Our primary goal is to help build and change the culture of our great game with in our area. Head Coach Brian Byrd
Brian Byrd has been involved in soccer either as a player or coach for over 35 years. He came up through the Dallas/Fort Worth soccer club programs such as the Dallas Longhorns, Texas Elite, and Dallas Titans. He played soccer for Mansfield High School and was voted First Team All-Di
strict and All-Region as a high school athlete. He’s played professional indoor soccer for the Arlington Arrows, Fort Worth Kicks, and outdoor in the United Soccer League (USL) for the L.A. Byrd also had the privilege of playing when had the opportunity to play international competition in Portsmouth, England. Byrd has coached for the San Diego Nomads, Mansfield Mustangs, and for 20 years with the American Eagles/DFW Tornados soccer club where he had the privilege of coaching all ages of club teams within the organization. He was also the head girls coach at Fort Worth Country Day School and the head coach of the Grapevine High School girls’ varsity. While at Grapevine High School, the team reached the playoffs every season and advanced to the regional tournament in 2005. Byrd spent 7 years as the Men's Assistant Coach at the University of Dallas. In 2007, UD won the NCAA Division III Independent National Championship with a record of 17-1-1. Coach Byrd also spent 9 seasons as the Assistant Coach for the DFW Tornado's Men’s Premier Development League (PDL) and Super 20 Men’s team. During his time with the Tornado's, the team earned 3 trips to the Lamar Hunt Open where they faced the Austin Aztecs, FC Dallas, and the Houston Dynamo. During that time he was the intetim head coach for 13 games and had a record of 11-1-1. He has coached 17 players that went on to have careers in either the MLS, USL, or international play. Coach Byrd took over at Coastal Bend College as the Head Coach in July of 2014. Coach Byrd's vision from the start was to transform the program that had only won one game in 14 yeears to a level that could compete for a national title on a yearly basis. The Cougar soccer program increased its record in all 5 seasons under his leadership. In 2016, the team won a school record 15 games and beat three nationally ranked teams along with hosting and winning the first ever playoff game in the program’s history. Over that 5-year span, the highlights included several wins, including wins over nationally ranked programs and earning a playoff berth all 5 years with 3 trips to the NJCAA Region 14 Finals. Coach Byrd's most treasured accomplishment at Coastal Bend is sending on 100% of his graduating sophomores to four-year universities on a soccer scholarship. In January 2019, Coach Byrd began his time at UA Rich Mountain, building both the men's and women's programs as Head Soccer Coach in a semester's time frame. In their inaugural season in 2019, the Bucks men's team won the NJCAA Region 2 Championship. In their second full season, Coach Byrd led the men's team back to the Region 2 Championship and finished as Region 2 Tournament Runner-Ups. Also in their second season, the women's team made the Region 2 Tournament for the first time. Coach Byrd’s Third season at UARM he led the Men’s team to their third conference title appearance and a second conference championship. Coach Byrd has returned to the Coastal Bend region to kickoff the “ Third Coast soccer academy” His goal is to change the culture of the great game in the entire region. The main focus of the Academy is to focus on skill development, passion for the game and a high work ethic at practice and at the games. Brian enjoys cheering on the Dallas Stars,Dallas Cowboys, Chelsea FC and being outdoors fishing, and spending time with his dog, Skye.
