Rob Walker

Washington Premier FC Staff

WPFC Coaching Staff Member
Coaching Assignment(s): 
Coaching Years of Experience: 
30
License and Credentials:
USSF "A" National Coaching License.
Certifications:
Nationally certified in CPR and First Aid.
Professional Qualifications/Education:
B.A. English / Education / Reading, Saint Martin’s University, 1986

Email:
robbosays@comcast.net.

Team Successes:

  • 1984 Federal Way Force, State Cup Champions and Far West Regionals
  • 1991 Timberline HS Girls Narrows League Champion, Coach of the Year, 1 NSCAA All-American
  • 1997 Thurston County Extreme, State Cup Champions and Far West Regionals
  • 2000 US Women’s National Team, Algarve Cup Championship
  • 2005 Mountain Brook SC, State Cup Champions and Southeast Regionals
  • 2009 Saint Martin’s Univ Men’s Soccer, GNAC Conference Champions, Coach of the Year

Coaching Experience/History:

Youth/Club

  • Guided youth teams to five state championship finals; three State Cup Championships, 1986,1997 & 2004.
  • Lead Mountain Brook Soccer Club (Birmingham, AL) as Director of Coaching 2000-2005. Lead comprehensive training and camp program for 1200 player club.
  • Lead Federal Way Football Club, 2006-2016 (Federal Way, Washington) to Regional Club League (top league in Washington) and had two US Club Soccer National Champions.
  • Member  WSYSA Olympic Development Program Staff (goalkeeping coach) 1987-00 & AYSA ODP staff 2000-2005.
  • Member US Youth Soccer Region IV Coaching Staff (Boys, 1987-90, 2014-15 & Girls 1992-99) and Region III Staff (Boys, 1999-2006). 
  • Lead Goalkeeping Training for US Soccer U-14 Girl's National Camp, 1998-00.
  • Traveled to inter-regional and international events as USYS Region III Staff Coach (2001-2006).

High School

  • Coached varsity boys and girls high school soccer to 125 wins (Timberline HS, Lacey, WA) 1983-1992.

College

  • Became the first Director of Soccer Operations at Saint Martin’s University (Head Women’s and Men’s Coach of brand new soccer program) 2006-present; Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2009 in both men’s and women’s soccer; men’s team won GNAC championship in 2009. Average of 8 women and 5 men receive All-Academic honors; One GNAC Player of the Year; 28 women and 20 men named to GNAC All-Conference teams (many players multiple years). Women’s soccer avg GPA: 3.2, men 3.05.
  • Served as NSCAA West Regional Ranking Committee member in Women’s soccer (2007-present) and men’s soccer 2011-present.
  • Served as NCAA Regional Advisory Committee member Men’s soccer (2009-11) and Women’s soccer (2015-present).
  • Volunteer Assistant, Belhaven College, Jackson MS, Houghton College, Houghton NY and University of Mobile, Mobile AL, 1990-2000.

National Team

  • Served on staff of 1996 US Men's Olympic Soccer Team (goalkeeping coach in two training camps prior to games).
  • Served on staff of 2000 US Women's Olympic Team (goalkeeping coach for the Algarve Cup, Portugal).

Coaching Education

  • Conducted 75+ US Soccer state sponsored coaching courses ("F,E,D & C") licenses in Washington State and Alabama from 1981 to present.
  • Assisted in the writing of US Soccer National Goalkeeping Curriculum under Peter Mellor. US Soccer National Teams & Instructional Staff Goalkeeping Coordinator (Now Technical Director, USL).
  • Member US Soccer National Goalkeeping Coaching Staff, (Nat’l GK, & National Coaching Schools—A, B & C Licenses)1997-2015.

Related Experience

  • Writer for WSYSA's Soccer News & Play On state newspapers (received Ted Hastings Media Award for Editorial Excellence, 1999.) Articles have also appeared in Soccer Journal and Soccer America.
  • Member, Regional Club Subcommitte, governance board for  Washington Youth Soccer’s Regional League 2009-2016.

Favorite Soccer Team/Player

Club:  Millwall, Leicester City
Player:  Dennis Bergkamp

Best Coaching Memory:

Winning 1997 Girl’s State Cup

Player Expectations/Advice:

You are a part of the “world’s game,”  if you want to change the world, be a great player in terms of skill, tactics and class.

Favorite Motivational Quote:

“You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you might just find, you get what you need.”