Painting a picture of achieving a goal is how Eric Quill describes his coaching style. After just one semester at Clemson, the MLS came knocking, so Eric made that jump, and has since made Frisco his soccer home.
We talk about his time training with the US Men’s National Team, playing in the MLS, coaching at the college level, and playing and coaching for his beloved Texans club. Most recently, here in Frisco, Eric led the way to a successful first season for our USL League One team, North Texas Soccer Club, even winning the honor of being named Coach of the Year.
Enjoy episode #46 of the Hustle and Pro sports podcast.
Show Notes
- [00:40] Quick Hits
- [1:48] Background & Sandlot
- [4:10] Clemson & MLS
- [7:10] Back to Houston / Texans
- [8:16] US Men’s National Team
- [9:52] Head Coach of North Texas Soccer Club
- [11:40] Coach of the Year
- [13:53] Young Players & FCD Academy
- [18:37] Globe Life Park
Resources within this episode:
- Eric Quill: Bio | Twitter: @quillyo15
- North Texas Soccer Club: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
- US Men’s National Team: Website
- Kelly Walker: Instagram @kelly_walkertexas | Twitter: @kelly_walker_TX
Connect with Lifestyle Frisco:
Transcript: (machine-generated)
This is Hustle and Pro with Kelly Walker. Join Kelly as she talks sports with players, coaches, organizers, and entrepreneurs from Peewee League to Pro. Now here’s your host, Kelly Walker.
Welcome to hustle and pro. Today we are back talking soccer. Couldn’t let too long go by without talking about soccer. So we have Eric Quill with us today. So nine seasons in the MLS. Then as a coach, he’s led his teams to national titles and most recently a league title with Frisco’s own North Texas soccer club. Welcome, Eric. Thank you. Thanks for having me. I’m excited to get to know you. Yes. So I do have some quick hits just to, to know a little bit about your sports personality. Who would you say is your favorite athlete? Just all time.
Well, I think as a kid, if you asked me that question 15 years ago with Michael Jordan, um, if you asked me that question today, um, I probably lean more on the soccer side. Um, I’m a big Messi fan, so it’s changes as the generations of time go.
Sure. Those are, those are two good ones though. That probably won’t change a whole bunch more. What about, do you have a favorite team?
Uh, Barcelona has always been one of my favorites. Um, English premier league has always been arsenal, so, but I’m a big follower of Barcelona, just like the way they play.
What’s the farthest distance you’ve ever traveled to either play as a player or coach or watch sports even?
Uh, as a player? Probably South Africa with um, Kansas City Wizards and a preseason, uh, as a coach I went to Australia once to recruit a player. So it was, uh, both long flights, which I definitely remember not being fun.
So I want to know about your background, um, this, this might help answer it. Um, what sports did you play growing up and what was your favorite to play?
Whew, that was a multi, multi sport athlete. My parents put me in everything and I did, I loved them all. So started with golf really early on. Um, played baseball from, you know, [inaudible] all the way through my junior year of high school. Played basketball from five to senior year of high school. Um, always played golf on the side. Never, never for the school, but just always loved the sport. And uh, of course soccer. Um, so those four.
Where were you growing up that you could play all those sports for your high school?
I grew up in Houston, suburb of Houston, so we had this unique childhood where, um, we had about seven really unbelievable athletes that grew up together and lived really around the corner from each other. So every day was spent it talked about the 10,000 hours of practice. Um, we, we definitely hit 10,000 at a very early age with how much we played after school and every day played everything, everything, every sport under the sun. Um, we had this perfect little small field in between two houses. There was not, you know, developed. So we used as our own yours.
Yeah, your Sandlot kids met there and it was just a, it was a lot of fun. Looking back on it now, I think that it had a large part to do with my development as a, as an overall athlete
Playing all those different sports you mean?
Yup.
And obviously that much time. But I think, I think playing different sports throughout the year is huge. Um, when athletes focus one too early on one, I do think it does more harm than good. Usually kind of backfires on you. Any of those seven or nine, however many friends you said, anybody we know?
Maybe Kip Wells play pitch and major league baseball for maybe 11 years. Wow. Um, others may, you know, made it to the AAA, uh, couple of, uh, NFL players and uh,
Really? So out of how many, seven 70 said nine, whatever. It’s probably some pretty good odds.
Yeah, no, it was a, you didn’t get out of high school was very, very good.
And what high school was that?
Elkins high school out of Missouri City. So they want to spin state baseball championship actually too. Um, James Loney came out of their Dodgers first base. Um, so we had a, we had a lot of baseball players come out of there.
That’s a serious Sandlot group there. That’s pretty great. Okay. So I read that, um, at University of Houston, um, is where you, is that where you got your undergrad or your degree from there and then you also, um, helped with the women’s team soccer team there, right. And then you went on to play, um, Clemson, uh, for just one season and then you ended up in the MLS for nine years, including with a little bit of time with Dallas, right. With the burn here. Yep. So what are you, what do you remember most and what are your favorite things about your time in the MLS?
Uh, it was just, uh, sort of, uh, it w think about it now is what really fast. I mean, it was a, a lot of growth. I mean, I came in the league, I went to one semester at Clemson, like you said, and then was living on my own trying to make it as a professional soccer player out of nowhere. Originally I had my head wrapped around going to school for four years. Um, and maybe, you know, wherever the wind took me after that wasn’t gonna be the case. But then, you know, MLS game after the first semester and, and, uh, you know, saw something in me and offered me a contract and, and I wanted to play on a daily basis and wanted to make that jump now. And so just learning how to be on my own was a, was a big,
I bet adventure here. We’re young. I mean I’m only one year in, so that’s nothing you set out for, they were recruiting you already, your first year in school.
Yeah, so we, I was part of the [inaudible] world cup, um, pool. And so that second semester of my freshman year, we were all going into residency trained for the world cup. And, uh, and so I had to, you know, I took myself out of Clemson and you know, was the plan was to reinstate the next year after the world cup. And then in that time with the national team, uh, they came to a handful of us and said, you know, I think you guys are ready to take, take the leap. And, and uh, so yeah, they offer contracts up. And I was one of the ones that was told my, my parents were a little bit on the, uh, you know, my parents are definitely education first people, which is great. Great. Kept me grounded and, and uh, so it was a little bit if he, um, whether I should, you know, take this opportunity or go the conventional route of, of four years of college probably helps you now, um, identify with your players who are making that huge decision either themselves or if their family’s still involved in the decision.
Cause most of them are very young. We’ll talk about that. But you probably get to understand that struggle in itself. No, you hit the nail on the head. I think that’s probably, maybe the Lord was putting me in this role to serve for these kids as an example. Um, that, you know, you can go back to school at later date to get your degree, which I did. Um, you can do it while you’re playing. Um, if you’re really disciplined, um, there’s lots of ways to, to make sure you’re taking care of your education while pursuing your dream. That I say that in the wrong order then. Oh, okay. I was wondering if you were going in the wrong on purpose. On purpose. So what order did, so U of H was not before Clemson? No. Okay. Sorry. So I went to Clemson one semester and then one of the MLS for nine years. And when I stopped playing soccer, I moved back to Houston and I took a job as an assistant with the women’s program and Houston and started pursuing my, to finish my, my degree that I originally started at Clemson.
Got it. Yeah. I didn’t catch that the first time. Sorry. That’s great. And so also after the MLS, you’ve, you’ve stayed in the HES or you were in Houston I guess till you got here, back up here to Frisco this last year. You were with the Texans a little while.
Uh, four years.
Okay.
I played for the Texans growing up. So it was an organization that developed me as a soccer player.
So you played for the club and then you came back, you were technical director among other things? Right. With them. And then I’m also assistant coach with some of those. U15, 17, 19 levels. So I’m curious, um, the transition from being involved with the club team to those, um, youth national teams, was the transition difficult? Was there much difference at all when you are in those two types of levels and organizations?
Uh, no. I mean the game is the game. So from that standpoint, I was always comfortable. It’s just, you’re dealing with the best of the best, right? And a lot of, there’s a lot of confidence with those players. Uh, and so just managing the the person, and seeing, you know, helping them because these are all kids that are, that soccer wants to be, they want soccer to be their future and they want to play the game of professional level. So, um, they’re very honed in on where they want to be, who they want to be. Um, so helping them along the way to sort of reach their, their goals was the real, uh, motivator and being able to work that level because it’s so important to the U S soccer Federation that we make these players the best they can be. So hopefully, eventually, one day we won a world cup, right?
Yeah. We’re getting, hopefully we’re getting better. We are, we go back and forth. Sometimes it feels like, but I think we’re getting there overall, right?
We are. I think that if you look at results recently, maybe you questioned that, but I, there’s not, it’s not the players. It’s not for lack of players. We got a lot of talent in the United States. So, um, different circumstances lead to results. But
We’ve got a lot of talent here in Texas, right? I mean between the guys you’ve developed in Houston and then now that, that you’re working with here in the Dallas area, we kind of dominate some of those rosters spills like
Yeah, no, Dallas is a hotbed, if you will, along with Southern California and in Texas and Texas and California have always sort of been, uh, leaders in the amounts of, of players coming out of, um, into this national team pools.
Okay. So you were done in Houston and then you made your way here to Frisco specifically when you got named head coach of the North Texas soccer club. Is that right?
That’s correct.
Okay. So for those who don’t know the USL league one, it was their inaugural season just wrapped up. Um, Frisco’s team NTSC North Texas soccer club, won the league. Uh, so tell me about the experience of, of coaching and unchartered territory in a new league like that.
Oh, it was, you know, it was a fun year. I think everybody was sort of a student, um, this first year in a lot of capacity. So, you know, learning the competition of the league, learning the travel, um, you know, the, the intensity of the league, the, you know, the ebb and flows of, of managing players and, and so it was just a, a really, um, great learning year and experience for me personally. And I know for our staff and players, I feel, you know, really grew this last year. I think it was a great step by FC Dallas to, to you know, create this, this team, because of the amount of talent they have in the Academy. So being able to bridge the gap, um, between Academy and first team was a really logical and important step.
Right. It’s kind of interesting that it wasn’t there yet. What’s some of the other ways different professional organizations are structured? Um, so I loved it. I thought it was really interesting to see the players. Um, go back. I like the going back and forth a little bit. And as an FC Dallas fan, seeing the roster coming below you, knowing what’s about to come up and, or seeing your guys that didn’t get in the first team game, get to go play later that night or whatever with you. So I’m sure that was probably hard for you, but that was fun as a fan to watch that back and forth. So needless to say, the team on the field did great. You guys won the league obviously, and um, you were named coach of the year, so congratulations on that. And it was a kind of a landslide. So you got 53% of the votes for coach of the year, this inaugural season. So what, what do you think it is about your leadership style that everybody, your peers voted for you?
I don’t, I don’t exactly know what it is. I think, um, I think I’m very, I ask a lot of players. But also I care a lot about players. I care about who they are as people and, and I care about our staff and I love being around people. I love collaborating with, with, uh, our other coaches in the organization, allowing them to have their hands in involved and in what we’re doing and the goals we set out for ourselves. I think I do a pretty good job of painting the picture of a, of a goal. The goal is to, to achieve. And, and while we work towards that and, and always remind them of that. And so, and I think the standard, every coach, you know, you want to set a standard for what your players should be putting out, you know, from an effort intensity and then making sure they’re learning and making sure they’re applying what they’re learning.
Um, so I feel like I’m kind of, I’ve told this to a bunch of people. I think I’m a, a mixture between my mom and dad. My mom was a school teacher for 30 plus years and my dad was a pastor who sort of built the church from ground zero and um, you know, so I feel like what I’m doing in life is sort of a combination of what both of them were to me and how I saw them in the community. So, um, being able to teach the games very important to me. I really enjoy trying to to create a vision and, and, and really teach young players how to play the game and what it should look like. And then managing people is, is the other side of it. And I think my dad always did a really good job of managing it. Um, the congregation,
Right? Getting a group to have a common belief system.
Correct. And caring about a lot of things happen outside of the church or off the field, so to speak. And you want to be able to care about people know that they have somebody in you that they can, they can trust and lean on and always give an honest opinion. Um, yeah, it helps.
And speaking of, so the average age of your players is just about 19 and a half years old. So they probably lean on you a lot, right? I mean they’re just figuring things out. Some of them are just getting out of school, high school and um, especially if they were with the Academy, they, they’ve only really known the soccer path so far. So they’re leaning on you. So, um, I was going to say, how do you get into that, into that mindset of connecting with them, but that answers some of that your parents passed and um, your path in soccer, right. Helps you just sort of have them buy into what you’re selling them. I think a little [inaudible].
Yeah. And all these experiences that I had as a player, a very vivid in my mind and I’m very fresh so I can, I can lend a fresh perspective as to, you know, what they’re like, what they may be going through. And it’s not all, you know, it’s not all roses and there’s guys going to be ebbs and flows to everybody’s sort of path in their trajectory and how they, when they make the first team, if they make the first team what you know, and knowing that it’s okay to, it’s okay, there’s going to be moments where you’re not going to be in great form or where you’re not going to have a lot of confidence in it’s, and these are, I think once kids feel like that’s normal and you’re able to sort of sort of relax and, and know that they can, you know, trust in, in a confidant and know that, you know, I have their best interest in mind. I think they tend to, uh, you know, I, it sparks something in them, you know, and a spark ignites an ability to, to really go to the next level and you know,
yeah. Do the work to get the development in. So, okay, I’ll take the magnifying glass off of you. So then those young players. So, um, Arturo Rodriguez, right? And Pepe, is that, am I saying Pepe? Right. I never knew if it was Pepe or Pepe. Um, were some really fun ones to watch this season. So who else, who, um, what other young guys are out there that we need to be watching for this next time around? I guess?
Well, we definitely have one in Arturo’s little brother. Rodriguez is one that’s an up and comer for sure. Um, he’s gonna, you know, I expect big things from him this year. Um, but there’s so many, there’s so many you can choose from in our Academy that we, we love. I mean, you know, [inaudible], you know, there’s a lot of guys that Justin Jay, there’s a lot of kids that we look, uh, at in our Academy that we feel really have star power. And so, um, and then there’s probably ones that we’re not talking about right now that are, that are, this is what this culture creates is, you know, I think if I’ve seen anything and experienced anything is when your peers get, you know, accolades or get moved up on another level, it human nature takes over and it ignites something in you. If you really want that to be who you want, you know, at that level, you want to make it to that level. So other people push people and when you see your peers go up, it’s human nature to sort of be motivated to do more, to go get it. Yeah. So I’m sure there’s, there’s players we’re not talking about that are in our Academy right now that will make it, yep.
That’ll rise to the top. And now I’m a Homer. I mean I’m, I’m from Texas, I’m from Waco, um, but, but lived here now nine years. So I’m a Homer with FC Dallas and I think their Academy development and now with NTSC being in there, um, and I love FC Dallas, so I’m biased, but I think we’re really good at that. Uh, what other areas of the country like are kind of good at that? Like we are?
I don’t know, there’s a lot of people playing, trying to play catch up with, with FC Dallas. And I think that, you know, obviously the schooling model here where players are able to train in the morning and go to school is a huge factor. That way we can train along, you know, first time, uh, same time as the first team where players are being integrated, um, seamlessly. There’s huge value in that. Um, so seeing your peer go get y’all go to the first team session, um, you know, and come back with, you know, a large amount of confidence right now that, is that an FISD relationship thing that is a, is an important part of making that piece work?
It is. Yeah. Yes, for sure. I mean, I think that they’ve done a really great job. And I think so other cities around the country are trying to implement a schooling piece that, you know, allows it to go hand in hand with, with their Academy. Um, cause he’s, you need training hours, you need to important training hours that allows you to, especially the training hours with the level level above, um, makes, makes a world of difference. And so, um, I just know that people are taking notice of, and you can’t, once you see product and you see, you know, the amount of homegrown players at FC Dallas assigning, you know, people are gonna start to question what are they doing over there and start to look over the fence kind of deal. And uh, so this is a good place to look over the fence because we’re doing something right. For sure.
Okay. So that brings me to my last subject. I keep saying Frisco, you’re moving. So NTSC is moving home base, you know, to, um, globe life park. So you said you were a baseball guy when you were growing up too. So I’m, I’m, I bet that’s an exciting thing for you. Have you gotten to spend time out there with, with seeing the transition happened, the field and everything?
I have not. Well, we went and had a media day there, um, with the XFL team, uh, coaching staff. So it was, and it was going under renovation. Um, but I remember being a fan inside the baseball stadium, watching my buddy pitch, um, for the White Sox against the Rangers. And so, you know, it’s just, it’s uni. I’ve, I’ve been to a lot of, you know, major league baseball parks. It’s, it’s fun to, to sort of see the vision of soccer being played inside of there and, and what it could be. Um, I love the area. I think it’s got a unique feel from the surroundings outside of it allows for a great fan experience. Um, I think we’re going to, we’re going to touch a market that maybe, um, has been out of, out of reach in some ways. Um, so I’m really hopeful that, you know, we can, our players get out in the community and really sort of stranglehold this, this, you know, and unite the, the city of Arlington and allow for them to come and support soccer, which is what we want.
But logistically you’re not going to, how are you going to not miss that training integration time. Right. Are you still guys, you’re still going to train here. Okay. So you’re still gonna train here and this will still be your day to day facility, but your games will be played out there. Correct. Okay, good. I mean, I knew games were out there, but I kind of wondered, I thought you guys can’t lose that, that system.
No, that’s, that’s, that’s in place. And we know the value of that. That’s not going away. It’s, you know, maybe we have a training session the day before a game in Arlington for the, you know, field purposes. But every day it’s going to be same thing, integration with the first team academy um, all being on the same roof.
Well, that’s exciting. It’s cool. I mean, I, I’ve seen those renderings from media today, like you said. Um, it’s crazy that they’re, you know, I can’t remember, I guess it’s third base dugout, it’s all getting kind of pushed back so that that soccer field or football field, um, can fit lengthwise and then bring it in the stands. And so it’ll take some getting used to. I am anxious to get out there and see it, you know, live and in person and how they’re going to make all the configurations work. But it’ll be great. I’m sure it will be. I mean, I’m, I’m, I’m sold, I saw the rendering as well, so it’s, it’s going to be an interesting time and moment for the club.
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