April 14, 2016
NEW DIRECTOR TO ENHANCE PLAYERS’ AND COACHES’ TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Veteran staff will improve central Arkansas soccer
For immediate release
Little Rock, AR – Michelle Cox, Executive Director of the Arkansas United Soccer Club announced today a major new addition to the club’s leadership and full time coaching staff. Mark Gibbs, currently Director of Coaching at Houston Express Soccer Club of Houston, Texas will become the new Club Technical Director for Arkansas United. Mark will work together to with the existing staff to ensure United is providing the best player training environment, coaching education, development opportunities, and customer service to our members. With this exciting new addition, United’s attention to each player’s and each coach’s experience at the club will be enhanced.
Says Gibbs, “I couldn’t be happier to join Arkansas United as the Club Technical Director. I worked as a coach for this club when I first came to America, and I have kept up with the club’s growth and its teams over the years. Coming full circle to now lead the organization is very exciting, and I look forward to helping Arkansas United continue its excellent traditions and help its players and coaches reach their even greater potential.”
Gibbs is a native of Wales and a lifetime member of the Welsh Professional Football Association and has over two decades of experience coaching. Leading his programs to success at the state, regional and national levels. He also holds top coaching licensing for Youth soccer including: United States Soccer Federation A License, US Soccer International Workshops: 2011 Brazil (CBF) and 2014 (FA of England), National Youth License, NSCAA National Director of Coaching License, Welsh FA Preliminary Coaching Badge.
According to Cox, as Arkansas United, which has been growing soccer in Arkansas for nearly 5 decades, has grown to over 2200 club members and continues to grow – the club has looked for ways to continually grow its ability to serve all its players. “With Mark, we aren’t just adding another excellent A-licensed coach to our staff, we’re adding years of leadership experience developing programs that have grown players and coaches at the Recreational, pre-Competitive, and Competitive Levels. His prior success at developing youth on and off the field are evidenced not only in the numbers of championships he’s won and college scholarships his players have been awarded, but having his program named a US Soccer Development Academy site.” Gibbs will lead his current club through the end of their season before joining the Arkansas United staff full time.
Contact:
Michelle Cox – Executive Director, Arkansas United Soccer Club
501.603.9880 | [email protected]