We would like to welcome Craig Widener as the new Girls Director of Coaching/Assistant DOC!!!

Craig will serve as the Girls Director of Coaching for the SKY Academy Program.  He will be overseeing all teams on the Girls side of the program as well as working within the recreational program to help develop our volunteer coaches.  He will be assisting the Executive Director of Coaching in all phases of the program and helping to fine tune the coaching education with our staff coaches.  He will be responsible for identifying younger players to come into the travel program from the recreational side and really facilitating the growth of our Girls Program.  Craig coached the U13 Girls a year ago to the State Cup Final Four and now has the U11 Boys in the Soccer Village (State Cup for U11-U12 teams) Final Four this weekend.  Craig brings amazing energy and passion for the game to players while also being able to teach them.  He shares the same vision as the Evan Sutherland, the Executive Director of Coaching, in teaching the fundamentals to young players to provide them with the foundation of technique to increase their ability to understand and carry out tactics as they get older.  Craig has been very successful in developing teams and a major high school program. We are extremely excited to bring him into our staff full time as we look to continue to take steps forward in our player development model!

Craig started coaching with the SKY Select program in 2004 and has been an influence on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.  For Eleven years, Widener was the Head Coach for Bowling Green High School and accumulated a record of 206 wins, 32 losses, and 20 ties.  During his time, the Purples won 9 District titles, 7 Region 4 titles, and 2 State Championships in 2006 and 2014.  Coach Widener played varsity soccer at Franklin High School in Franklin, TN and played competitive soccer with several teams within the WCSA.  After beginning college playing soccer at Milligan College, Widener transferred to WKU where he graduated with his degree in Broadcasting in 1999.  He has since returned to the Hill, obtained his Master in Education, and is currently teaching Political Science and AP Psychology at Bowling Green High School.  He holds the USSF National D Coaching License.