Ninth season for Academy will feature five teams playing in MLS NEXT. (Pictured above: Atlanta United's U-14s after winning the 2024 Greenport International Tournament in the Netherlands on Aug. 25)
Ahead of MLS NEXT’s opening weekend on Saturday, Atlanta United’s Academy today announced its coaching staff and competitions. Led by Director of Methodology Javier Pérez, who enters his first full season after joining the club in April, the academy enters its ninth season with all five Academy squads (U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-18), competing in MLS NEXT. The season opens Sept. 7, with home openers at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta on Sept 14. Select matches from the home openers will be streamed live on **ATLUTD.com/live**.
The club held its annual Academy dinner Wednesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to signify the start of the year. Joining Pérez to address the players were President and CEO Garth Lagerwey and Interim Head Coach Rob Valentino. The teams recently wrapped their preseason, highlighted by the U-14s winning the 2024 Greenport International Tournament in the Netherlands after defeating Belgian club K.R.C. Genk in a penalty shootout.
“We are thrilled to kick off the 2024-25 Atlanta United Academy season and are looking forward to an exciting campaign from each of our teams,” Pérez said. “With each squad now competing in MLS NEXT, we believe each team will compete at a high level to allow our players to maximize their potential. We also have an incredible group of coaches that bring a wealth of knowledge and strong work ethic to the table that will help successfully guide our players through the club’s development pathway.”
As part of MLS NEXT’s fifth season, multiple changes were made to evolve the Pro Player Pathway. Beginning this year, MLS academies will move from U-15 and U-17 age group designations to U-16 and U-18 age group designations. Additionally, all MLS academies will also compete in the U-19 age group with rosters comprised of U-18 players along with a limited number of overage players. Designed to improve the player pathway by optimizing the transition from the academy level to MLS NEXT Pro, this evolution results from comprehensive analysis, including input from Chief Soccer Officers, Academy Directors, and coaches throughout the MLS ecosystem. For more information on MLS NEXT’s evolution and its 2024-25 schedule, click **HERE**.
Additionally, 19 players from Atlanta United’s Regional Development School, the club’s pre-academy feeder system, will join the Academy across five age groups this year. The Regional Development School is a tryout-based program open to boys and girls, ages seven through 14, that serves as the club’s first step in its development pathway.
2024-25 Atlanta United Academy staff:
- Javier Pérez – Director of Methodology
- Dean Atkins – Director of Operations
- Kenley Nobles – Academy Administrator
- Stewart Lathan – Academy Player Care & Liaison Coordinator
- Henry Benavides – Academy Operations Coordinator
- Aaron Adams – Learning Specialist
- Will Clayton – Academy Scout
- Michael Lynch – Academy Scout
- Anthony Polite – Kit and Equipment Manager
- Colby Childress – U-13 Academy Head Coach
- Bruno Ramos – U-14 Academy Head Coach
- Steve Covino – U-15 Academy Head Coach
- Will Bates – U-16 Academy Head Coach
- Steven Turek – U-18 Academy Head Coach
- Andrea Bustamante – U-13 Academy Assistant Coach
- Casey Osborne – Individual Development Coach
- Zach Schultze – Academy Goalkeeper Coach
- Jonathan Frances – Academy Goalkeeper Coach
- Karlie Paschall – Head of Development Performance
- Pete Luther – Academy Fitness Coach
- Hallam Kimpton – Academy Fitness Coach
- Richard Wolff – Academy Video Analyst
- Brianna Karweick – Academy Athletic Trainer
- Brian Roberts – Academy Athletic Trainer
- Zach Rodriguez – Academy Athletic Trainer
- Aren Ulmer – Mental Skills Coach
Find out more about the Academy and each of the teams' rosters here.
