Top 2 coaches for Soccer lessons near Tucson, AZ

Bio: Fueling dreams on the field for 25 years, I empower soccer athletes to unlock their full potential. With decades of experience, I provide expert guidance to cultivate skills, strategy, and a deep love for the game. I have been involved in the “beautiful game” since I was in grade school, winning league championships from 4th through 8th grade. In high school, I was a member of the first Missouri State Championship team, and won a full scholarship to Southern Illinois University, which at that time was a national soccer powerhouse. In 1972 we were an undefeated NCAA National Champion. In that same year, I served as a member of the Olympic Practice Squad and traveled to Munich with the team. (The USA men’s team was eliminated in the group stage round.) Since then, I continued to play at the semi-professional level through my mid-thirties. Throughout the years, I have coached various youth teams and even conducted workshops for those new to coaching. My latest foray into team development was with the Esperaro Canyon Middle School girls’ team (Fall 2014), taking them to from a losing record tallied the year before to the finals championship game.

Bio: Coach Assani has been a dedicated member of the Arizona ODP staff since 2018 and previously served as the assistant coach for the 2007 and 2008 Boys ODP teams. His coaching journey includes impactful roles with Tanque Verde SC and FC Tucson from 2016 to 2019, where he coached the 2004 Boys, 2010 Girls, and 2007 Boys teams. From 2019 to 2022, he continued developing youth talent at RSL-AZ Southern Arizona, working with the 2007 Boys, 2010 Girls, and 2009 Girls. As a player, Assani spent nearly a decade with Freedom Soccer Club (2002–2010). At Palo Verde High School, he earned the title of Freshman Player of the Year in 2009 and was a three-time First Team All-Star. In 2010, he helped lead his team to the 4A Arizona State Championship game and won the Arizona State Cup. His playing career continued at the collegiate and semi-professional levels, including time with Temecula FC in California's NSPL (2014–2015) and in Tucson’s Premier Men’s League. He earned full athletic scholarships to Scottsdale Community College (2010) and Lincoln Memorial University (2013), and was named to the NJCAA Men’s All-Star Team in 2012.