New TD at BSC

[Anonymous]

I don't know the guy, but as a Girls side parent I am worried about the decision not to replace a strong female role model with another woman, and fear that there will be a return to the misconception (IMO, anyway) that female athletes thrive in the exact same environment that male athletes do.

ugust 9, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bethesda Soccer Club Names Jonathon Colton Technical Director of Boys and Girls Programs

BETHESDA, MD -The Bethesda Soccer Club (BSC) is pleased to announce that Jonathon Colton is promoted to the position of Technical Director for our Boys and Girls Programs effective immediately.

"This is a very exciting time for the Club. Jonathon has done an incredible job creating an extremely successful program from the ground up,” said BSC’s Executive Director Lisa Frates. “His dedication to the fundamentals of the sport and top level coaching has led to BSC being recognized as one of the best boys programs in the Country. I look forward to the opportunity for him to bring those skills to the girls side of the game as well. In addition the expanded roles of our Age Group Directors will help provide our players more opportunities to learn and grow within the game and our parents more insight into their players development."

Jonathon is currently BSC’s Boys Director of Coaching and has worked his staff towards transforming the program into one of the top Player Development Programs in the country. During his tenure as Director over 400 players have gone on to play college soccer or attend a two-or-four year college or university. Bethesda’s Boys Program have also won over ten State Cup titles and are a multiple-time representative at the United States Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. BSC's Boys Academy teams will also be playing in the top tier of the USSDA’s inaugural Cup competition this season joining the best clubs out of the DA to create an elite level competition.

As the club’s Technical Director, Jonathon will be responsible for the oversight and administration of Bethesda’s boys and girls programs, creating a unified philosophy of development across both groups. He will work directly with the Club’s program directors and front office staff to ensure that all coaching and players are given the opportunity to develop to their highest potential. Furthermore, he will serve as the club’s representative at various local, state, and national meetings with our league partners.

“I am honored to accept this new position as Technical Director of Bethesda Soccer Club,” said Colton. “It has been a privilege working beside the most dedicated coaching staff and with so many committed and talented players over the past 18 years. I look forward to building on our success and am excited for all that we can accomplish.”

Colton has also created one of the region’s top coaching staffs, which boasts 12 USSF ‘A’ Licensed Coaches, four USSF ‘B’ Licensed coaches and numerous current and former Division I & III College Coaches. In 2016, Jonathan was chosen as one of only 18 Academy Directors to participate in the inaugural Academy Director’s Course under the direction of US Soccer. He currently holds a USSF National ‘A’ Coaches License and is a member of the US Youth Soccer National League EDP Conferences Founding Member Committee and US Youth Soccer’s National League EDP Membership Council.

Tryouts for the 2019-2020 season are still ongoing. To learn more about the Bethesda program please go to our website .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know the guy, but as a Girls side parent I am worried about the decision not to replace a strong female role model with another woman, and fear that there will be a return to the misconception (IMO, anyway) that female athletes thrive in the exact same environment that male athletes do.

ugust 9, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bethesda Soccer Club Names Jonathon Colton Technical Director of Boys and Girls Programs

BETHESDA, MD -The Bethesda Soccer Club (BSC) is pleased to announce that Jonathon Colton is promoted to the position of Technical Director for our Boys and Girls Programs effective immediately.

"This is a very exciting time for the Club. Jonathon has done an incredible job creating an extremely successful program from the ground up,” said BSC’s Executive Director Lisa Frates. “His dedication to the fundamentals of the sport and top level coaching has led to BSC being recognized as one of the best boys programs in the Country. I look forward to the opportunity for him to bring those skills to the girls side of the game as well. In addition the expanded roles of our Age Group Directors will help provide our players more opportunities to learn and grow within the game and our parents more insight into their players development."

Jonathon is currently BSC’s Boys Director of Coaching and has worked his staff towards transforming the program into one of the top Player Development Programs in the country. During his tenure as Director over 400 players have gone on to play college soccer or attend a two-or-four year college or university. Bethesda’s Boys Program have also won over ten State Cup titles and are a multiple-time representative at the United States Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. BSC's Boys Academy teams will also be playing in the top tier of the USSDA’s inaugural Cup competition this season joining the best clubs out of the DA to create an elite level competition.

As the club’s Technical Director, Jonathon will be responsible for the oversight and administration of Bethesda’s boys and girls programs, creating a unified philosophy of development across both groups. He will work directly with the Club’s program directors and front office staff to ensure that all coaching and players are given the opportunity to develop to their highest potential. Furthermore, he will serve as the club’s representative at various local, state, and national meetings with our league partners.

“I am honored to accept this new position as Technical Director of Bethesda Soccer Club,” said Colton. “It has been a privilege working beside the most dedicated coaching staff and with so many committed and talented players over the past 18 years. I look forward to building on our success and am excited for all that we can accomplish.”

Colton has also created one of the region’s top coaching staffs, which boasts 12 USSF ‘A’ Licensed Coaches, four USSF ‘B’ Licensed coaches and numerous current and former Division I & III College Coaches. In 2016, Jonathan was chosen as one of only 18 Academy Directors to participate in the inaugural Academy Director’s Course under the direction of US Soccer. He currently holds a USSF National ‘A’ Coaches License and is a member of the US Youth Soccer National League EDP Conferences Founding Member Committee and US Youth Soccer’s National League EDP Membership Council.

Tryouts for the 2019-2020 season are still ongoing. To learn more about the Bethesda program please go to our website .

What does the TD's sex have to do with providing technical direction for the club? I would worry about the ability to direct player development technically first.

[Anonymous]

How many coaches let alone women coaches have the profile of Coach Shannon. I see this as a disappointment. Colton is a strong coach but he is not on the same level as the TD at McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many coaches let alone women coaches have the profile of Coach Shannon. I see this as a disappointment. Colton is a strong coach but he is not on the same level as the TD at McLean.

Not one single coach in the area has Shannon’s profile. There are few, if any, in the country that accomplished what she did as a player and coach. Google Shannon Higgins and read her wiki page. Not only did she win 4 national championships at UNC, she scored the game winning goal in 3 of the finals while also being named the best player in the country. Not only did she win the World Cup with the USWNT in 91, she also assisted both of the goals in the WC final. For years, she coached MD, GW and the U-18 USWNT and had winning records. She is already in the Soccer Hall of Fame. There was no way BSC would find someone with her profile to replace Shannon, as she is unique.

Colton has done very good things with the boys DA. It is amazing that BSC’s boys program was placed in the same top league with all the MLS DA teams and not relegated to the lower DA league. The BSC girls program can only hope that he has a similar positive effect.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the new TD will be more focused on the boys program-bad news for the ECNL girls in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like there are more changes to come in the form of new coaches. It is clear that given Bethesda's resources and the its pull and access to players in NW DC. MoCo, FrCo, HoCo and NoVA, the club is under-performing. Mclean is eating its lunch.

The Kevin Layton hire is a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I left out the link.

https://www.soccerwire.com/news/bethesda-sc-appoints-jonathon-colton-as-technical-director-after-successful-run-as-boys-doc/

[Anonymous]

BSC girls side has been under preforming for some time. This was the fault of the TD. Things needed to change. Some of the female coaches were toxic and needed to go. Just because a coach is female does mean she is a good coach or a good role model for girls.

[Anonymous]

Colton? Meh. Sexy football dies yet another death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BSC girls side has been under preforming for some time. This was the fault of the TD. Things needed to change. Some of the female coaches were toxic and needed to go. Just because a coach is female does mean she is a good coach or a good role model for girls.

True, but Shannon was an excellent role model and had both her head and heart in the right place. Saying that you're going to dp boys and girls development the same way ignores some very real differences. But cool if the club gets better for all rheir players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many coaches let alone women coaches have the profile of Coach Shannon. I see this as a disappointment. Colton is a strong coach but he is not on the same level as the TD at McLean.

Who is the TD at McLean?

[Anonymous]

There was no way for BSC to hire a woman of the same caliber as Shannon. Hence, the only option was to promote Colton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many coaches let alone women coaches have the profile of Coach Shannon. I see this as a disappointment. Colton is a strong coach but he is not on the same level as the TD at McLean.

Who is the TD at McLean?

Clyde Watson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was no way for BSC to hire a woman of the same caliber as Shannon. Hence, the only option was to promote Colton.

That doesn’t follow at all. For all her great accomplishments and what appears to be a nice personality, Shannon was not a good manager. Theres no reason to assume she would be based on her playing and coaching resume. The TD job requires different skills. It makes a lot more sense to recruit a new girls TD who has been successful in that particular job than to throw in the towel and just put the same person in charge of both programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was no way for BSC to hire a woman of the same caliber as Shannon. Hence, the only option was to promote Colton.

That doesn’t follow at all. For all her great accomplishments and what appears to be a nice personality, Shannon was not a good manager. Theres no reason to assume she would be based on her playing and coaching resume. The TD job requires different skills. It makes a lot more sense to recruit a new girls TD who has been successful in that particular job than to throw in the towel and just put the same person in charge of both programs.

You need someone who is going to interface with college coaches in recruiting years for girls. Who is going to fill that role?