TGA Coaching Staff
Camp Directors
Director: Carrie Taylor
Carrie Taylor is the Head Men’s and Women’s Coach at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Mount fielded an NCAA Division III men’s soccer team for the first time in the fall of 2005. She is one of few females in the country to coach a men’s team on the collegiate level.
Taylor led the Lions women’s program to a 13-6-2 overall record in 2005 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, good for a first place finish. Taylor, who was selected HCAC Coach of the Year in 2005, also guided the Mount to the HCAC Tournament title qualifying them to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2005.
Carrie has a wide of soccer background on the club, high school, ODP and collegiate levels. She has coached club soccer for Cincinnati United Premier U-17 girls. As the U-14 Northern Kentucky United girls head coach her team was the state Cup runner up. With the Sycamore Arsenal soccer club she served as the Coaching Director for two years. And as a teacher at Milford High School, she was the varsity girl’s high school coach from 2001 through 2004.
From 1999- 2001, she was an assistant coach at Division I Xavier University. The Musketeers won the A-10 tournament in 2000 and went on to the first round of the NCAA tournament. She also was an assistant coach at Division I Temple University (1997).
She has district, state and regional staff Olympic Development Program coaching experience. As a district and state team head coach in Ohio, and a region II assistant age group coach. Taylor has also traveled to the Region IV to work with ODP teams in Nevada and Hawaii.
She played on the University of Michigan club soccer team (1990-1994) and was a member of the Wolverines inaugural varsity team in 1994. She played in the USWISL (United States Women’s Independent Soccer League) in 1996 for the Columbus Ziggx and in the WUSL (Women’s United Soccer League) in 2000 for the Kentucky Fillies. In addition, Taylor also has a United States Soccer Federation A License and National Youth License.
Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State University and an alternative teaching certificate in life science.
Director: Derek Smith
Derek Smith is currently a player with the 2007 Minnesota Thunder of the Division One, United Soccer League. Coach Smith has played two years for the Cincinnati Kings, a USL Division 2 team. The Kings captain won first team all-league honors in both 2005 and 2006, and has been a USL Division 2 “Team of the Week” member multiple times during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He also played briefly for the MLS Columbus Crew reserves (2005). Smith also played in the USL Division 1 with the Virginia Beach Mariners and the Coco Expos in 2004. The 01 and 02 seasons were spent with the West Michigan Edge of the PDL.
Smith is a 2003 graduate of Union College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. While at Union College, Smith a defender was a two-time NAIA All-American, as well as a two-time all-conference and all-region player. Smith, who played two years of college soccer, was a two-time captain, helped his team to a regular season conference championship and a third place national ranking. The Hopkinsville (Kentucky) High School graduate was a three-year varsity prep player, winning all-district and all-region accolades. While in high school, Smith was involved with the Olympic Development Program.
In 2006 Derek served as the assistant coach for the men’s and women’s program at the College of Mount St. Joseph, a Division III School located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Smith has trained Ohio Elite Soccer Club teams (U-10 boys, U-11 girls) and has worked with the Cincinnati Southeast Cardinals, NK United and Turpin High School boys’ team. He has also trained numerous players in his hometown.
Director: Jon Caldwell
Caldwell is a 2004 graduate of Bradley University, where he earned a B.S. in Management and Administration. The Bradley Braves were consistently ranked in the NCAA Div 1 top 25, in the Missouri Valley Conference, all four years he played. Caldwell, a co-captain senior year, earned an All Conference award for contributing most team assists. A graduate of Heritage Christian School (IN), Caldwell was a four year varsity starter and earned All District honors twice. In 1999, Caldwell was voted Indianapolis City Player of the year, while being the Indiana top goal scorer (35). He was also a member of the Indiana state ODP team three years in high school.
Coach Caldwell has played two years in the USL Div 2, for the Cincinnati Kings. In 2006, he earned a Team of the Week honor, while helping the Kings to a playoff appearance. Caldwell has also trained with the MLS Columbus Crew (2006), and started for the PDL Indiana Blast (2004).
In addition, Caldwell has been a trainer with Sycamore Arsenal Soccer Club (U-11, U-12, U-14), Warren County, NK United, and SCSA. As a staff member of the Ohio South ODP, Caldwell has also been involved with many summer camps in Ohio.