CSA Directors of Coaching

 Brad Wylde - Executive Director

As Executive Director, Wylde oversees the player development, guidance and coaching responsibilities for all children under the CSA soccer program. 


Wylde has a track record of successfully leading other well known soccer clubs in the greater Charlotte area. He has also helped numerous players obtain partial or full scholarships to NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 programs.
 
Wylde joined South Charlotte Soccer Association as Executive Director in 2005, and grew the organization from a thirty team club to one of the strongest clubs in the south region with over 80 teams competing in all levels of play . In 2008, Wylde coached the club’s first US Youth Soccer Regional Championship team and took the team to SCSA’s first appearance at the National Championships. 
 
Wylde is an associate National Staff instructor under the National Coaches Association of America, teaching state, regional and advanced regional courses in the Southeast Region: he is also a former NC Olympic Development state team coach.
  
Wylde was an NSCAA All American at Catawba College and a 4 year professional player with the Charlotte Eagles, SC Shamrocks, and Carolina Dynamo.
 
Wylde is fully qualified under the NSCAA and holds multiple licenses through the English FA.
Mark Pinch - Director, U9/U10 Academy
Pinch is a native of Eastbourne, England.  Pinch spent 3 years in the Tottenham Hotspur youth system and went on to play for England U18 schools team.
 
’Pinchy’ then found his way  to Division 1 UNC-Greensboro playing for 4 years before signing as a pro with the Charlotte Eagles in 1999. Mark played his part in the Eagles’ most successful era and was a part of the National Championship winning side in 2000.
 
Pinch spent two seasons splitting his SCSA duties as an assistant coach with the Eagles. He is the former Director of the Charlotte Eagles Youth Soccer Academy and holds his USSF B License and he now directs CSA’s U9-U10 Youth Academy.
Raymond Fraser - Director, U11 & U12 Classic
Fraser comes to Charlotte as a native of Glasgow, Scotland where he spent three years as a professional player in the Scottish leagues with Glasgow Rangers, Ayr United, and Queens Park. Whilst in Scotland, Fraser was invited to coach for the Scottish Football Association (SFA) where he spent three years working with several pro youth teams. During this time he earned a degree in sports coaching and youth development at the Scottish School of Sport, Exercise & Outdoor Studies.
 
Fraser began his American coaching career at Lake Norman Soccer Club where he spent five years as a director of coaching. During this time, he received a full scholarship to play soccer at Pfeiffer University where he double majored in Business and Sports Management.
 
Fraser joined South Charlotte Soccer Association in early 2006 as the Director of Coaching for all the U11 and U12 Boys and Girls Classic teams and will move into this role with Charlotte Soccer Academy. Fraser is a North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) coach, holds his National Diploma from the NSCAA, USSF C License, and numerous qualifications with the Scottish FA.
Brad Francis - Technical Director & Assistant Director, U11& U12 Classic
Francis has spent most of his career at Charlotte Soccer Club. First he played for the ’79 Blue team at CSC for eight years, where the team won two state championships. Francis also attended Charlotte Catholic, where he led Catholic to three state finals. While at Catholic he was a four year all conference, two times all region, and all state as a player .After high school Francis attended the University of Alabama, where he majored in Finance. His career was cut short in college due to injuries. After college, Francis started coaching at SCSA, where he coached the ’89 boy’s team. From there he returned to CSC, as a game coach, and progressed in his coaching career. Francis has held three different roles within CSC in his six years coaching at the club. He was a game coach, a challenge DOC, and the role he currently holds as Director of Coaching of the U11’s and U12’s boys and girls. Francis currently holds his NSCAA Advanced National License, and USSF National Youth License. 
 Mark Thornton - Director, U13-U14 Classic/R3PL Boys & Recreation
Thornton is a native of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, having relocated to the US in 2000. As a young player, he played with Sunderland AFC and Ipswich Town. In 2000, he received a scholarship to play soccer at Appalachian State University (ASU). Thornton was a four-year starter, a two-year captain and All Southern Conference and All South selection during his career at ASU.
 
After graduation from ASU, Thornton was hired in 2004 as Technical Director of Coaching for Concorde Fire Soccer Club in Atlanta, GA. During his 4 years with the club, he also became Director of Coaching for Academy (U9 – U12 boys and girls) and also Director of Girls U13 – U18. Thornton holds the USSF ‘C’ and also numerous licenses within the English F.A.
 
In 2008, Thornton was hired by South Charlotte Soccer Association as Director of Coaching for the academy (U9 and U10 girls). He is also an assistant coach for the North Carolina ODP program. 
Dan Dudley - Director, U13-U18 Classic/R3PL Girls
Dudley is a former collegiate standout at Catawba College and a three year professional player with the Carolina Dynamo.  A former 3 year Men’s Assistant Coach with High Point University and former 4 year Women’s Assistant Coach with Catawba College, Dudley comes to SCSA from FC Carolina Alliance where he served as Director of Coaching for six years.  Also a member of the NC Olympic Development State Team Coaching Staff, Dudley is fully qualified through NSCAA, holds a USSF A’ License and has a (MSS) Master’s in Sports Science from the United States Academy, Alabama.  Dudley will be directing in our Girls Program.
 Adam Denton - Director, Elite Clubs’ National League & U13-U18 Classic/R3PL Girls
Denton is a native of Liverpool, England. Playing Accomplishments include Professional Player with Everton Football Club (1995-1997) and Wingate University (1997-2001), SAC Freshman of the Year, All Conference, All Region and All- American Honors. Denton holds his USSF "A" License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, UEFA "B" License, and is a current member of the North Carolina ODP staff. While at Charlotte Soccer Club, he coached several teams to State Championships and numerous tournament victories including WAGS, Jefferson Cup and the Disney Showcase.
 Jim Finnerty - Director, U15-U18 Classic/R3PL Boys
Finnerty was hired by SCSA from Carolina Select, formerly Tega Cay Soccer Club, where he was the Director or Coaching for four years. Finnerty was instrumental in growing Carolina Select into a 20+ team organization in the Fort Mill, Rock Hill area.
Finnerty was a two time All American at Fredonia College in New York. He played 4 years professionally in New York and North Carolina for the Carolina Dynamo
Finnerty is fully licensed under the NSCAA with a Premier Diploma and a National C license from the USSF. He will be taking his A license next year.
Erik Imler - Director, N.Charlotte/Cabarrus and Recreational Programs
Imler comes to CSA with an impressive soccer resume. Imler was a collegiate player for UVA where he was captain through 3 NCAA National titles. Imler has also represented the US National team starting at the U16 level and beyond. In 1992, Imler was part of the U.S. Olympic Team. After college, Imler played professionally for DC United and the New England Revolution.  Currently, Imler is the Co-Head Coach for the Belmont Abbey Women’s Soccer Team and is co-founder of Boot Room Soccer School. Imler currently holds his USSF ‘B’ License. Imler’s role with our recreation program is to work predominantly with our U6 and U8 programs and assisting with coaching education and curriculum for all age groups through the CSA Recreation department. He is also the CSA Director of Coaching for the Cabarrus-based teams.  
 Richard Butler - Director, US Development Academy 
Butler is a native of London, England, and relocated to the United States in 1987, having received a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) where he was a four year starter and two year captain of the team. Butler graduated from UAB in 1992 and moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. He was the Director of Coaching for the Williamsburg Soccer Club from 1992 until the summer of 2006. During his time there he took the club from four travel teams to a full service club offering programs for four year olds to Under 23 players and older with their Premier Development League team, the Williamsburg Legacy. From 2001-2006 Butler also served as the head coach of the Legacy reaching the playoffs in five of the six years he was in charge.
 
Butler holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma (NSCAA) and in 2007 was named a National Staff coach for the NSCAA. His main duties at the Charlotte Soccer Academy will be to oversee the U18 and U16 US Soccer Developmental Academy.
 Philip Poole - Director, Goalkeeping
Poole is qualified through the NSCAA holding the Premier Diploma and the U.S.S.F National A license.
Poole has held numerous soccer roles and worked along some of the best coaches in the Nation including stints as an assistant coach with UNC Charlotte 49ers, Charlotte Eagles (USL) pro goalkeeper coach, director of goalkeeping for the NC ODP program, and is a member of the USYS Region 3 coaching staff. 
Poole spent 4 years with Wingate University. While at Wingate, Poole was fortunate enough to win two conference championships and picked up many accolades along the way. While in his native England, Poole played as a youth player for Newcastle United before spending three seasons with Hull City AFC.
Poole’s development of goalkeepers at pro, college and club level has been very productive by placing two goalkeepers in the MLS, producing USYS Region III team participants, aiding two US Youth National team keepers, and developing multiple NCAA (DI & II) scholarship recipients.