Columbus Crew Academy

Last updated
Columbus Crew Academy
Columbus Crew logo 2021.svg
Full nameColumbus Crew Academy
Founded2006;19 years ago (2006) as Crew Soccer Academy
Stadium Historic Crew Stadium
1 Black and Gold Blvd
Columbus, OH
Coordinates 40°0′34″N82°59′28″W / 40.00944°N 82.99111°W / 40.00944; -82.99111
Head of Coaching and
Individual Development		Dan Lock
Head coach
  • U18: Chris Rogers
  • U16: Shahad Farahani
  • U15: Eddie Hertsenberg
League MLS Next
Website www.columbuscrew.com/academy/

Columbus Crew Academy is the youth academy and development system of American Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew, which competes in MLS Next.

Contents

The academy plays in the U15, U16 and U18 divisions in MLS Next and also includes pre-formation teams from the ages of U10-U14 that play in friendlies and tournaments throughout the year. [1]

History

The Columbus Crew academy were founded in 2006. They joined U.S. Soccer Development Academy as a founding member in 2007. They fielded U15/U16 and U17/U18 teams in this league until the 2016-17 season. In the 2017-18 season these age groups were replaced with U16/U17 and U18/U19 teams.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy folded in 2020 and the academy teams moved to the newly founded league, MLS Next, where they entered U14, U15, U17 and U19 teams. [2]

In Fall of 2023, Columbus Crew Academy entered a team into the United Premier Soccer League. [3] They played one season and finished the season by winning the Ohio/Indy Conference, East Region and finishing 3rd place in the national playoffs. [4]

For the 2024-25 season, the age groups participating in MLS Next changed to U15, U16 and U18. [5]

OhioHealth Performance Center

The OhioHealth Performance Center opened in 2021 on the site of Historic Crew Stadium. The Crew moved their training facility from Obetz, OH during the 2021 season with the development of Lower.com Field. The facility includes 3.5 natural grass fields, plus a turf field at Historic Crew Stadium which can support a seasonal bubble during the winter months. [6]

Technical staff

PositionStaff
Head of Coaching and Individual Development Flag of the United States.svg Dan Lock
U18 Head Coach Flag of the United States.svg Chris Rogers
U16 Head Coach Flag of Iran.svg Shahad Farahani
U15 Head Coach Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Hertsenberg
U13/U14 Head Coach & Pre-Formation Lead Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Rodrigues
U11/12 Lead Coach, Crew Youth Program Lead Flag of the United States.svg Will Havanas
Academy Goalkeeper Coach Flag of the United States.svg David Winner
Academy Goalkeeper Coach Flag of the United States.svg Sam Keener
Academy Assistant Coach Flag of the United States.svg Saad Abdul-Salaam
Academy Assistant Coach Flag of the United States.svg DJ Ogunlade
Assistant Academy Coach Flag of Spain.svg Daniel Suarez
U11/U12 Assistant Coach Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Matthew Young
Manager of Performance, Player Development Flag of the United States.svg Dean Tetley
Academy Performance Coach Flag of the United States.svg Dominic Sanguinette
Academy Performance Coach Flag of the United States.svg Sam Murray
Academy Athletic Trainer Flag of the United States.svg Shelby Stimmel
Academy Athletic Trainer Flag of the United States.svg Elissia Willis
Manager, Academy Scouting and Recruiting Flag of the United States.svg Erik Alves
Head Academy Scout Flag of the United States.svg Rafael Calderon
Head Local Scout Flag of England.svg Callum Morris
Manager, Academy Operations Flag of the United States.svg Kellianne Venit
Manager, Education Flag of England.svg Ross Gibson
Education and Homestay Coordinator Flag of the United States.svg Bryce Phillips
Academy Equipment Manager Flag of the United States.svg Scott Newman
Equipment Assistant Flag of the United States.svg Adriana Zorrilla

Source: [ [7] ]

Academy graduates

The following players have joined the Columbus Crew first team on homegrown player contracts after having previously been a Columbus Crew Academy player (players in bold are currently part of the team) (as of May 10, 2025):

    The following players have signed for the Columbus Crew first team on short-term loan contracts for MLS, U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, or Leagues Cup matches (players in bold are currently Columbus Crew 2 players), after having been a Columbus Crew Academy player, but did not sign a full-time contract (as of May 10, 2025):

    The following players have signed professional contracts for Columbus Crew 2. (players in bold are currently Columbus Crew 2 players), after having been a Columbus Crew Academy player, but have never signed a first-team contract or short-term loan. (as of May 10, 2025):

    The following players signed contracts with other teams in Major League Soccer, after previously being a Columbus Crew Academy player:

    Honors

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "Academy Teams | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    2. ↑ "OPENING WEEKEND | Recapping Crew SC Academy's first MLS NEXT matches | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    3. ↑ "UPSL Strengthens Ohio Conference with Addition of Columbus Crew Academy UPSL Team". September 6, 2023.
    4. ↑ @CrewAcademy96 (2024-02-03). "What a season 👏 #Crew96 | #VamosColumbus". X (formerly Twitter).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    5. ↑ Hatch, Charlie (2024-12-20). "Columbus Crew Academy Mid-Year Update: New Age Groups, Same Club Success". www.columbuscrew.com. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
    6. ↑ Com, Columbuscrew. "OhioHealth Performance Center".
    7. ↑ "Academy Staff | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    8. ↑ "Crew News & Notes - July 28 | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    9. ↑ "Columbus Crew Academy Mid-Year Update: New Age Groups, Same Club Success | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    10. ↑ "Galaxy U-20's Fall to Columbus in Super-20 Final | LA Galaxy". lagalaxy.
    11. ↑ "Crew Juniors U-20 win National Title | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
    12. ↑ @CrewAcademy96 (2023-11-04). "Ohio/Indy Conference Champions 🤩 The UPSL squad came up with the win today over FC Cincinnati to secure the conference title and advance to the Round of 32 in the UPSL National 2023 Fall Playoffs! 👊 #Crew96 | #VamosColumbus". X (formerly Twitter).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    13. ↑ @CrewAcademy96 (2023-12-11). "Onto the Final Four 🤩 The UPSL squad found victory tonight at @LowerFieldCbus and now move onto the UPSL National Finals! The game winning goal was scored by Cole Mrowka. 💪 #Crew96 | #VamosColumbus". X (formerly Twitter).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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