soccer as they transition to the next level.

“Craig’s wealth of experience alongside his tenacity as a coach and his drive for players to improve while achieving high expectations will do nothing but help this team compete at the top level across the nation and provide a platform for players to move on to the next step in their careers,” said Losson.