Mick grew up in Greenville, North Carolina where he was a standout soccer player in the Winston-Salem area. He then went on to play collegiately, originally for Greenville College and eventually to UNC-Asheville, where he started his final 2 years.

After a brief stint playing overseas, Mick returned to his alma mater and joined the coaching staff as a grad assistant. He then went on to spend time as an assistant on the Wake Forest and Wofford. Mick has since returned back to Asheville, and has rejoined the coaching staff (now as the interim Head Coach) and is also in his 2nd year as Head Coach/Sporting Director for the hometown USL-2 team. In addition to this, he also coaches boys teams at Highland FC.

Coach:

Mick Giordano: Head Men's Coach and Sporting Director

Topic 1: Journey into Coaching:

Mick talks about his early roots into coaching. From assisting his Dad (DOC in North Carolina) in high school, coaching helped him see the other side of the game and from that he developed a new appreciation for soccer. Mick also talks about his experience working under some high level coaches (Bobby Musse - Wake Forest, Mathes Mennell - UNC-Asheville), he gained a vast amount of experience in a short amount of time. This has led him to not only become the youngest Head Coach in USL-2, but also in Division 1 men's soccer.

Topic 2: Coaching Different Age Groups:

Regardless of the age, Mick explains that the game is the same. He emphasizes the importance of developing a connection with his teams and learning the best way to get the message across.

Topic 3: Finding A New Club:

Gathering information is the first step of making a decision. Looking into the background of the directors and their coaching background there and the reputation will give you a good understanding of how the program is run. Mick also mentioned how players should not be discouraged when they don’t make a ‘top-level’ team, and now finding the right initial fit within the organization can lead to long term success.

Topic 4: Importance of a Strong Mental Game:

Mick discusses the importance of mental training and its evolution in soccer over the last 10 years. He emphasizes the importance of confidence and belief,  and explains how he uses these positive self-talk methods at all levels.

Topic 5: Tips on Staying in Shape while at Home (Mentally & Physically)

In this current time of being at home, everyone needs to get creative with their training in order to stay in shape. From finding comfort on the ball, watching film from a different perspective, and mentally staying sharp so our mind is ready to get back on the field.

We'd like to thank Mick for joining us and speaking on the mental side of sports training. Tune in next time for more insight on recruiting and training.

CHRIS GORDON  

Thanks for joining us for another edition of exact club experts. Today we are joined by coach Mick Giordano is currently involved in all levels of the soccer development chain. He is the head coach of Asheville City FC, a USL team playing in the Division Two level and he's also the interim head coach of UNC Asheville located just outside of Charlotte make shared some great stories and insight on his journey into becoming a coach adjusting his coaching style for different age groups and levels of play. The process of selecting a new club and the levels involving mental training into his coaching style and how he's guided his teams to stay motivated during the time of being at home. You can check out our entire conversation at our blog, exact sports comm slash blog or on your social platforms, Instagram and Twitter at exempt sports and Facebook, exact soccer. I'm excited to share this one with you guys and I hope you enjoy.

CHRIS GORDON  

Alright, make let's get started here. The first question I was asked for coaches is how they got into coaching your journey to becoming a head coach at college and also professional organization. I kind of what led you to where you're at now?

MICK GIORDANO  

Yeah, for sure. So, I had a little bit of a untraditional route in the sense that my dad's the director of coaching back home at the local club. And so as soon as I hit 16 I was starting to help him with training, the his under 11 and under 12 boys and girls seems that he was running so I kind of come out two nights a week, around my own club training or around other events that I had going on and started doing some stuff and he had me start doing some coaching education back in high school too. And then that carried on till basically when I went to college, So in 2009, but during breaks, and over the summer, I would go home for the first two summers in college and I helped him with whatever he had individual trainings or anything, just to kind of stay busy. And his big thing was, he wanted me to see the other side of the game. And he wanted me to see, you know, what the coaches see out of it to try and help me understand the game better. And I could never say thank you enough to it because I fell in love with the game even more. And I knew that my goal was to be a pro and then to go on, and coach and you know, I was fortunate enough to have a small, you know, professional career cut short with injuries and I knew instantly once that was done, what I wanted to do and so I was fortunate when I came back from Germany, you know, Coach mental, who was the head coach at UNC Asheville. I'm still young, I was only 2023 I just turned 23 had I Me, you know, he'd heard a lot about me but asked me if I wanted to jump on staff for the spring of 2015 and kind of see where it went and if I enjoyed it, and that kind of gave me my start, and then I've been fortunate enough to then move on and work with, you know, another legendary head coach, with Coach Muse at Wake Forest, as well as you know, Jane Brenner and Steve Varmus and they were wonderful to me in my 18 months there, in which they taught me more in those 18 months, and I think some people probably pick up an eight to 10 years of coaching. You know, along with working at NC fusion and the club and working for Mark Simpson, there, who's now now in Charlotte MLS, you know, they were huge role models and mentors to me through that time, and then I've been able to move on to be the top assistant at Wofford, and then came back to Asheville when I took the job for Asheville city And was fortunate to get the Asheville city head coaching job back in 2017 and then been promoted to the sporting director as well. This past fall and you know, as on top of being the recruiting coordinator for UNC Asheville, and when coach mental decided that he was going to take a step back from the game this after this past fall, you know, I wasn't quite sure the next step I knew I wanted to be involved in the game of course, I knew I wanted to continue to help players reach their dreams. I wasn't wasn't positive it was going to be in the college game professional level and the approach teams Academy setup. But then thankfully enough, you know, the athletic director came to me and it's given me an opportunity to be you know, head coach my alma mater and, and you know, she's, she's been fortunate enough to give me this, this first crack at it. You know, it's crazy. A lot of lot of people were joking saying no. You know, you're the youngest coaching in the npsl when you took the Asheville city job, you're going to be the youngest coach in the USL to now you're the youngest coach and in Division One for men soccer. And so I've certainly been really, really blessed and fortunate so far with with every path and every step that's been taken and all the people that have helped me along the way and being with you know, legendary coaches with Coach mental Muse coach Polson at Wofford, you know, I've been really fortunate for sure. And just tried to make the most of it. I think that was, that was my big thing. It's just you've given opportunity, so just make the most of it and enjoy it and just see what you can do from there.

CHRIS GORDON  

Yeah, definitely. It's quite the journey up the ladder, and it seems longer than it actually has been since I've known you for a pretty good amount of time. But um, I mean, it wasn't too long ago that, you know, you were just a grad assistant and, you know, Time, Time really flies but obviously taken advantage of it. So it's pretty cool to see your successes. With your, your journey up the ladder, you you've been coaching at all different levels, you know, all the way up to professionally to where you're at now. But you also mentioned that you were coaching or still do coach on the youth side. So can you talk about coaching, you know, on a variety different levels and how you've been able to adapt your coaching style to fit the needs of each team?

MICK GIORDANO  

Yeah, no, of course. And once again, I think it just comes back to, you know, being starting at a young age and just looking back and understanding the message that needs to be delivered and being around other coaches. That does not, I think the biggest thing for me is that, you know, the trainings and and most of your messages, they don't have to change a ton from the different ages and the different groups that you work with. I think it's just the the personal relationship that you have with each player and understanding how to get the most out of each player and what makes them tick. But then as well, the the certain message of how you might have to deliver a training session to an under 12 girl side can be different than what you're going to deliver to under 19 boys side, the training could be the exact same, but just the message on exactly the exact verbiage of how you're going to get the most out of it and understanding once again, your your players. I think that's been just what I've tried to develop the most. And what I've tried to learn the most within coaching because I think you have to learn how to coach as well you have to study that side of it too. It's not just something that you can obviously just jump into. You know, so for me, it's always just about bringing energy. It's always about positive reactions within the group. You know, mistakes happen from from everyone, but can we have positive reactions to go and fix that mistake and help your teammates out and then I have good transitional moments. And then obviously you move on to the in possession and out of possession topics for sure. But like I said, I think it's something where the game, the game is the same, no matter what, no matter what age, no matter who you're coaching, the game is the exact same. But it's just how you understand your players, and how you can reach them as how you get the most out of them in my own opinion.

CHRIS GORDON  

Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's even at our our events that we're running, you know, you have age groups, you know, ranging from your seventh and eighth graders up into so rising seniors and, you know, obviously we're doing the same drills for throughout camp but I think that like you said, the message that is conveyed is the same it's, it's about how you approach each player and each group of players. I feel like that goes a long way when you have a coach that kind of understands you know, how to read the the certain environments So it seems like you've been able to do that throughout the years.

MICK GIORDANO  

Know exactly right. That's That's it right? You know, there's certain players you can hammer in that thrive off of it, and then others that are more of you have to put armor on the shoulder, you have to try and help them out with that. And, you know, I think that's something that you just the more you pay attention to. Because, right, like we're all different. We all we all read, we all take in feedback differently. And the more you can understand that, certainly, the better. And the more you can get out of your team.

CHRIS GORDON  

Definitely. Well keep an eye on the club side of things. I know you've been involved in a variety of different clubs, in different areas throughout the country and a lot of our players, they're putting their position or maybe they're moving from city to city and they're trying to find a new club to play for. Can you talk about the process of maybe trying to find a new club who to speak to along the way, once they found that good fit? How do they know what level they fall And to talk about your experience in that realm of things.

MICK GIORDANO  

Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, the club side of things is always a tricky part nowadays, especially with, you know, almost anyone being able to start up their own for various reasons, some just doing it just for their own personal sake and then others doing actually for the players and for the love of the game and trying to help with youth development. And so, I think whenever you move into a new area, you know, the first thing you want to research is arm, who's leading the club and their past experiences, you know, for the technical director for the director of coaching for either the boys or the girls side, depending on if they have one for  each or if they just have one overall and then and most of the time, these clubs now have websites and, and have that sort of information at least where you can can gain who the person is. And then maybe you have to do some of your own research, or if it's when you sit down with them and ask them, because then that will give you a bigger insight on what their actual goal is, and why they're doing what they do. And hopefully they're doing what they do, because they love the game. They love helping us develop as they go through it. You know, so as you're moving into an area you want to look into that you want to look into, you know, the difference between the development Academy if there's one, you know, within that area versus the CNL team, versus, you know, a national team or an MPL team, or if there's maybe none of those, just the top club team in the area. You know, I think, for myself, people always ask that, that that question about high school, right? Well, should we play high school to college coaches actually go? Um, you know, is it really important, I think the thing that matters the most is who's getting Giving your instructions and who's coaching you? What can you gain from that? And how can they help you? But then as well, what is the environment you're in? If you're in a really good high school environment, then yeah, for sure, if you're really in a really good club environment, say in the ecml, or just outside of that, but your club team is quite good. You're one of the better National League teams and, you know, people have the same ambitions as you and you're trying to push on then, you know, at times where that might be a better fit than than saying a quote unquote, top development Academy team or, or something in the area. I think it's just what's going to be the best fit for you. And and that goes on all aspects of it, you know, are you going to be able to continue to keep your academics up? Are you going to be able to continue to enjoy playing the game and, and make some of your best friends that are on that club team that you're with? So as you move into the area, I think you really need to, you know, do a little research See, what's what's there, who's around, do some research. And and at the same time, don't get discouraged if that first year if you don't happen to make the top team. The it's it's difficult sometimes to make the top team immediately moving into a new area. And by no means that saying you're destined for failure or you're never going to be good enough. Sometimes these clubs really try to try to promote within, or they do tryouts or, you know, some aren't even really doing trials anymore. They're just kind of doing training sessions earlier and usually would be around this time where they can bring in players and see how they train, see how they react, see them what they do in their their body language and their habits behind it. And sometimes, you know, a trial where you only get an hour half or you get two hour and a half sessions, sometimes extremely difficult. You could be nervous or you know, just The ball might not go your way on that day. So, you know, I don't think you can get discouraged by if you say you don't make the clinical top team. I think that just gives you more motivation to keep working and now that you're in their system, you know, finding out how they want to play, what they really want to do. And how you can maximize your potential within that is what you need to look for. And some of the questions to ask, as you go as you go through that whole process.

CHRIS GORDON  

Yeah, definitely. It sounds like it's, you know, it's like a precursor to the recruiting process on doing research with, you know, colleges that kind of applies on the same side, as well as well. So I feel like that's a good stepping stone for players that do want to play collegiately. If they're moving, they're going to have a leg up on the competition because they kind of know what processes to go through what questions to ask. So that definitely makes a lot of sense. Going back to kind of what we talked about your coaching style earlier, and how you been able to adapt to different different different teams different levels, as you're aware and been a part of our background at exact is in the mental training and mental side of the game? Can you talk about ways you've incorporated some of this off these offsuit off field tools that you know, you know, that you've seen at our events, or even just any other mental tools that that help your players with their confidence and how they develop?

MICK GIORDANO  

And know for sure, I think the mental side of the game is something that's really grown over the last, you know, 10 years or so it's obviously been around much longer within sports in general. Um, but I feel like over the last 10 years has been a much larger boom within it. You know, you look at what Coach Gunn has done at Stanford, and how his teams have a sports psychologist there. You know, and how Stanford won so many national championships in a row and that was such a big part of it and you look at a lot of other calls. That do that. And, you know, I've been fortunate enough to be around sports psychologists that are really getting the most out of their athletes and some of it just comes from confidence. And, you know, confidence is really, it's such a fine line, right? You can, you can gain it extremely quickly. But you can lose it just as quick. And one of the things that we've tried to do, you know, is just thinking about and talking about the visualization and understanding you, you see yourself being able to do it, you see yourself finding success, whether it's, you're watching the whole game within your head or it's only bits and bits and pieces of what you're trying to do. Um, that's something that, you know, I really, I've talked to, you know, my, my under 14 girls all the way up to, you know, the, the USL team about, it's just you have to be able to see it and Believe in yourself, and now, it doesn't work for every player some, some don't react to it or some. They don't get as much out of it. And once again, that's just every player is different, every player finds a different motivation behind it. You know, I know for sir exact, you know, with, with some of the things we've done in the past, just talking about some of the visualization and some of that belief and that confidence and, you know, where we start out a day, you know, saying the players repeating that they are a college athlete, right. And that's all about belief. It's all about confidence. And, and those types of things go so far, especially in today's game with today's generation. You know, so for us, we go back into it, and we talk to the boys about some of those things. And like I said, even the minor 14 girls, we've sat down and we've done a few things like that. Just saying how We know we're better than this, we just have to get off the nerves. We've got to just take a breath, you know, take a step back from everything, see it inside your head. And then now let's go achieve what we've talked about and what you've done 1000 times in training or on your own, you can go and do that, as you go play. You just have to have that confidence behind it.

CHRIS GORDON  

Yeah, definitely, I think the younger one starts to really apply the mental side of that flex to their game. It will help them develop and become more confident and deal with the failures that that are going to happen along the way. And I feel like, you know, as you've seen, even at the younger levels, it definitely can go a long way. And it can make an immediate, immediate impact. So it's cool to see that you've been able to apply that to all the levels that you're you're coaching at currently. We'll end our questions with something that's obviously on the minds of all of us right now. You know, since we're not on the field training with our teams, getting getting some sessions with, with our coaches, we're all trying to figure out ways to stay in game shape. Not just physically but mentally. So can you talk about some of the ways that you've been engaging with your athletes, your players and, and even coaches as well? How do you guys are you staying in game shape?

MICK GIORDANO  

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, I think obviously, you know, the simplest thing is, you can say we'll go out and go for a run right? But that's, that's not always the case where there are certain you know, stay at home, stay at home shelter, things that are going on right now that maybe you can't leave the house or maybe you can only leave the house once a day or whatnot. So I think you know, a few things that you can always do is you can always find comfort on the ball. Even if you only have a little five yard space, whether it's in the living room, the garage, out in the driveway, if you don't have you know, any room or yard or anything. You Don't need to be trying to do anything crazy. You don't need to be going out in, in trying to, you know be Messi or Ronaldo dribbling through 1000 different cones, you know come from the ball can just come from working on, excuse me working on juggling, you know, trying to work on your right foot to your left foot and working all the way up. So you get one right one left to right to left all the way up to 10. And then back down. It could be just small little technical activities with comfort on the ball in that five yard space and a little box. You know, and I think those are things that while they're super simple, and they're something that most players will say, Oh, that's beneath me. If you look at it and give yourself 20 minutes a day that you're doing that, that's 140 minutes each week that you could be losing out on from just going and doing something so simple and going and doing something that just helps gain more confidence. Because big thing, like I said before with the confidence is, is that the more confident you are, it usually comes from, the more comfort you have on the ball in our game. Because if you're comfortable on the ball, you understand how you can control it with both feet, how you're gonna be able to play your first touch, you know what you're going to do with it and decision making the confidence to go and pass. That means you're going to continue to build confidence throughout a training session or throughout the game, which then really allows you to express yourself. So I think that's something that's really getting overlooked right now. And there's plenty of videos on YouTube, there's lots of clubs, lots of coaches that are putting stuff out there. Um, I think for the mental side of it, it's extremely easy, thanks to a lot of different companies putting games on YouTube, and putting full games out there from Champions League World Cups, everything that you can go sit down and evaluate it, you know, and there's teams right now that will sit down and The players will get homework and the homework will be we'll sit down and watch the game. Look at both formations of both groups decide where their best pressing moments are, or what their line of confrontation is. Decide what their ideas for how they can attack or what they're trying to do. Who's the best players are in the field? obviously looking at your position and what the players doing in your position the different movements and different ideas but then as well something that's so simple is think a halftime you know for pick either team, what would you go tell them in your halftime speech? What would you go talk to them about tactically? Well, you go tell them as what you see in the game, to help them go be successful. And that just helps keeping your mind sharp, that just helps with the tactical side of things. You know, and once again, it's we've got plenty of time right now to go in and sit down for two hours and jog and note, not just Some notes down on paper about what you see and how it's going. There's just something so simple but could really go a long way. Even if you only do that once a week, that's a couple more games that maybe you didn't, you didn't have under your belt. So between that, you know, obviously, once again, if you're able to run, of course, you know, go out for a jog, if anything, I think that's the most important thing right now is just trying to keep yourself physically moving for your mental health. Because for all of those so used to playing, and so used to being on the go nonstop, and having training sessions, whether it's three, four or five times a week in game, and now all of a sudden it's all shut down. Your mental health could really be affected by it because you're missing something you love so much. So just going out and getting a run or like I said, just juggling for 20 minutes a day, and doing some things sitting down for 10 minutes in the morning, a little bit visualization and seeing the game putting putting the game and putting a picture in your head. have what you want to do or how you're going to go play could really go miles and it could be loads of help, as you look for success in the future.

CHRIS GORDON  

Yeah, I agree. I feel like the players right now that take advantage, the most advantage of this time are really going to come out ahead of the curve and be a step above some of the rest that they may have just kind of been waiting for everything to start back up again. So, you know, hopefully our players right now are taking advantage of the time and making sure that they're staying motivated not just physically but mentally so that they're ready to go on field hopefully soon.

MICK GIORDANO  

No, definitely. It's no we're all hoping for it. And I know we're all we're all hoping to be back, be back out there sooner than later. It's one of those where you just got to wait it out. And I think I know for myself, it's one of those where it makes you even appreciate the game more and it's not that you take advantage of it by any means but you get so used to it right? You get so used to doing it every day or Having it every day on your schedule, and then all of a sudden you get that it's gone. You start to really think about how much more you can enjoy it, how much more you're thankful for it and thankful for being able to do it. And we'll all get through it and then we'll go back out and play a bunch of footy coming up soon.

CHRIS GORDON  

Absolutely. All right, before we let you go, I do have my three questions that asked all the interviewees at the end. Three fun questions. First one being given all the places that you've played over the years, I'm sure you have probably a really good answer for this one. But out of all the stadiums fields that you've played on or coached that what's your favorite or coolest been that you've been,

MICK GIORDANO  

Um, I'll go coaching just because it's since its most recent, uh, you know, I've got two that are certainly tied at the very top. I've been extremely fortunate and the The first one is last summer clean out chat new guests see in the conference final for Asheville city, you know, and playing out at the football stadium at UT Chattanooga, we're about 7000 fans were there and a large Stadium, but they're quite loud and they're right behind your bench. That was I was obviously exciting. Um, and then the other one would be a coach in national final and final for this week back in 2016. Down in Houston, Dynamo and their stadium down there, even though, you know, the fan attendance might not have been the best of what it could be. You know, I think it was just just a wonderful atmosphere. And it was just really cool to be there and really fortunate to be there for sure. And in terms of playing I would say probably North Carolina, playing in their stadium. Back in 20. Oh, 11 I believe played in their stadium before they redid it still. So they've got the new one now but then the old one before that had the track around that those still really cool atmosphere. And just it's a historic place right for how successful they were. So that's probably probably the my favorite place I've played.

CHRIS GORDON  

I remember watching the 2016 National Finals at the Dynamo Stadium, so maybe a screen that's alright, so if you were to give me given a choice to recruit a coach in 105 degree weather 3030 degree weather what would it be?

MICK GIORDANO  

Now is this my own personal preference or for the players? Well, yours just Okay, so for me, I prefer the hundred and five. I prefer the warm weather all day. warm weather for me. I'll be outside and 105 degree with my long sleeves like everyone's accustomed to and what I'm so used to you know, My long sleeve dry fit but for me 30 degrees it's miserable. I'm just sitting there shivering and all I'm thinking about is hot chocolate at moment. So 105 degrees. I'll take it all day. These answers it's funny,

CHRIS GORDON  

they're very regional. You can definitely tell. You can say you can tell it's gonna say 30 so I was right on my desk there. Alright, last question. Most famous person in your cell phone.

MICK GIORDANO  

Dean Smith manager. I've tried to say I've been very fortunate to to coach his son and work with his son for Asheville city for the last two summers us our captain and fortunate enough to be in contact and Coach Smith has given me a lot of instruction and even how this over this past January so I would have to say at the moment, he's probably the biggest and one of the best out there for sure.

CHRIS GORDON  

I think that might have stopped So far and most famous, you're an elite.

CHRIS GORDON  

Thank you, my family. All right. Well, I think that's all the time we have make. I appreciate you sharing some insight portion given our place and advice. This will be up soon. So our athletes will be able to check out all your great responses. And hopefully we'll see on a field soon.

MICK GIORDANO  

Yeah, no, I appreciate it. Thanks. As always, man, it's always good just to catch up and be able to chat and yeah, man. Hope to see you soon. Hope. I hope we can get through this and definitely can't wait to get back out there.

CHRIS GORDON  

That's all for our conversation today. A great thanks to Mick. You're down for joining us. He had some great stories and provided some excellent advice. Coming up. We'll have more conversations with other coaches on any questions you may have about the club background. If you have a specific question, feel free to shout us out on Instagram or Twitter at exact sports and on Facebook. x soccer. Also feel free to check out our blogs for additional interviews with coach's exact sports comm slash blog. There's a lot of great information out there as you are educating yourself during your time at home. That's all for today. We hope to catch you again next time on exact club experts.