One thing is for certain. The University of Akron is known for soccer. Caleb Porter helped put the Zips on the soccer map, but the women’s program is now the program on the rise.
The program experienced an encouraging 2012 fall season that showed progress on all fronts, including setting the program record for attendance on September 28th.
But the biggest reason for optimism is a strong coaching staff, led by head coach Vernon Croft and assistant Keri Sarver.
Many regard Sarver as one of the best young coaches in the country. Croft agrees.
“Keri is one of the finest young female coaches in the game, not just our state or region but in the country. Her experience at the Women’s National Team level coupled with her professional playing experience has been a big asset to our players and staff in the continued development of our program.”
Sarver’s journey back to Northeastern Ohio has been just that, a journey.
“I moved back here to be a youth coach. I wanted to do that to be connected to the soccer community where I grew up, in order to give back to the game that had given me so much to me. To be able to take that to the next level in college is just another wonderful opportunity and blessing I have been given. To do it right here in my backyard is icing on the cake.”
She has gotten the job done as a player, going from Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio to the University of Maryland to a career as a pro in the WUSA. Sarver is arguably the best female soccer player to ever come out of the Buckeye State. She certainly is one of the most decorated players, claiming honors as a Parade All-American, a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick, an All-American selection, Maryland’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the ACC’s James Weaver-Corrigan Award, and being chosen for the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team.
To top it off, Sarver was also part of the U.S. Women’s National Team pool. Her list of accolades and honors is impressive and intimidating at the same time.
She is also known as a record-breaker, holding school records in every offensive category in both high school and college. It would be no surprise that Sarver would play for three pro teams before playing and coaching in the USL’s W-League.
The coaching side of her career blossomed with the Cleveland Internationals, an organization with offerings at every level. She has been the Director of Coaching there since 2008. Her teams have claimed championships at every level, from state championships to national titles. Sarver has also helped over 100 players follow their dreams of collegiate soccer.
“The club has been in the area for the 35 years. The core leadership has been in place since the beginning. It is a club with a great history and culture. I am just trying to take it one quite step further. By being a player that has been in the environment and gone on to play at a high level and being able to come back and share those experiences.”
Now she is helping develop collegiate players for the next step: professional soccer here and abroad. Who better to help them? A highly decorated former pro sounds like the ticket to me.
It took only a short time to see results as two Zips headed to Germany to turn pro after finishing their careers at Akron. Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper are both playing with Karlsruhe SC, a Bundesliga team in SW Germany. And both credit Sarver and Croft for helping them get there.
The news means a great deal to the program as a whole.
“There is something else out there. They can continue their love and passion and continue their growth in the game.”
Sarver herself is bullish on the women’s game as a whole and is particularly excited about the NWSL.
“The one major improvement in the business model is that U.S. Soccer is subsidizing the salaries of the players in the national team pool. Women’s soccer in this country is such a good product. It is just a matter of continuing to develop that product and get the fans to buy in and support it.”
Just because America was one of the first pioneers in the women’s game worldwide doesn’t mean there isn’t massive competition today and in the future.
“The rest of the world has caught up; we still have the edge physically and psychologically. The women’s game is growing so fast around the world that it is forcing us to take another look at it from a developmental perspective.”
Developing tactically and technically is just one piece of the puzzle since players need someone to look up to, to aspire to be. As a youth moving up the ranks, Sarver was inspired by American greats like Michele Akers and April Heinrichs.
“Those two were my role models and were instrumental in fostering my love for the game. Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe are good, strong personalities that are quality role models that kids today can to look up to. They actually play with a lot of flair, which is exciting for young players to see.”
The women’s national team is a powerhouse in the here and now, but many pundits are worried about the future. One area of concern is the lack of an academy run and funded by USSF. But Sarver thinks there is something effective already in place.
She believes the ECNL is a solid alternative to creating a separate developmental academy for girls and women like U.S. Soccer has done for the other gender. The ECNL shares the same focus: quality training and professional environments over quantity of games. These happen to be the same values exhibited by Claudio Reyna’s coaching curriculum and the USSFDA system.
One thing is for certain, Sarver is a great coach and a great advocate for the women’s game. With her help, the beautiful game here in NE Ohio and across the country will reach unprecedented heights.
Simply put, the game is in good hands with people like Keri Sarver.
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.
