Staff
Kyle Gookins- Owner
Kyle Gookins resides in Atlanta Georgia with his wife Megan and son Otis. He has spent the last 20 years coaching, educating, and mentoring soccer players of all ages throughout the United States. His passion is to help players push the boundaries of the technical, tactical and psychosocial aspects of their game. He has extensive knowledge, success, and experience at the College, Club, and High School levels. He has been on both sides of the recruiting process, as a college coach and a youth coach/director.
When Kyle is not coaching/educating soccer players, he enjoys playing and spending time with his son and travling to new destinations with his wife.
Coaching History
College Experience
2007-2009 CSU Bakersfield Mens Assistant Coach2009-2016 UNC Charlotte Mens Assistant Coach2016-2017 Stetson University Mens Head CoachYouth Experience
2000-2009 Bakersfield Strikers (U12-U18 Coach)2009-2015 FC Carolina Alliance (U15-U18 Coach)2015-2016, 2018-2019 Carolina Rapids (U17-U19 USSF Development Academy Coach)2019-2020 Los Gatos United (U10 Coach)2020-2021 Present Charlotte Independence SC (U14-U15 Pro Academy Coach)2020-Present My College Soccer OwnerUS National Team Experience
2013-2015, 2022-Present US Youth National Team ScoutAwards & Accolades
Team
2011 NCAA Finals
7 Conference Championships
7 NCAA Tournament Appearances
4 Freshmen All Americans
1 NCAA Freshman of the Year
5 NCAA All Americans
2 NCAA Academic All Americans
32 All Region Players
Individual
2017 ASUN Coach of the Year
2014 NSCAA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year
22 former NCAA players into the Pros
40+ former youth Players into various NCAA College Programs
Education
2004 Bachelors Degree, History CSUB
2008 Masters Degree, Education CSUB
USSF A License
USSF National GK License
Safesport Certification
USYNT Talent Scout
Matej Dekovic- Director of Europe
Matej lives in Zagreb Croatia with his wife Lucija and Daughter Zara. His specialty is helping European based players reach their playing goals in various levels of NCAA Soccer. As a former NCAA player, he has intricate knowledge and experience about the process of emigrating and playing College Soccer in the USA.
Matej "Dex" spent his youth career in Croatia and played for NK HASK before relocating to America to play NCAA Division I Soccer at UNC Charlotte. Chicago Fire drafted Dex in in the fourth round of the MLS Superdraft. He played professionally in the US and Norway before retiring from playing in 2022 and returning to Croatia.
Playing Career
2013 HASK Zagreb (Croatia Youth League)
2014-2017 UNC Charlotte (NCAA Div I)
2017 Chicago Fire (MLS USA top div)
2019-2021 Floy (Norway 2nd Div)
2021-2022 Egersund (Norway 2nd Div)
Playing Awards
CUSA All Freshmen 1st Team
CUSA All Conference 1st Team
NSCAA All Southeast Region
NCCSIA All Region 2nd Team
College Soccer Defender of the Week
MLS Combine Participant
#69 Pick in MLS Super Draft