Greg started coaching soccer in his early twenties as a way to earn some part time money, but it did not take long to re-ignite his passion for the sport and uncover a talent for working with youth athletes. As an added bonus, coaching was a great way to be involved in his community and it turned into a long-term endeavor.
"I love helping kids learn how to overcome obstacles and to help them achieve things they didn't think they could."
After several years of enjoying coaching, it became undeniable that his passion for playing was alive and well. This inspired Greg to get back into playing the sport at a higher level than the standard adult leagues held together by a need for comradery and a shared pursuit of drinking. Seeking a more competitive community led him to finding the current team that he plays for, Charlotte Sporting, who are multi-time NC State Champions in the top adult league in the state.
Outside of soccer fulfilling the competitive spirit, Greg also discovered the sport of Gaelic Football. Since 2008, Greg has also played for the Charlotte team, James Connollys Gaelic Football Club. Competing in Gaelic football has earned him and his clubmates 2 recent national championships and 3 trips to compete in Ireland in the Worlds Gaelic Games. There are some pretty fun photos below of these adventures.
Greg’s favorite moments of coaching came when he started coaching his two young children, Lily and Nico, as they began their early childhood sporting adventures. Nico has gone on to continue with the sport and Greg was able to coach his team up until 2023 where there is the eventual separation between the parent coach and the player.
Greg feels that there is nothing better than being involved in a child’s development and to help them discover or hone their talents.
-Greg currently hold his National D Soccer coaching license and will be pursuing the C license in 2024.
- He coaches for various age levels with the Youth Academy and leads his own U11 Boys team with the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club.