Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Appoints Zac Crawford as Chief Technical Director
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club (CRYSC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Zac Crawford as the new Chief Technical Director. Crawford is an energetic and passionate professional with over 20 years of experience in soccer as a player, coach, referee, educator, and technical director. Joining CRYSC from the U.S. Soccer Federation headquarters in Chicago, Crawford brings a wealth of experience at the grassroots and national levels to our club and the state of Colorado.
During his six years at U.S. Soccer, Crawford served in various capacities, including Technical Development Manager, Coach Educator, and Strategic Projects Manager for Participation. There, he played a pivotal role in creating the U.S. Soccer Player Development Framework, a resource used at all U.S. Soccer course levels to enhance player-centered environments. Crawford also designed and led the development of educational pathways such as the Grassroots Pathway and the Educator Pathway. The impact of his work and innovation can be seen across our national player development systems and has directly contributed to the growth of soccer in the United States.
“With over two decades in soccer, Zac is a dynamic leader and cultural architect. His role at the U.S. Soccer Federation showcases a commitment to excellence. As a passionate advocate for player-centered environments, he embodies our vision, ‘The Heart Behind the Crest.’ Zac’s unique blend of humble leadership and a focus on empowering education makes him the ideal candidate for the Chief Technical Director role at the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club—a catalyst for growth and a visionary shaping remarkable coaches for the future.” – Aaron Nagel, CRYSC Executive Director
Prior to his move to U.S. Soccer in 2017, Crawford served as Technical Director for the Alabama Soccer Association, where he led a membership base of over 25,000 registered players and approximately 2,000 active coaches, referees, and administrators. His tenure was defined by remarkable growth, with a highlight being a 143% increase in registrants from 2013/14 to 2014/15. In this role, he provided technical leadership in coach education and spearheaded the growth of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and outreach programs.
In addition to his experience at state and national associations, Crawford has ties to Colorado, having previously served at Stinger Soccer Club in Evergreen as General Manager, Girls Director of Coaching, and Developmental Director of Coaching. He has a deep understanding of the local soccer landscape and a history of leadership in the state.
“I’m excited to return to Colorado and join Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, where I will have the opportunity to support a great staff with whom I’ve had the pleasure of interacting over the years. From a distance, I’ve admired CRYSC and the job that Donald Gillies, Aaron Nagel, and the rest of the leadership team have done over the years, and consider this to be a destination club. I’m looking forward to building relationships with all the staff and coaches to help develop remarkable coaches who will continuously deliver uncompromising, player-centered experiences. At the U.S. Soccer Federation, I’ve had the privilege of building our country’s technical plan and the educational system to support it. I’ll bring my best every day to the players, staff, parents, and the rest of the Colorado soccer ecosystem to help inspire us to be better versions of ourselves continuously.” – Zac Crawford, CRYSC Chief Technical Director
Finally, Crawford’s dedication to his education on and off the field is reflected in his two master’s degrees and numerous coaching licenses. Graduating from the University of Alabama, Crawford received his master’s in Cognitive Psychology as well as Human Performance with an Emphasis in Sport Management. As a coach, he has attained his U.S. Soccer “A” License, National Youth License, Grassroots Instructor License, and the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. Crawford is a lifelong student and true soccer enthusiast who strives to inspire others to have a growth mindset and utilize their own self-regulated learning process.
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is excited to bring Crawford back to the Rockies and looks forward to elevating the development of local players together in 2024 and beyond! Please join us in welcoming Zac Crawford as the Chief Technical Director.
