Danny Free
Head Coach
daniel.free@nicholls.edu
Nicholls State (LA)
Division 1
Head Coach
daniel.free@nicholls.edu
Nicholls State (LA)
Division 1
Free was also a Director of Coaching and Director of Communications at Chesterfield United FC and the Virginia Soccer Association. Free began his coaching career as a Football in the Community Coach for his hometown team Doncaster Rovers FC in 2009. After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2014, he took on the role as a Director of Coaching at Chesterfield United FC in Virginia. His main roles included the running the Goalkeeping program while also specializing in the clubs PR and Marketing scheme. His role also included coaching and developing several boys and girls youth teams from the ages of U8-U18. Free would go on to take up a similar role at the Virginia Soccer Association. While at Chowan University, Free was part of the coaching staff that saw a huge turnaround in the program's fortunes. Going 1-14 the year previous, the Hawks won a program record amount of games going 12-8 in their first year under the new coaching regime. Free's goalkeepers kept 6 clean sheets during their record breaking season. Free also coaches with the Louisiana Olympic Development Program. While coaching the '99 Girls team, six of his players made the Region III ODP pool in 2016. He has also coached several goalkeepers that have gone on to play NCAA D1 and D2 soccer and also represented US youth national teams. Free started his playing career as youth player at Leeds United FC before enjoying a five-year spell at professional English Championship club Barnsley FC. After signing a youth contract in 2007, He was a regular for their youth and reserve teams during his time there and earned the Barnsley FC Supporters Club Young Player of the Year award in his final season. In 2010, Free traveled to Boone, N.C. where he was a four-year starter for the Appalachian State University Mountaineers. Over his career he started in all of his 52 appearances recording exactly 200 saves with a 0.99 goals against average. A 1st team All-Southern Conference selection in his junior year, he finished his career with the Mountaineers as a team captain in 2013. Free played for Chesterfield United FC in 2014 and VSA U23's in 2015 in the NPSL. Free currently holds a USSF "C" License, English FA Level 2 License, USSF National Youth License and NSCAA GK Level 1 and 2 License Free graduated from Appalachian State with a bachelors degree in Communications (focus in journalism), while minoring in Health Education. He is a lifelong fan of his hometown team Doncaster Rovers FC and currently resides in New Orleans.