ELON, N.C. – Elon head men’s soccer coach Darren Powell has announced the addition of Chris Little to the Phoenix coaching staff for the 2010 season. Little has ties to the area, having served as the Director of Coaching for the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association since 2007.
“We are pleased to welcome Chris to the Elon soccer team,” said Powell. “I have worked with Chris in the past and we have always enjoyed working together. He is a very knowledgeable and organized coach who is committed to doing well.”
After playing his collegiate soccer at UNC Pembroke, Little served as the assistant coach for his alma mater for two seasons, helping the team improve from a 2-16-0 record in 2000 to a 10-7-1 mark in 2001. Little assisted with all aspects of the program, including coaching and managing players, recruiting, scheduling and academic development of student-athletes.
Following the success at UNC Pembroke, Little spent three years as the head coach of Cumberland College in Kentucky, winning 32 games and leading the team to a ranking as high as 20th in the 2004 NAIA national poll. With 16 wins, Little’s 2004 squad posted the highest tournament finish in school history as the runner-up in the NAIA Region XI.
In 2005, Little returned to North Carolina to head up the Olympic Development Program and serve as the North Carolina State Director of Coaching and Player Development for the NC Youth Soccer Association. He guided the state’s ODP program to its first two national titles, leading the 1988 State Team to a shared national title at the 2006 ODP National Tournament and the 1989 State Team to a 2007 championship.
In his most recent position, Little oversaw over 30 teams and 25 coaches, while leading the U16 US Academy to the US Soccer National Championships in 2009. He was instrumental in developing the vision, direction and operation of the association, creating a player development model, technical curriculum and training guide. Part of his role involved directing the US Soccer Development Academy Program as well as the U15-U18 Boys Program.
“I am very excited about this opportunity to join Darren and Elon University,” Little said. “I am thankful to Darren and the athletic department for this great opportunity and I am really looking forward to building upon the recent successes of the program.”
Little earned his bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in physical education from UNC Pembroke.
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