New group to direct youth development program

Starting with the upcoming season, Crew SC’s player development program will be operated by a new organization outside its hierarchy.

The team announced Friday a “formal youth player development affiliation relationship” with Sporting Columbus, an organization that will direct the youth soccer program starting with tryouts in May.

The change is likely related to team ownership exploring the possibility of relocating to Austin, Texas, after the 2018 season, and youth teams that had carried the Crew name as part of the player development program will no longer do so.

Sporting Columbus will operate youth teams for boys and girls ages 6-18 and the pre-academy program for boys and girls ages 11-18. The arrangement will not impact the Crew SC Academy, an organization-funded program that runs from the Under-12 level to Under-18 / 19.

Sporting Columbus will be led by current Crew SC East boys director of coaching Geoff Starks, Crew SC East girls director of coaching Dave Merrick and director of operations Jeffrey Warren. Coaching personnel will be decided by the Sporting Columbus leadership.

“We are excited to begin this affiliate partnership with Columbus Crew SC and we look forward to a successful 2018-2019 club season,” Warren said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide the same quality programming that the current Crew SC player development families presently experience and we look forward to delivering on that objective.”

The Crew and Sporting Columbus will co-operate several youth tournaments.

Crew president of business operations Andy Loughnane said in a statement that the change has been requested for several years.

“The opportunity to partner with a group that will be led by a trusted committee of current Crew SC Player Development employees provides a seamless transition,” Loughnane said.

In a letter to Crew SC player development families obtained by The Dispatch, Loughnane said “a combination of factors contributed to the formation of a new opportunity which we are confident will provide our players/ families/coaches with the comfort of continuity and operational excellence while also serving the interests of the broader youth soccer community.”

In the letter, he confirmed the Crew “will not directly operate youth teams.”

Loughnane thanked Jeremy Parkins, the club’s senior director of player development for “his oversight and direction of Crew SC Player Development over the past several years” and said that Parkins “will remain with Columbus Crew SC through the transition.”

He added: “We recognize this decision may provide unexpected change for players and families, however we are very hopeful that the continuity of leadership and operational excellence within Sporting Columbus will afford a smooth transition.”