The United Soccer Coaches announced that Dr. Douglas Williamson has been elected to the association’s board of directors, the organization announced at its convention in Kansas City, Mo. on Friday.
Dr. Williamson will serve a six-year term on the
board. He will hold the title of vice president for four years, before serving one year each as president and immediate past president.
“First of all it’s humbling,” Dr. Williamson said in a statement. “This organization, since January 1983, has meant more to me than I know how to put into words. I have friends, mentors, coaching colleagues, who are so special and have been so influential in my life. So this is a high honor, one of the most important honors of my life, and I’m looking forward to being of service in any way I can on the board.”
A United Soccer Coaches member since 1983, Williamson is a long-time instructor on the association’s National Academy Staff, serving since 1994. He has been a Senior Academy Staff coach since 2006.
He became certified to teach the then-NSCAA State Diploma (now United Soccer Coaches 4v4 Diploma) course in 1986 and has taught that course more than 50 times. Among the states in which he has taught the course include Arizona (on a Native American reservation), Montana (to representatives from six different Native American reservations) and New Mexico (twice in conjunction with the Indigenous Soccer Cup).
Williamson has been active in Coaching Academy affairs including curriculum design with an emphasis in material related to coaching ethics. He revised the current United Soccer Coaches Code of Ethics. Williamson served as the Assistant Director of Coaching Education for five years, providing oversight for administration of both national and regional Academy courses. In addition, he has served as a clinician at numerous Conventions.
A Needham, Mass. native, Williamson coached collegiate programs with stints at Curry College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Wellesley College and Kenyon College. He also had served as a secondary school coach with programs in Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska and Ohio.
Dr. Williamson was the recipient of the Charlotte Moran Youth Long-Term Service Award in 2021, the Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award in 2005, and a Letter of Commendation in 2016.
He will officially join the board on Sunday.
The United Soccer Coaches is led by 11 members of the association, including six individuals elected by the membership, four at-large representatives appointed by the president and the advocacy council chair.
As of Sunday, the board will consist of the following:
Immediate Past President: Dr. Missy Price
President: Ashlee Fontes-Comber
First Vice President: Dr. David Carr
Second Vice President: Rusty Oglesby
Third Vice President: Heather Dyche
Fourth Vice President: Dr. Douglas Williamson
At-Large Representative: Andy Haile
At-Large Representative: Haroot Hakopian
At-Large Representative: Greg Hubbard
At-Large Representative: Dr. Nefertiti Walker
Advocacy Council Chair: Sue Ryan
In addition, United Soccer Coaches CEO Geoff VanDeusen is a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
