Colin Chesters Joins Houston Express as Executive Director
Big news hit the youth soccer community today as Colin Chesters, who recently departed from San Diego Surf Soccer Club after 24 years, moves to Texas to begin a new adventure as Executive Director at Houston Express Soccer Club.
In an exclusive interview with SoccerToday, Colin sat down and gave us an inside look into his successful past with Surf SC, and why he’s looking forward to his future at Houston Express. A force for change in youth soccer, Chesters has been a driving force behind elevating player development — with a phenomenal record of success. During Chesters’ reign at Surf SC, hundreds of youth players received a call up from U.S. Soccer for training on a National level and the amazing talents of USA Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke is only one of the many player success stories.
Diane Scavuzzo: Congratulations — After being one of the most significant influencers in youth soccer for decades — as the Director of Coaching at San Diego Surf Soccer Club you are now going East to help develop another soccer club. Ever think of retiring? After being with Surf SC from from 1993 through 2016, why would you want to take on a new challenge at this point in your life and why Houston Express?
Colin Chesters: Houston Express Soccer Club is an up and coming club that has solid roots in the community. I’m not the only one that recognizes this as U.S. Soccer has recently awarded DA status to the BU12’s for the upcoming season and we’re hoping that’s just the beginning!
Houston Express SC own their own lighted fields, they have futsal courts, TRX machines, quality staff and a progressive board. They are in a soccer hotbed, well organized, managed correctly and will be a force in youth soccer nationally. I see huge potential here.
I want to do what I did at Surf and take something that is good — Surf SC won 4 State Cups from 1978-1992 before I joined the club — and turn it into something great — after I joined, the club won a remarkable 78 State/Nation Cups, 18 Regional Championships, 6 USYS National Championships, 2 ECNL National Championships and 1 Red Bull Championships.
I have a fire within me that has been reignited by the challenge at Houston Express. I’ve got plenty of juice left in me and I’m not ready to hang my visor up just yet.
I know the California market place and I believe Texas is very similar. I’m excited, motivated and passionate about the challenges that lie ahead and I’m looking forward to working with the staff at Houston Express.
Something I say to all my players is that “performance follows motivation.”
I believe that I have the ability to create motivation amongst the staff as I have proven over the past 24 years. Trust me Houston Express Soccer Club is going places. They are impressive. The amount of “A” licensed coaches on staff, the high-level sponsorships they have, the top-notch fields that they own and their all-around professionalism will make them a force to be reckoned with.
Diane Scavuzzo: What lies ahead for you in your new role with Houston Express?
Colin Chesters: I plan to hit the ground running. I will analyze the environment, prepare SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Create the right culture, get to know all of the coaches, teams and players — identify strengths and improve weaknesses.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you enjoy most about coaching?
Colin Chesters: The togetherness of the team. The friendships.
The “Mighty Ducks” moments when, through strategy, hard work and commitment and in a moment of pure quality, the impossible becomes possible.
I enjoy the journey and seeing a well thought out plan come together.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you describe yourself as a coach and leader?
Colin Chesters: I will always do what is best for the club, for the players and for the families at that club.
I’m good at what I do. I feel my strongest trait is as a strategic thinker. I have an excellent track record — one that rivals any DOC in the nation.
I’m good at reading the script and knowing when to make a move or when to sit tight. I have the ability to make well timed decisions and adjustments during games that increase the odds of winning in to our favor. I am someone who is compassionate towards his coworkers and understands that everyone on a team or in an organization needs to sacrifice for the cause and should be proud and happy to do so.
Diane Scavuzzo: What challenges do you see that lie ahead for youth soccer?
Colin Chesters: There are a lot of interesting things going on in the youth soccer landscape right now and big changes are on the horizon.
Years ago, from 1978 – 2007, there were very few changes in the youth soccer landscape but the last ten years have seen tremendous growth and change.
Since the inception of US Club Soccer, then U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy for Boys (USSF DA), then the ECNL and now the expansion of USSF DA with the addition of younger ages, and now the formation of the USSF Girls DA — plus the additional USYS State, Regional and National leagues, NPL and the ENPL, clubs now have a multitude of options and pathways for their players.
The next ten years will bring more changes, and I will continue to navigate change — as I always have.
This means that I will customize the choices to best fit the needs of Houston Express and their families. This is the responsibility of every DOC in the country.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think about the new changes from US Soccer?
Colin Chesters: The short answer is the changes are good for the game and good for producing self-thinking and independent players as well as being great for the pro and national teams, which is ultimately the area US soccer wants to improve.
The long answer is — that in reality, it’s going to make it more difficult for coaches to manage teams, players and parent expectations.
Soccer is so unique in the USA as compared to the rest of the world — with the pay-to-play model and with our American college soccer system — the level most players aspire to reach in the US is the college level where subbing rules align more with the USYS rules which make it easier for coaches to manage rosters.
U.S. Soccer is striving to achieve a new system and there will be a few bumps in the road with the new model until it settles in to becoming the new normal.
Diane Scavuzzo: How has your approach changed over the years?
Colin Chesters: In the early days at Surf SC, I was more “hands on — get out of my way” with the attitude of “I’m going to run every training session, I’m going to coach every game and kick every ball.”
My approach has changed over the years. My approach now is more “take a man fishing and he can eat dinner. Teach a man to fish and he can eat for life.”
My approach is to mentor, educate and surround myself with talented people who are good at what they do but who are willing to listen and learn from someone who has been there, done that. People who are self-motivated and hard workers who don’t feel like they know it all or are entitled to anything.
Hey, I learn something new every day. We all should strive to learn something new every day.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you find the balance between development and winning? Can a program just be a win-at-all-costs program without the development aspect?
Colin Chesters: First you need to define “what is winning?”
I think winning eventually comes when you teach the right things in the right age groups.
However, when we are talking about results only, I do think coaches can win and recruit and win again but normally this has a short shelf life and the wheels come off this bus in the early teen years.
It is easy to see good soccer. It is easy on the eye when there is passing with a purpose but big, fast and strong can win you a lot of games.
A win/loss record can confuse parents when making decisions as to where their child should play. I urge parents to look at more than just the score and the results when making a decision about what team to join because that can change as quickly as one player leaving or switching teams.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are some of your best memories from your time at Surf SC?
Colin Chesters: I can remember every State, Regional and National Championship like they were yesterday.
I would always lead in to my pre-game motivational team talk with “you will be able to tell your grandkids you were a State/Regional/National Champion one day. That’s a pretty significant accomplishment that nobody will ever be able to take away from you.”
The work that went in to every game — and, the sacrifices made by everyone involved in helping the players to reach the top of their own Mt. Everest — is a reward for sacrifice and proof that setting goals plays an important part in life.
I love the memories of the journey more than I actually enjoyed arriving at the destination.
This is where special bonds are created, friendships are made, character is built and personalities are formed. Nothing makes me happier than to see ex-players grow up to be great people because after all that is more important than the result of any game.
I love to see Rachel Buehler, ex-captain of the U.S. Women’s National team interning as a doctor and signing autographs for the kids. It was great to see Servando Carrasco and Alex Morgan get married and carrying themselves like great human beings.
I love to see the players grow up to be great parents who love their kids and want to provide them with every opportunity possible.
I feel that a coach can be a positive impact a youth soccer player. I love helping kids get a college education through soccer and academics.
Seeing a player offered any type of scholarship brings a sense of accomplishment to the player and great happiness to me.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do the next 25 years look like for you?
Colin Chesters: I think I have ten quality years left in me before riding off into the sunset and hanging up my visor.
I hope to make Houston Express a household name in the soccer community like I did at Surf SC. It all starts with like-minded people and great facilities and HESC have both.
Nothing would make me prouder than to see a Surf SC vs. Houston Express final in the DA or ECNL. If you dream big and work hard anything is possible and, for me, the dream never ends.
Follow me on my new journey to Houston Express Soccer Club on Instagram @colinchesters and on Twitter @colinchesters
Check out Chesters’ write up Houston Express.
