Noah Safian

I am an early career coach, having recently decided to transition out of playing and start on this path. I hold USSF Grassroots coaching licenses for 11v11 and 9v9 ages, and will take the D-Level licensing course later this year. From there, I hope to progress my passion for soccer on whatever angle I find best, whether it be tactical analysis, coaching, analytics, or some combination of those.

I have done little formal coaching in the past, so as I begin my career I will lean on my previous experiences to make me an effective coach. Pulling from my experience working at the world’s largest hedge fund modelling and programming investment algorithms, I take a first-principles, thoughtful approach to helping my players own their own development and elevate their game holistically. A coach’s time with their players is always limited, and the most important thing I can do is empower my players to be able to be masters of their own learning. I help players understand the most important things they can do to increase their impact on the field, both immediately and in the future, and how to attack those areas with focus, determination, and guile. Additionally, my holistic approach means I will not limit my coaching to very soccer oriented matters - things that happen off the field, communication with teammates and coaches, and bringing the right attitude to the field are frequently as important as a good first touch and tactical awareness.

My players will be expected to work hard, and they will learn to work smart. Players will learn to understand both their own strengths and weaknesses, to have humility in confronting them, and to leverage that self-awareness to their advantage. They will learn to take their problems, break them down in their parts, and tackle them appropriately. These are skills that will serve them well on and off the field.

I will pull on my past playing and leadership experience to help my players become leaders and model athletes on and off the field. They will learn about the mental toughness that is necessary to succeed in soccer, and how they can be a tough player and bring out the best in the people around them. They will learn what makes a winning mentality, as well as how to handle failure.

I do not expect my approach to be the right one for all players. But I expect for the right players, it will be extremely valuable to them, and can provide a platform for future growth and success. If you have any questions about my approach or my experience (or lack thereof), please let me know.

If you would like to retain my services but cannot afford to, please reach out - there is a possibility for need-based scholarships.

My high level playing career began at the South Central Premier (now Beachside) Academy, playing for Chris Bart-Williams, Brian Quinn, and Roland Joseph. My goalie coach, who was a fantastic influence on my development, was George Kostelis.

After high school I went on to play at Bowdoin College, where I competed in the toughest conference in DIII soccer (winners of five out of the last six national championships). We won two conference titles and made two NCAA tournament appearances. I played in 27 games across my four years, culminating in a senior season where I appeared in the New England Regional Coach’s Association All-Star Game and won the Coach’s Award.

After college, I retired from the goalkeeper position and had a brief stint as an 11v11 field player in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 for Williamsburg International FC. I scored one goal and had a couple assists in 14 appearances, playing a variety of positions I didn’t have the stamina for and center-back.

For the most part, we will have limited time in sessions relative to how much time the player has to improve in their practices and games with their team, or on their own. My overall goal will be to empower players to be masters of their own development, meaning they will learn to identify what they need to improve and decide how they will improve it on their own. I will use sessions in pursuit of this goal, conducting exercises of various types and levels, from training tactical situations to working on technique to strength and conditioning. I may also recommend classroom sessions or homework assignments watching film if that is what’s appropriate for the player’s development (and it frequently is). Players will be asked to bring a strong work ethic, an ownership mentality, and an open and curious mind.