Matt Lee
Director of Coaching
Matt Lee coached his Herndon Youth Soccer Thunder Black team to the Girls U18 Virginia State Cup Championship on November 3, 2019.
After joining Total Futbol in 2011, he served as the Head Coach for the CSC Blast ('95) and Herndon Chaos ('96), guiding both of them to NCSL Division 1 before seeing them through to graduation. He currently is the Head Coach of the Herndon Hooligans ('01), Herndon Thunder Black ('02) and Herndon Cyclones ('02). In addition to this, he is a co-coach for the Herndon Argentinos Black ('02), Herndon Hurricances Black ('03), and Herndon Crush ('04). He also has served as an Assistant Coach with some of Total Futbol's most successful current and former teams, including the McLean Force ECNL/Green ('96/'97), Vienna Thunder Black/Gold ('98) and Herndon United/Storm ('99) programs.
Finishes in Virginia State Cup for Teams Coached by Matt Lee:
2019
Herndon Thunder Black - GU18 Champions
Herndon Argentinos Black - BU18 Finalists
Herndon Crush - GU16 Semi-Finalists
Herndon Hurricanes Black - GU17 Semi-Finalists
2018
Herndon Thunder Black - GU17 Finalists
Finishes in Club Champions League (CCL) for Teams Coached by Matt Lee:
2018-2019
Herndon Thunder Black - GU17 Champions
Herndon Hurricanes Black - GU16 Champions
Prior to joining Total Futbol, Matt coached for Arsenal Soccer Schools and was also the Head Coach of the boys program at Prior Park School. He began full-time coaching in America in 2009 and spent the next few years running camps up and down the East Coast for players from age 4 to 19, becoming a Camp Director.
Growing up in England, he was a professional with Swindon Town Football Club for a year. During this time he had trials with a number of other professional sides, including West Ham United and Watford. Matt settled on continuing his playing career at the semi-professional level with Cirencester Town so he could focus on continuing his education at the Hartpury College Academy.
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Q&A with Coach Lee
Why do you love soccer?
Soccer has been a love of mine from a very early age and has been something that has run in my family. The things I admire and appreciate most about soccer are the long-lasting bonds and the family-oriented environment it provides. I still keep in regular contact with teammates who I played with when I was a youngster, even from halfway around the world.
What is your favorite memory as a player?
It is difficult to narrow down my memories as a player to just one defining moment. I have had the luxury of playing with and against players on my club and college teams who went on to excel in the professional game and who won international honors for their respective countries. I will always look back and appreciate the challenges that these players provided me, along with a collection of superb coaches who helped shape me — not just as the player I became, but also as the coach I continue to strive to be.
What is your favorite memory as a coach?
I am most proud of how many former players from my own teams, and even players from outside of my immediate groups within the Total Futbol family, who take the time to tell me how much of an influence I had on them, both as a soccer player and as a person. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to get to work with players currently and in the past that share the passion that I have for soccer.
What is the main difference between soccer in the U.S. and in England?
One of the standout things for me would have to be the facilities that we are so lucky to have access to in this area. The fields we get to use in our training with the teams are what a lot of the professional teams in England have started to use just in the last few years. This was something that I did not have access to until my late teenage years. That being said, I do miss playing on a good grass field!
What advice do you have for young players?
My message would be: Challenge yourself in new ways to expand your game. Having the organized and structured practices that are provided by coaches are, of course, an outstanding source of player development. But as well, you have to become a student of the game, to take pride and interest in what you are learning. The more time you spend watching the highest level competition, the more you will be able to identify areas where you can improve individually, both technically and tactically. I believe that self-reflection and self-improvement are vital to off-the-field development.
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Coach Lee offers tactical advice to his Herndon Hooligans ('01) team during halftime at the 2017 PWSI President's Day College Showcase.
