About

Coaching philosophy: My philosophy is to develop players as total soccer players. No part of the game can or is skipped, the best defender must learn how to finish a chance on goal and the best forward must learn how to defend. Players are encouraged to play various positions to enhance their development. Total Game = Total Soccer!!

Soccer is played with effort and running, but skill is the beauty of the game and skill produces wins! That’s why increasing a player’s soccer skill level is a priority of my and is what drives my training sessions and philosophy on developing players.
Developing soccer players has always been my strength and my passion. Teaching the game of soccer to players of all skill levels and that’s my love. Seeing their potential, fine tuning their skills, motivating them and increasing their confidence to compete and win. In doing this teams begin to be molded with strong skilled players. That is what it is all about for me as a soccer coach.

Elite Soccer Training Stresses: Obviously, more dedicated participants will receive the most growth and experience from the trainings. From this program, let it be known that collegiate, regional and national players are fostered.

Elite Soccer Training: provides Mini-Camps, Stryker Clinics, Defensive Training, Team Trainings, Conditioning Programs, College Prep/Elite Training, Private and Semi-Private Lessons.
Elite Soccer Training: is a neutral soccer training entity that works side by side with elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, daycares, local recreational programs, club teams, and premier soccer leagues throughout the United States.
Elite Soccer Training: provides supplemental soccer training in a unique, positive training environment for players of all levels, ages and abilities.
Elite Soccer Training: focuses weekly on individual player development in the area of footskills (moves, trapping, and touch), passing, shooting, and field awareness fundamentals.

Coach Ray’s Resume

Coaching experience:

Bachelor of Science in Art Education; minor in Business Administration University of Tennessee Chattanooga

– NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma (Equivalent USSF A)

– United States Soccer Federation D Coaching License

– NSCAA Foundations of Coaching Certificate (4v4, 7v7/9v9)

– NSCAA Director of Coaching Certificate

– NSCAA Coaching Education Instructor

– 3v3 Live Regional Director

29 years of coaching

Coached and directed for some of the top club programs in the country:

• Central Oregon ODP Boys Regional Portland Timbers Training Center Director

• Executive Director – Chattanooga Assault – Numerous state championships and regional league titles along with winning some of the top college showcases and tournaments across the county.

• COACH- Fc Alliance – Help build a winning tradition with this club that is now an ECNL club and one of the top in the southeast.  Over 300 players from this club have moved on to play at the college level of the last 5 to 8 years. Coach Ray has coached or trained over 100 plus of them.

Coached teams in USYSA leagues SRPL, MRL, National League, & US Soccer Club leagues NPL South Atlantic League, NPL National Championship

• Director of Coaching Boys & Girls U11 to U19 – Indiana Fire South (Chicago Fire Affiliate)
• Technical Consultant – Sporting South Indiana (Sporting KC Affiliate)
• JR. ACADEMY Director of Coaching Boys & Girls U-11 to U14 – BSC (Portland Oregon)
• COACH – Bend Fc Timbers (Timbers Affiliate)
• COACH – Redoubt Futbol Club
• COACH – Middle Valley Soccer Club
• COACH – Marshall County Soccer Association
• COACH – Chattanooga Express
• COACH – North River Soccer Association
• COACH – Bowling Green Soccer Association
• Won DI State Championships in Tennessee

• Won South Atlantic Premier League in the National Premier League (NPL)

• Had teams play and advance to the NPL National Championships

• Developed teams which played in the nation’s top Leagues.  Top division Southern Region Premier League (SRPL), US Youth Soccer National League, National Premier League (NPL)

• Developed teams to play and compete in the nation’s top showcase tournaments: CASL, Disney, Las Vegas, Crossroads, Wags, and well as others.

• As a coach developed players that are currently playing the nation’s top leagues such as ECNL, National League, and DA programs.

• 100’s of players from those have gone on to play at the collegiate and professional level.

Soccer camp staff coach for some of the top college programs in the country:

Syracuse University

Vanderbilt University

University of Evansville

Western Kentucky University

Indiana University

University of North Carolina

Duke University

MTSU

Secondary School level:

Marshall County High School (Benton, KY)

Assistant 2 years 1993-94

Head Coach Junior Varsity 1993-94

Varsity State Final Four appearances

District, Regional Championships, and State appearances

Undefeated seasons as JV coach

Girls Preparatory School (Chattanooga, TN)

Varsity Assistant Coach 1997-2000

Lutheran Middle School Coach (Chattanooga, TN)

Head Coach 2000

CSLA Middle School Coach (Chattanooga, TN)

Head Coach 2005

Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN)

Girls Varsity Middle School Coach 2006

Undefeated season 10-0-3

TVAC Conference & Tournament Title

Team would later be ranked by NSCAA as the #1 high school team in the country.

Owner of Elite Soccer Training:

One thing that is very unique about Elite Soccer Training that it is has not only produced strong youth players, but helped players reach such honors as National Champs, Players of the Year, All-Americans, All-State, Best of Preps, ODP and Region ODP Players, and now current College, High School, & Youth Coaches.

• US National Team Training Pool: Mckenzie Thomas, Summer Lanter, Caitlin Cook, Nikki Bario
• Regional Team: Summer Lanter, Caitlin Cook, Paige Lanter, Josie Rix, McKenzie Thomas, Julia Kaset, Nikki Bario

A complete list of collegiate players & testimonials: click here

Contact for reference:

Marshall Ray (University of Evansville)
Robbie Church (Duke)
Billy Lesesne (Duke)
John Rennie (Duke)
Mike Jocobs (University of Evansville)
JD Kyzer (UTC)
Fred Schmaltz (Former University of Evansville Coach)
Mick Lyons (Indiana University)
Mike Fietag (Indiana University)
Ronnie Hill (Vanderbilt University)
Tim McClements (Vanderbilt University)
Sean Holmes (Drake University)
David Holmes (Western Kentucky Unversity)
Ben Popoola (Appalachian State University)
Chris Lenzo (University of Kentucky)
Ricky Zambrano (LSU)
Becky Fletcher (Auburn Univeristy)
Andy McMorran (Ireland U-18 National Team Coach)
Marlon Charles (Trinidad Assistant Women’s National Team Coach)
Ajit Korgaoker (TNFC Coaching Director)
Jon Schneider (Impact Coaching Director)
Marcogiulio Piccillo (Quest Coaching Director)
Justin Bernax (Metro F.C. Coaching Director, St. Louis)
Dustin Ottesen (West Side Coaching Director Indianapolis)
Will Kessler (Girls Prep School)
Jimmy Weekly (Baylor Prep School)
Curtis Blair (Redoubt Coaching Director)
Sean McDaniel (Tennessee ODP Coach)
Don Walker (Marshall County High School)
Stacey Bradley (Marshall County High School)
Chris Johnson (IUPUI)
Mo Cato (IUPUI)