CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2018) – Twelve coaches who work across Major League Soccer, the National Women’s Soccer League and the United Soccer League Championship became the third class to complete the U.S. Soccer Pro License on Friday, Dec. 14, finishing a year-long journey that began in January.

2018 Pro Course Graduates:

Vlatko Andonovski (Head coach, Seattle Reign, NWSL)

Kenny Arena (Assistant coach, Los Angeles Football Club, MLS)

Brian Callaghan (Assistant coach, Philadelphia Union, MLS)

Robin Fraser (Assistant coach, Toronto FC, MLS)

Junior Gonzalez (Assistant coach, LA Galaxy, MLS)

Ezra Hendrickson (Assistant coach, LA Galaxy, MLS)

Sean McAuley (Assistant coach, Orlando City SC, MLS)

Mike Munoz (Head coach, LA Galaxy II, USL Championship)

Anthony Pulis (Head coach, St. Louis FC, USL Championship)

Paul Riley (Head coach, NC Courage, NWSL)

Ian Russell (Head coach, Reno 1868, USL Championship)

Steve Trittschuh (Head coach, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, USL Championship)

The U.S. Soccer Pro License represents the highest soccer license recognized in North America and completes the U.S. Soccer coaching education pathway that begins at the grassroots level.

This year marks the third edition of the Pro License course, which is designed for coaches to further develop the skills and competencies necessary to work as a professional coach in a professional environment. Based on their individual needs, each candidate went through a tailored program designed to bolster their efforts to create a winning culture/team, develop a style of play, implement sport science initiatives at their clubs, reflect on their growth as a coach and serve as leaders in their organizations.

“It's an awesome experience to work with coaches every time,” said Wim Van Zwam, U.S. Soccer lead instructor for the course. “To start with a group in January, to see them develop and to see the difference in their behavior, individually and as a group at the end of the course is amazing. Learning to reflect on why you do what you do has been the central thread during this course.

“For us, that's the most important question: Why do I do the things I do every day? Why do I ask this question to my players? Why do I work this way? Why do I organize practice in this way? Is there a more efficient and effective way? Because at the end of the day, it's all about being more effective in what you do. That translates a lot of times to winning more games.”

The course combines theoretical and practical components to help coaches reach their full potential. The year-long journey featured in-person instruction, visits by coach educators to candidates’ home club environments, expert guest speakers, webinars and a final assessment. In addition to Van Zwam, U.S. Soccer’s Director of Coach Education Barry Pauwels, coach educator Vanni Sartini and Chief Sport Development Officer Nico Romeijn also served as instructors for the course.