Everything is bigger in Texas. This certainly describes the beautiful game in the Lone Star State. From the professional ranks to the youth, Texas has it all. Two successful MLS clubs in the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas, an upstart NPSL side on the Gulf in Galveston, and a handful of youth clubs that could be called dynasties.
In this talent-rich region, you will find John Gall. A former Wales U-18 national team player, Gall went on to play for English clubs Luton Town and Milwall before earning All-American honors at Oklahoma City University in the U.S. He caught on with the USL Texas Toros before spending time with the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer. Today he is one of the most decorated club and high school coaches in all of Texas.
Gall has been part of the Dallas Texans, one of the top youth programs in North America, for several years. He has been entrusted with some of the Southwest’s best talent and has seen many players move to the next level thanks to his expert tutelage.
“It’s been a great experience coaching some of the best players in the country with the Dallas Texas,” Gall stated.
Gall believes in the quality of play in Texas and things don’t get much better than Dallas where the Texans, FC Dallas, Solar SC, and Andromeda SC play in a highly competitive environment.
“We’re coaching every week against very knowledgeable guys,” Gall continued. “They’ve all played the game. We are all competitive. It’s a coaches’ game, how we can outdo each other.”
The talent level is incredible and much work is being done with younger players. “It just gets better all the time,” Gall declared. “I don’t know when it is going to stop.”
Marcus HS has been under Gall’s watch since 2001 and it has become one of the best programs in the country. They achieved a national #1 ranking in 2007 after a perfect 30-0-0 record, back-to-back state titles in 2007 and 2008, along with the Texas record for consecutive wins (32). Gall earned his 200th win in January 2012 with just 271 games in charge.
“There is nothing in my life that will take away from when we won two state championships,” Gall remarked. “Just seeing the elation on those kids’ faces, celebrating with their classmates and friends. Certainly a different feel than playing club soccer.”
And Gall didn’t shy away from why he loves coaching and why it has taken over his life. “The reward you get when you see a player improve and start to see and understand the game is what it is all about for me,” Gall concluded.
Coaches are often graded by the performance of their players’ long-term success and it is clear that he has been a resounding success. Seventy of Gall’s players went on to play D-I soccer, 3 have played in the national team system, two collected Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of Texas, and one (Sam Garza) recently signed a pro contract with the San Jose Earthquakes.
“For those guys to keep coming back, to keep talking about the great memories they have, and the great things I did with them is what it is all about,” Gall said. “They appreciate tremendously what I did for them.”
Others have noticed Gall’s work with players across the state. The awards and accolades that have followed are almost too many to mention. Gall is a five-time District Coach of the Year, two-time NSCAA State Coach of the Year, two-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, and two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year finalist.
Gall is also involved with Pro Academy Soccer Scout (PASS), which is an online platform for players to upload their CVs and highlights to be viewed by college coaches and professional scouts. His involvement with PASS will allow him to have a bigger impact on even more players.
Korrio understands it is your passion for coaching kids that drives you. We also know that the less time you spend dealing with administrative, communication and automation hassles, and the more time you spend on the field, the happier you’ll be. And because you play a crucial role in our children’s lives, we want you spending as much time as possible coaching our kids. Korrio offers a modern approach to coaching by allowing new ways to communicate and develop a community on and off the field. Congratulations to the ISN Star of Coaching this month!
Be sure to check out Korrio’s new “Parents Spring Soccer Season Survival Guide”. It has excellent tips on how to prepare for tand thrive in the hectic spring season.
