NCFC Youth Announces Updates to Full-Time Staff

NCFC Youth is excited to announce new roles for current full-time staff members and the addition of Derek Leader to our ECNL Girls Program. The changes support promotion and growth from within our organization and a focus on attracting top talent from across the country. With combined experiences at the national, collegiate, high school and club level, these coaches and staff represent more than 85 years of experience in the game. The wealth of knowledge that each brings will continue to propel our players, programs, and organization forward.

In the coming week, we will highlight each of these staff members in more depth showcasing their experiences, accomplishments, and more.

“There is nothing more rewarding than promoting staff from within our organization,” said Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer. “We have a great staff in place and with these changes, I know the quality of our programming will improve. I am delighted Derek is joining our team and know he will be a great addition for the ECNL Program and our staff overall. I look forward to supporting each of these staff members in their new roles and know they will work all tirelessly to support the players they coach and oversee.”

David Maddren, NC Courage Academy Director

After being named the Interim Director of the NC Courage Academy in January, Maddren is named the NC Courage Academy Director, effective immediately. Maddren has served as an NC Courage staff coach since 2018 and has been with the club for more than 7 years. He also has experience coaching for 3 years at the collegiate level at Mississippi College and led the Carolina Railhawks Del Sol Development Academy in 2017. Maddren is also a USSF A Licensed Coach.

Derek Leader, Girls ECNL Director

Leader comes to NCFC Youth from Arizona where he is finishing up his role as an Program Director and ECNL staff coach with the Utah Royals FC Arizona youth club. He brings more than 30 years of coaching experience across the youth, ODP, collegiate, and professional level.  At the youth level, Leader developed players at some of the most recognized clubs across the country including IMG Soccer Academy, Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and Concorde Soccer Club, prior to being in Utah. His career also includes 8 years as an NCAA Division I head coach and 4 years as an NCAA Division I assistant coach. At the national level, Leader is as a former US Soccer National Instructional Staff and National Scout. He is a USSF A Licensed Coach and will begin his role with NCFC Youth in mid-June.

Bobby Johnston, Classic Director

Effective immediately, current Girls ECNL Director, Bobby Johnston, is now NCFC Youth’s Classic Director. Johnston has served 3 years as the NCFC Youth Girls ECNL Director and has been with the club for more than 8 years. He has over 28 years of coaching experience that have taken him to various youth clubs across the east coast including 2 years with the IMG Academy. Johnston’s experience at the college level includes 5 years as a NCAA Division I associate coach and 5 years as an NCAA Division II head coach, which will serve him well in his role developing players at NCFC Youth. Johnston is also a USSF A Licensed Coach.

Jamie Corti, Challenge Director

Jamie Corti takes on new role as Challenge Director beginning May 1, following 2 years as NCFC Youth’s Marketing and Program Coordinator. Her impact has extended across tournaments, camps, and marketing, while coaching in the Girls Classic U11 program. Prior to NCFC Youth, Corti served as the Recreation Program Manager at Loudon Soccer in Virginia, and she has extensive coaching experience at the collegiate level including stints at Campbell University, University of Central Florida, Virginia Commonwealth University, and UNC Greensboro. Corti also holds a United Soccer National Diploma.

Brett Malone, U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director

Current Challenge Director, Brett Malone, migrates to a new role in the Classic program as the U13-U19 North Boys Director. Malone started at NCFC Youth as the Recreation Director before taking over the Challenge Program in 2017. Prior to NCFC Youth, Malone worked with Baton Rouge Soccer Club as the Academy Director and Recreational Director of Coaching. Malone has been a coach with our Boys ECNL program since 2018, and is a USSF A License Coach.

David Rodriguez, NC Courage Academy Staff Coach

David Rodriguez, current U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director, assumes new role with the NC Courage Academy as a staff coach. Rodriguez has more than 10 years of coaching experience at both the club and collegiate level, with roles at NCFC Youth since 2014. In addition to serving as the U13-U19 Classic North Boys Director, Rodriguez has coached in the NCFC Academy program since 2017, and recently worked as an Assistant Coach with the North Carolina FC U23 team. Rodriquez is also a USSF B Licensed Coach.