As a soccer coach, I have had multiple players stop and ask me “What is it?” – only for me to catch myself shaking my head and smiling as I watch them progress through a newly taught skill. 

FIND THE 90 is the product of trials, errors, progress, setbacks, aspirations, disappointments, accomplishments, and a realization that I had become what I had long been searching for. My love for coaching soccer was not something that suddenly blossomed within me. This passion was planted early in my life, a seedling that slowly demanded more and more of my attention as the light that nurtured it gave way to shade.

As a young player, I was nothing like some of the natural talents you see. Even for my local team, I began as the player who would do one half in the goal and the other half in whatever position needed filling. An opportunity to try out for an elite club in the region further highlighted just how wide this gap was between myself and the best players. However, where I did stand out was in my athleticism and a severe allergy to losing. Placed on the B team halfway through their season, I was told by the soccer coach that A wouldn’t even be a possibility until I could do at least 100 juggles. With clear communication on what I needed to do to progress, my determination to win made me and the ball best friends. Months later, I was once again meeting new players – this time as a core member of the A team.

This was the start of my obsession to be the best every time I stepped on the field. As a self-motivated kid, my greatest hurdle to improving was access to high-level coaching and the guidance it provided. To get this, my parents would pile me, my brothers, and the rest of our carpool crew into the minivan and make the 1-1.5 hour trek around the D.C. beltway 4-6 times/ week. I would train before practice, do my practice, hop in my older brother’s practice, and then come home and do push-ups and sit-ups.