A Tradition of Excellence...

Mark Mallon

Director of Coaching

Mark's collegiate coaching career started as soon as he graduated from college.   He joined George Hobbins at Rutgers University and spent two years as an assistant before taking his first Head Coaching position at Riverside High School in 1988.  His team lost their first three games....then went on an unbeaten streak..."riding the wave" to the South Jersey Championship Match!

Mark went on to pursue his USSF and NSCAA national coaching licenses where he met Steve Griggs and in 1989 accepted an offer to become his assistant and the first full-time Soccer Coach in Yale History. Head Coach Steve Griggs also served as the Men's Tennis Coach at Yale. 

While coaching NCAA Division I Men's Soccer at Yale University (1989-1992) with Steve Griggs, the team had their best four year period in school history reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1989, and the NCAA Final 8 in 1991, bowing out to eventual National Champion University of Virginia, led by future US National Team Coach - Bruce Arena and the Claudio Reyna captained Cavaliers.  Lyle Yorks, the nation's top high school player and a Gatorade All America from Storrs, CT also played for UVA in that game...and would later become an Assistant Coach to Mark Mallon at UC Berkeley.  Lyle is now one of the top player agents in the USA...representing players including teammate Claudio Reyna.


Troy Roberts - CAL            Head Coach - Mark Mallon        Doug Brooks - (Cal)
MLS - LA Galaxy               U. of California - (Cal Bears)      All-America

Mark left Yale to accept the Men's Head Soccer Coaching position at the University of California-Berkeley (1993-1999). He inherited a team ranked 150th of the 200 men's teams in Division I. By 1996 his Golden Bears reached #2 in the nation in mid-season, after defeating UCLA, Santa Clara, Washington, and Stanford, while amassaing a 9-0-1 record with 9 freshman. He established Cal as one of the nation's elite programs in just three years with only four scholarships while the top programs were funded with the full 9.9 scholarships. 

Richard Weiszman, one of his first Cal players went on to play professionally in the inaugural MLS season for the New England Revolution with Alexi Lalas!  Coach Mallon had the good fortune to coach several others that went on to professional careers.  Troy Roberts, an ODP discovery went on to the LA Galaxy in MLS, Chris Roner from Cal to MLS SJ Earthquakes, John Macdonald from Cal played in several European countries, Troy Cowell - Europe, adidas Summer League players on his team (Wade Barrett, Rich Kotchau, and John Conway) all went on to MLS professional soccer.    He also coached many all America's...(Adam Hunter, Brandon Moggio, Tim Castillo, Derek Dyslin, Doug Brooks) and US Youth National Team players (Ramiro Arredondo, Jason Thorpe, Todd Higley, Michael Congiu) and several that have gone on to become leading youth coaching directors (Todd Higley, Rick Fullerton, Richard Weiszman, and Troy Cowell).


Wade Barrett                    Ramiro Arredondo    Head Coach: Mark Mallon (far right)
MLS Champion 2006 !          U17 National Team     U17 ODP Regional Champion & National Finalist  

Coach Mallon also secured a $400,000 dollar endowed Rolling Thunder Scholarship Fund gifted by adidas in memory of former CEO Rob Strasser. The endowment is still funding the Men's program and was instrumental to the survival of the program during the Title IX gender equity financial strains that nearly eliminated Men's Soccer, Gymnastics, and Baseball at Cal in 1999.

Coach Mallon left a visible legacy at Cal by initiating a stadium renovation project and personally giving the first donation to kick-off what became an ambitious $3.5 million dollar Edwards Stadium project. He and Jim Bruner secured a $1.5 million lead donation from the Haas/Goldman family shortly after they sold the Oakland A's. The Goldman Field is now a showcase facility for the Men's and Women's Soccer and Track programs at the University of California in Berkeley.

A small marble etching on the wall in honor of his donation is a permanent reminder that dreams do indeed come true for those with the vision and passion to take on monumental challenges. The key is to start by building a firm foundation one brick at a time!

The Yale team's pre-season training at a private camp in Maine further inspired Coach Mallon's dream of owning and operating a residential camp and training center for Soccer...

That legacy continues with development of  The Soccer Institute in Huntsburg, Ohio.

                                    Mark Mallon's California Camp         Ryan Paddock - August '06

                                    Camp is a great time for skills, bonding...and fun leisure activities!

A Roadmap to success.....

Become a student of the game!

Director of Coaching - Mark Mallon, ironically never played soccer until he attended Eastern High School in Voorhees, NJ... (the Alma mater of Kelly Rippa from Regis Philbin).   Friends and Baseball All Star teammates Mike Tinucci and Dave Whitcraft (who went on to become an All America GK at U. of Delaware) suggested soccer in the fall as a way to get in shape...

Soccer quickly became a passion and Mark became "a student of the game"...reading books, watching Soccer Made in Germany every Saturday (the only soccer on U.S. TV in those days when there was no Fox Soccer Channel) ... and after exhausting the limited books and video sources at the library...he set out to coach himself by training on a kick-wall just like the one he had installed at The Soccer Institute in N.E. Ohio.

He also realized the benefit of attending summer soccer camps to hone and improve skills at a camp run by University of Pennsylvania Coach Bob Seddon.

Mark planned his teaching-coaching career while in high school and has maintained a lifelong passion for teaching what the great Pele calls "the beatuiful game" ! 

An elite level player (Steve Kosyla) a few years older than Mark also played a pivotal role in his development...training with him 1 v 1 and getting him on an elite adult team (Interboro United) listed in Sports Illustrated for a phenomenal record...something like 265 - 8 - 13.  Mark was the youngest player on the team and learned from former professional players like Russel McPaul and player Coach Dave Rauer to adjust to the speed of play and gained valuable experience at a new position. 

Mark started in central midfield his freshman year at The College of NJ (then Trenton State College) for Gary Hindley.  Coach Hindley moved on to coach professionally and Mark transferred to play Division I at West Chester University on scholarship for Mel Lorback, the storied Coach who won a national championshp at WCU with players like Tom Fleck and Jerry Yeagley, the legendary Coach of Indiana University leading the Hoosiers to a record six National Championships! 

 

A 1985 graduate and All America player at West Chester University's acclaimed Health & Physical Education teaching department.  He was honored in 2006 by West Chester University being named the Chris Jones Memorial Award recipient given to an alum that has demonstrated dedication and service to the game of soccer and the players that participate in the sport.

Mark continued to play after collegiate soccer for the United German Hungarian Club in Philadelphia and benefitted from the European club environment which he is developing at The Soccer Institute in Ohio.   


Development of the American player in our culture ....

Here's my story in my words... 

I hope it offers You some insight as you embark upon your soccer and educational journey in America.
 
I was honored to be selected to the All State team my senior year at Eastern High School and credit that achievement to many people.  Most notably my HS Coach, teacher and friend, Larry Kelly,  who took the time to guide me toward collegiate soccer .... and positively impacted the course of my life.

Thanks to some good advice...and dedication to training...I was ready for the next phase...COLLEGE SOCCER!

I turned down a Division I scholarship offer and opted to play my freshman season at Divison III College of New Jersey (Trenton State in those days) largely due to a great coach named Gary Hindley and his staff Jim Dunn, Dave Lecke and our GK Coach ( He was ahead of his time with a full staff of speicailists!).  

Anyway, I won a starting position at central midfield, scored a goal in my first game, playing without any big toe nails (not advised) and received the tournament MVP trophy.. My first call was to mom and dad to share in the news.   My parents were very supportive ..but never pushed me...(they actually tried to put the brakes on me and said I should stop and smell the coffee..or drink a rose tea...or something...you know how teenagers listen so attentively to their folks...

The main point here to parents is...... that my folks made me RESPONSIBLE by not contacting my coaches to lobby or fight my battles for me...they never engaged in poor sportsmanship on the sidelines..and they were there with a comforting word or hug at losses...and when I dealt with the disappointment of being one of the final cuts for an Olympic Team...displaced by players who did not attend the tryout...but were most likely better than me...if truth be told.

Anyway, I hope to be the same type of parent for my six year old daughter Meredith if she chooses to play soccer....err ummm ...I mean when she decides to play..because she needs to get a scholarship....just kidding!   Anyway...our college team won the conference..I made the 1st or 2nd team....all Conference ..so it was a good year.

Coach Hindley moved on to coach professionally the next year and he latered contacted me to play in the NASL (former MLS) for the Houston Dynamo in 1985..  The league folded later that year..so there was no professional soccer in the US!    This helped to jumpstart my coaching and teaching career. Thankfully, the American system and some good advice allowed me to have an alternate career path besides the dream of professional athlete.

I transferred to play Division I at West Chester University and accepted a scholarship offer to play for Mel Lorback, the storied Coach who won a national championshp at WCU with players like Tom Fleck and legendary SIX time National Champion Indiana University Coach, Jerry Yeagley (my hero...in real life! ) and arguably the best collegiate Men's Soccer coach ever in America!  He is a Winner ...with a capital W in all phases of life!

I graduated (Yippee) in 1985 and received regional All America honors and a diploma from West Chester University's acclaimed Health & Physical Education teaching department.   So the real world beckoned... Fortunately I was able to follow my passion and dreams of teaching and coaching...leading to a lifelong pursuit of excellence in the great game! 

"Guiding a young person toward achieving their potential and positively impacting their life is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher and coach. It also keeps me motivated to be a good role model for the young adults at camp and on the teams I coach"  Mark Mallon

                       Dallas Jaye - now at IMG (US Club U14 National Team)


The future....
for American Soccer players is a bright one...as young players now have exposure to the highest level of coaching and soccer specific training facilities like The Soccer Institute, established collegiate soccer programs with scholarships and admissions support,  a quality domestic league with MLS, European league options for the World Class players, and the infrastructure of US Clubs and ODP programs ! 

Most youth players in America play on structured teams and are not getting enough individual skill training as compared to Brazilian youth like Pele and Ronaldo who grow up playing small sided games on the beach or training with a friend.

TSi provides that type of training at The Soccer Institute summer camps and winter indoor training programs by focusing primarily on improving the skills and speed of play needed to achieve success in modern soccer.  

The Soccer Institute Elite Summer Academy is a three week intensive training program designed for the advanced player age 12-16 looking to take their game to the next level.   The Academy program is limited to 24 players for each three week session.  (Click on the Elite Summer Academy link above to learn more...)

TEAM CAMPS at The Soccer Institute are a great way for HIGH SCHOOL or CLUB TEAMS to prepare for the season.  The camp curriculum is individually designed around the teams system of play and Team coaches goals for the week or weekend TEAM CAMP.  

Resident TEAM Camps are also a great way for club and high school teams to bond during leisure activities like swimming, horseback riding, and night time camp fires!