Friday, January 10, 2020

11 Questions with Gary Curneen



The pursuit of wisdom in any walk of life quickly reveals that what you think you know is not nearly enough to get you to where you want to go. As I'm starting out in my football scouting journey I challenged myself to reach out to those already working in various roles in football to answer a short list of questions. My goal wasn't to get answers but relevant perspectives on the game within the game.

Here is Gary Curneen, assistant coach at Chicago Red Stars and founder of Modern Soccer Coach

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

I travelled to US in 1999 to attend Wingate University on a soccer scholarship. As I graduated, the head coach, Gary Hamill, offered me a role as his assistant coach and the chance to do a masters degree. I did that for two years, gaining experience with him and taking my coaching badges in the process. That helped created my first head coaching role at Wingate University women's soccer.


What attracted you to coaching?

Once I realized there was more to it that x's and o's, I was really intrigued. Discovering the impact of aspects like session design, psychology, and culture opened my eyes to things that I was fascinated about and then linking them to the game that I loved. I was always a student of the game but my studies were always separate component. Once I realized they could help one another, I was fully committed to it.

Who is the first coach/teacher that impressed you ? What caught your eye?

My first coach was U-12 and his name was Pat Sharkey. He was a legend in my hometown and formerly played for Ipswich Town in the old style Premier League. His enthusiasm was second to none and his intensity was amazing. Everyone wanted to play for him, nobody wanted to let him down, and he knew so much about the game. Little things that no one had ever taught us before, he pointed out. It was a brilliant experience. 

Who is the player you "missed" on? What did you learn from it?

Not quite sure what this means. I think coaches miss a lot.... you try to reflect on every decision and learn from it. That's how you progress. Try to repeat the same mistakes over again. 

If you could start over what skill would you build on first?

Relationships is a broad topic but getting the players point of view specifically. I think it's a huge part of learning about them and helping them. Rather than simply instructing and correcting. I wish I developed it a lot younger than what I did. 

Do you see player development as more of an art or a science?

Both have a role no doubt but I'd side more with art. Understanding people, reading them on a daily basis, and being humble/aware enough to take their views into consideration ahead of your own at times.... along with remembering that enjoyment and fun are really important! 

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

I don't look specifically at moments or games, but more in terms of experiences. Some experiences can last a week or even a year. These are the ones that mean a lot because they tend to be intense and change you or take you places mentally and emotionally. I've been fortunate enough to have some amazing experiences with teams, players and coaches. 

What coach/player/team inspires you? Why?

People that pour everything into their passion inspire me. When their love of the game drives them to spend more time or look for more detail in their work. I think that's amazing. I like a variety of different styles too - so when I see a team or player who do something different and do it with a passion and purpose, I love it. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into coaching?

Be humble. Learn about the game and people (including yourself). Humility points you away from looking only at the result and helps you continually look for ways to develop and improve... and makes you approachable. Yes, humility is a great starting point. 

What is your favorite app/tool to use (for work or fun)?

I use a communication platform called Coach Logic, both for Modern Soccer Coach and with the teams I work with. I have worked with them for 5 years and really enjoy their product as it allows coaches to share, communicate, and build databases of work with their staff/players. 

What other sport/hobby/discipline do you feel improves your work as a coach? Why?

Reading. Twitter is in danger of conditioning coaches to skim headlines and shortcut our understanding so I feel that a coach who wants to read and spend the time digesting the information, would improve them for sure. 

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