Meet the staff of the Colorado Rapids Soccer Academy!

 

Brian Crookham
Director of Coaching, Rapids Soccer Academy

Brian Crookham joined the Rapids staff full-time in May of 2007 as the Rapids Soccer Academy’s Director of Coaching.

He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Soccer Academy and will work with Director of Player Development John Murphy to form a fully-integrated player development structure for the Colorado Rapids.

For the three years prior to coming to the Rapids full-time, Crookham was the Assistant Technical Director for Colorado Youth Soccer. There he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Olympic Development Program and worked in coaching education.

Crookham has also served as the color analyst for Rapids television broadcasts on Altitude Sports and Entertainment since 2004.

Prior to his stint at Colorado Youth Soccer, Crookham served as the Men’s Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Metropolitan State College in Denver. During his nine-year tenure, the soccer team became nationally-recognized, going from a team that had never before been ranked to as high as number four in the NCAA Division II top 25.

 

In 2000 the program made its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Crookham coached three All-Americans, eleven All-Midwest Region players and the 2001 RMAC Player-of-the-Year. The program was also recognized nationally with Academic Honor Awards in each of the last three seasons he was there.

 

In his role as Assistant Athletic Director, he was responsible for managing the student-athlete eligibility, academic progress, and NCAA rules compliance for the school.

A USSF “A” Licensed coach, Crookham also serves as a USYS Region IV staff coach and an instructor in both state and national coaching education programs for US Soccer.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brian currently resides in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his wife Michelle and their three children, Connor, 6, and 3 year old twins Beth and Sean.


Brett Jacobs
Assistant Director, Soccer Academy

 

Brett Jacobs begins his second season in MLS since joining the Rapids as Assistant Director, Youth Academy in November 2007.

 

As a semi-professional player and professional coach, he carries fifteen years domestic and international experience. 

 

Jacobs comes to Colorado having previous served as the Director of Coaching for the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association from 2005 to 2007. During his two-year stint in Michigan, he also worked as the First Team Coach for the Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer Leagues, PDL- winning a national championship in 2006 and finishing as national finalists in 2007.

  

Prior to his tenure in Michigan, Jacobs coached full-time for London’s Wimbledon Football Club from 2002-2004. He has previous experience at the state level coaching for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association from 1999-2002 and working as a Player/Coach for the Cape Cod Crusaders of  Mass Premiere Soccer Inc. from 1996-2001.

 

Jacobs began his career as an Assistant Coach for the University of West Florida from 1995-1996.

 

A graduate of the University of Alabama in Telecommunications, Jacobs is a USSF A licensed coach, holds the UEFA B and is currently taking the UEFA A license through the English Football Association. His playing experience spans over a decade and a half with stops in Ryman Premier and Dr. Marten semi professional leagues in London England, USL Division II, USISL Premiere Development League and NCAA Division I at the University of South Alabama.

 

Brett and his wife Jennifer live in Denver with their sons Finn, 4, and Jett, 1.

Tom Patton joined the Colorado Rapids in 2006 and is currently serving as the Soccer Academy Coordinator. His primary duties include managing the Academy Camps as well as assisting with the operations of the Academy Teams.

Prior to joining the Rapids, Patton served in a similar capacity at Ajax America in Orlando. He also worked with the USL’s Central Florida Kraze and Krush, as well as several youth clubs in the central Florida area.

A native of Sarasota, FL, Patton received a bachelor’s in finance, a master’s in business administration, and a master’s in sport business management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Patton also holds a USSF D license.

David Proctor
U14 Academy Coach

U10 Center of Excellence Director

 

David Proctor joined the Rapids Academy staff in August 2008. He is the Center of Excellence Director and the head coach of the U14 and U16 Academy teams. Proctor will also work as an assistant coach for the U16 Development Academy Team.

Proctor joins the Rapids from Indiana’s largest soccer club, the Indy Burn, where he held the position of Director of Coaching. Previously he was with Indiana’s Carmel United as the Assistant Director of Coaching and also coached in the USYS Region 2 and Indiana State ODP programs.

Proctor holds a UEFA "B" License.

A native of York, England, Proctor grew up in the Aston Villa youth academy. He later joined Hull City & Middlesbrough as a professional player. Proctor also played professionally for the Indiana Blast in the USL A-league during his 8 years in Indianapolis.

Proctor resides in Denver with his wife Joann and children Lauren and Jack.

Chris Sharpe
Academy Goalkeeper Coach

 

Club History:
2008 Colorado Rapids. MLS
2007 Koge BoldKlub. Danish Div.1
2005-2007 Viborg FF. Danish Super Liga
2004-2005 Chesterfield FC. English League One
2003-2004 Parramatta Power. Australian National League
2002-2004 Northern Spirit. Australian Nation League
2000-2002 Southampton FC. English Premier League
1998-2000 Blackburn Rovers FC. English Premier League

National Team Honors:
2000-2001 Australian U/20
2003-2004 Australia U/23 Olympic Games Squad

In addition to his playing career, Sharpe manages the Core Goalkeeper Academy in Fort Collins. The Core Goalkeeper Academy was started in 2007 and is a new dimension to the existing Core Soccer Academy.

Sharpe was born in Sydney, Australia and lives in Stapleton with his wife Rachel.

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