RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club is pleased to announce that former Kickers pro player Scott Thomsen has been named the club’s new Assistant Program Director. Thomsen will begin his role full-time starting June 1. 

 

“I am delighted Scott has agreed to join the club on a full-time basis,” said Leigh Cowlishaw, Kickers Youth Club Executive Director. “He has proven to be a valuable addition to our team and look forward to him guiding and inspiring Richmond’s next generation of soccer players,”

 

Thomsen will be involved with all aspects of the youth club with a specific focus on the club’s ADP, U9/10, Camp & Technical Training, and Kickers FUTSAL programs. Since 2018, Thomsen has coached within the youth club. He started as an ADP coach at Woodlake and has also coached both boys and girls U9/10 teams and U11 and U12 Elite boys teams. Currently, he coaches the U11 Elite Boys Red, U9/10 Ukrop Park, along with coaching ADP at Ukrop Park and River City, which will continue with his new role. In 2019, Thomsen received his USSF C License after being accepted into a course specifically geared towards professional players. 

 

"One of my favorite parts about playing for the pro team was seeing the kids I got to coach in the stands supporting me,” commented Thomsen. “I feel blessed to now be able to dedicate myself full time to them and support them to fulfill each players' goals and dreams. I was able to have some incredible memories playing the game of soccer, so I am looking forward to now using those experiences to help develop the youth players within the Kickers organization to reach their full potential. This area is a soccer-rich area so my goal is to continue to support the club in any way that I can and bring energy and ideas to continue to develop each one of our players as a person and a soccer player. I am especially excited to work with some of our youngest players to develop their love for the game, individual skillset, and competitive mentality. I am thankful for Leigh for first bringing me to Richmond as a player and believing in me on the field and for now believing in what I can bring to the table as a coach and staff member."

 

Over the last three seasons with the Kickers pro team, Thomsen made 55 appearances and started in 46 of those matches. He notched one goal and added two assists during that time. In his first stint with the Kickers, he joined the club mid-season in 2016 and netted one goal and added one assist en route to the birth in the 2016 USL Playoffs. Following the 2016 season, he joined Orlando City B where he made 15 appearances.

 

Previously, the native of Brick Township, New Jersey, was signed by Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls as a Homegrown Player in December 2015 following a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia. Claiming the 2014 NCAA Championship, he started 56 of 66 career matches and was a two-time ACC All-Academic Team honoree.  One of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, he led the team in assists during his freshman and junior years, finishing with three goals and 18 assists over four seasons.