A series from Richie Gray, CEO of Sol Sports Club
In Volume One, I wrote about what stays with a young person long after the final whistle: the confidence they gain, and the adults who help them see what they can become.
Those adults grow, too. Alfonzo Garwacki’s story is one example.
When Alfonzo joined our club in 2019, I did not know that six years later he would be leading our MLS NEXT program. What I did know was that he was honest, passionate about the game, and willing to help wherever we needed him.
Over time, those qualities began to matter as much as anything he accomplished on the field.
Alfonzo never waited for a title before acting like a leader. When another coach needed coverage and Alfonzo was available, he was usually the first person to raise his hand. When a parent had a concern, he addressed it promptly instead of allowing it to linger. And when he saw an opportunity to help some of our younger coaches improve, he began meeting with them to talk about soccer — not because anyone assigned it to him, but because he believed it would help.
None of those things are especially glamorous. Most happen quietly and receive little recognition. But together, they reveal something important about a person.
Plenty of people want greater authority. Far fewer consistently accept greater responsibility before the recognition arrives.
Throughout his time with us, Alfonzo continued investing in his development as a coach. He progressed from a USSF C License to earning his USSF A License. That did not happen quickly or easily. It required years of study, preparation, evaluation, travel, and sacrifice. More than any of that, it required humility.
Continuing your education means accepting that no matter how much experience you have, there is still more to learn.
His players benefit from that knowledge
He improves their soccer IQ, challenges them to see the game differently, and holds them to high standards. But technical knowledge is only part of what makes him effective.
Alfonzo wins the hearts of his players
Young athletes know when a coach genuinely cares about them. They know when the passion is real. They also know when high expectations come from someone who wants the best for them.
Alfonzo has the ability to challenge players while keeping their trust. They want to learn from him. They want to compete for him. And they know he is invested in them.
No coaching course gives someone that. It gets built one relationship at a time.
As he grew within the club, Alfonzo also recognized that leading an MLS NEXT program requires much more than knowing the game. Families see the training sessions, matches, and showcases. They do not always see what is required to make those possible.
Player registration. Roster compliance. Scheduling. Staff coordination. Family communication. Match reporting. Travel planning. Video requirements. League standards.
When those responsibilities are handled well, they are almost invisible. When they are not, the entire program feels the consequences.
Alfonzo made a deliberate effort to understand that side of the club. He learned the systems. He became involved in the administration and operations of the program. He began seeing it not only through the eyes of a coach, but also from the perspectives of players, families, staff, and club leadership.
Today, he understands our MLS NEXT program from the field, the administrative office, and the leadership table. He knows how a coaching decision can affect operations — and how an operational decision eventually reaches the player.
That broader understanding is what prepared him to lead
In youth soccer, we spend a great deal of time talking about player pathways. We want young athletes to understand where they are, where they could go next, and what it takes to get there. We want them to see that growth happens over time through consistent effort, good coaching, and a willingness to keep learning.
But healthy organizations have to create pathways for good people, too
Alfonzo’s progression from coach to MLS NEXT Director was not a sudden promotion. It was the result of six years of growth, service, and earned trust.
Sol SC gave him opportunities to accept more responsibility, but Alfonzo did the work. He continued his education. He helped outside his role. He learned the operational side of the program. He built real relationships with his players. And when greater responsibility came, he was ready for it.
That is a responsibility for me as well. If we want leaders who understand our players and our community, we have to notice the people doing good work before there is an opening at the top.
Today, Alfonzo leads 12 MLS NEXT teams, approximately 240 players, and a staff of 14 coaches. That is a significant responsibility. But what interests me most is what is happening among the coaches he leads.
Several of the young men now coaching in our program once played for this club. They grew up on these fields, and then they came back. Today, they are pursuing their own U.S. Soccer licenses, with Alfonzo helping develop them as coaches.
The informal conversations he started years ago have become part of something much larger. Alfonzo is no longer developing only the players in front of him. He is helping develop the coaches who will guide the next generation of Sol SC players.
Those former players deserve their own story, and I will tell it. In Part Three, I want to introduce them and explore what it means when a young person returns to the club that helped raise him, this time to lead someone else.
Leadership is not a title someone gives you because you ask for it. It is trust earned over time through character, continuous growth, and a willingness to understand the whole organization.
Six years later, Alfonzo’s title has changed.
His willingness to show up for others has not. The people he helps develop will carry that forward, long after the final whistle.
— Richie Gray
CEO, Sol Sports Club
