Bentonville, Arkansas
Los Angeles, California
Muncie, Indiana
Piscataway, New Jersey
Brookings, South Dakota
Posted: 20-Mar-25
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
Type: Full-time
Salary: $50k
Sector:
Preferred Education:
About Us: Ozark United FC MLS Next, operating under the leadership of Sporting Arkansas Soccer Club (a 501C3 nonprofit soccer club), is a new member of the new tier of MLS Next starting in the 2025-26 season. With six teams competing in the New Tier of MLS Next (U13-U19 boys), we are committed to building a program to serve talented and aspirational soccer players in the Northwest Arkansas region. OZFC’s MLS Next program will be defined by our commitment to Player Development, Player Experience, Leadership Development and Empowerment, and the establishment of an intensive training and competition environment. This program will be held to a high standard, in alignment with the values of both Sporting Arkansas and Ozark United FC. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic MLS Next Academy Director to lead our program in Northwest Arkansas, shape its culture, and guide our young athletes to success both on and off the pitch.
Role Overview: As the MLS Next Academy Director, you will oversee all aspects of our MLS Next academy program based in NWA. This leadership role combines technical leadership and hands-on coaching with program management and community relations. You’ll serve as the head coach for two of our six teams while hiring, training, and supervising coaches for the remaining teams. This role reports directly to the Technical Director of Sporting Arkansas and supervises the rest of the MLS Next coaching staff. The DIrector will be responsible for setting and reinforcing the program’s environment, ensuring it reflects the Mission, Vision, and Values of Sporting Arkansas and Ozark United FC.
Key Responsibilities: - Program Leadership: Oversee all elements of the MLS Next academy program, managing six teams competing in the New Tier of MLS Next in a manner consistent with the Standards of Sporting Arkansas and Ozark United. - Coaching: Act as head coach for two teams, leading training sessions held four times per week (Monday through Thursday) with evening start times. - Coach Management: Hire, train, and supervise coaches for the remaining four teams, developing a system for coach accountability and implementing a consistent coaching methodology. - Culture & Environment: Establish and cultivate a professional, high-performance culture while ensuring players enjoy the sport and thrive as individuals. This culture should place a high priority on inclusivity and challenging this generation of young athletes in ways that genuinely stretch them. - Player Evaluations: Develop and implement a comprehensive player evaluation system to assess and track player progress. - Player Recruitment/Evaluation: Lead player eval and recruitment efforts, identifying and attracting top talent to the program. - Onboarding/Offboarding: Create and manage an onboarding process for new players and their families, ensuring a smooth transition into the academy. - Parent Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for parents, addressing concerns in alignment with our organizational values. - Operations: Work with MLS Next Pioneer Division management to set schedules, manage player meetings, coordinate travel details, and oversee equipment purchasing. - Facility Management: Ensure the training facility is prepared before and cleaned up after all training sessions and matches, maintaining a professional and safe environment for players and staff. - Player Promotion: Develop and maintain relationships with MLS Academy directors- especially Sporting KC- to align our development initiatives with the expectations and demands of the MLS Academies. If and when we have player with the talent and ambition to join an MLS Academy, the Director will have an active role in that transition process. - Training Programs: Develop and implement training programs and curricula for the MLS Next teams that align with the program's philosophy of balancing professionalism and enjoyment. - Performance Evaluation: Evaluate player performance and progress, providing feedback to players and coaches to support the program's goals. Evals will be both formative and summative, with an emphasis on elements of both Player Development and Leadership Development objectives. - Compliance: Ensure compliance with MLS Next rules and regulations. - Budget Management: Manage budgets and resources for the MLS Next program. - Collaboration: Collaborate with other Sporting Arkansas coaches and program, as well as other local clubs and organizations to support the MLS Next program. There will be direct and consistent overlap with other Sporting Arkansas Soccer Club programs.
Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity to lead a top-tier youth soccer program based in Bentonville, Arkansas, and make a lasting impact on the next generation of players. We will place a high value on the construction of a professional environment, and we will also prioritize letting kids be kids—enjoying soccer while growing as athletes and leaders. We are uniquely positioned to impact every corner of NWA with the first program of its kind in the region. If you’re ready to inspire players, coaches, and families alike, this role is for you.
How to Apply: Ready to lead our MLS Next academy program in Bentonville, Arkansas? Send your RESUME and a COVER LETTER that unpacks your background and philosophy as they relate to the following: - Creating a top-class program culture & player/family experience - Guiding and instructing higher-end players in their development (“good to great”) - Any examples of how you have pushed higher-end players within the context of team training (not just in private training or 1v1 environments). - Provide your thoughts on one of the specific philosophical points of MLS Next: “Our club will never win enough games to be promoted to the 1st division of MLS Next; but we can earn our way to the 1st division by proving our ability to develop players at a higher rate than other/similar clubs.”
- Email application materials to operations@sportingarkansas.com - Join us in shaping the future of youth soccer!
**Qualifications:**
**Preferred Certification:** USSF B-License or equivalent from another Federation or United Soccer Coaches, or ability to secure these certifications within 12 months of onboarding.
**Experience:** Minimum of 5 years of high-level coaching experience at the college, professional, youth academy, or other demonstrably elite level. Preference will be given to candidates with a proven track record of developing players.
**Skills:** Proven leadership, excellent communication, and strong organizational abilities. A passion for balancing professionalism with a fun, player-centered approach.
**Character/Energy:** Youth club players, coaches, and families tend to reflect the energy and character that is celebrated, tolerated, and demonstrated by club leadership. We expect the MLS Next Director to bring a positive, problem-solving outlook to this role, and to serve as a model for the conduct and attitude that will be expected and demanded from program participants.
**Problem-Solving:** We are a club of Problem-Solvers. Anyone can FIND a problem. We want to build a culture of directors, coaches, players, and families who SOLVE problems. This requires a leadership team willing to solve problems- whether those are big problems that require analytical thinking and strategic communication, or small problems like emptying trash cans. This will be a priority for the search committee.
Sporting Arkansas will have additional Director roles posted this spring. Applicants with interest in Sporting Arkansas DOC roles outside of the MLS Next program should indicate such interest in their application documents.