Director of Coaching
DIRECTOR OF COACHING - Aaron Cline
ofce:505-982-0878; (fax)505-982-6114
Biographical information:
Aaron Cline comes to the Northern Soccer Club after spending the previous four (4) years as the assistant women's coach at The University of Louisiana at Monroe (NCAA Division I/Sun Belt Conference). He played a key role in ULM's recruiting efforts over the past few seasons, helping to bring in some of the top recruiting classes in program history. Most recently Cline helped bring in the 2011 class, which included the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. It marked the first time in program history that ULM snatched Louisiana's top prep soccer player.
In addition to his work as ULM's top assistant, Cline also coached within the Louisiana Olympic Development Program and the West Monroe High School boys' team. As a head coach for Louisiana ODP since 2008 Cline took two (2) struggling girls ODP age groups and turned them into competitive teams that have competed very well against the best ODP state teams in USYS Region III, as well as developed players who have gone on to represent Louisiana in the ODP National pool. While serving in a coaching capacity at West Monroe High School, Cline guided the program to three (3) consecutive district championships, a program first, and the program's highest-ever state tournament ranking.
Cline joined the ULM staff after spending five (5) years in multiple capacities with the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association in Zionsville, IN, including as the organization's Director of Coaching and Player Development from 2004-2008. As the Director of Coaching, Cline evaluated all the organization's players and coaches and their interactions with each other. He also developed and implemented training programs for the organization's coaches, a parent and coach education curriculum, and additional on-field training programs to assist with player and club development. In only five years with ZYSA, he helped to turn the program into one of the larger soccer associations in the state of Indiana. The club grew from seven (7) competitive teams at the time of his appointment to twenty-eight (28) competitive teams by the time he joined the ULM coaching staff in June of 2008. The recreational program at ZYSA also grew to include nearly one thousand (1,000) players with Cline serving in his executive role.
Cline also served as the head coach of the ZYSA '94 and '96 boys' teams since the summer of 2003 and 2005, respectively. While with the '94 group, his team was promoted in classification three (3) times, going from the lowest level within the Central Indiana Youth Soccer League to the Indiana State League 1st Division. During the 2007 season, the Cline-led '94 boys were Indiana State Challenge Cup Semi-Finalists. Cline also coached the Zionsville Eagles '91 Select team, a U17 girls' team while with ZYSA. Two (2) players from this U17 girls' team went on to play collegiate soccer at the NCAA Division I level.
As a four-time letter winner as an outside midfielder and center back, Cline earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN, in May of 2003. He is currently working on his master's degree in history from The University of Louisiana at Monroe. Since 2003 he has earned multiple professional coaching licenses, including the United States Soccer Federation "A" License. He also holds the USSF National Youth License and the NSCAA state and regional goalkeeping diplomas.
Over the course of his coaching career, Cline has developed the reputation of being a very technical coach, effectively stressing the age-appropriate development of young players, and the equally critical role of a never-ending process of coach and parent education.