Directors Behind the Scenes – Jesse Retan

Things that cannot be questioned when it comes to Jesse Retan and soccer is his dedication, drive and passion for the game, which has guided him through his career on the field and into coaching, where he has been the Boys Director of Coaching for several years in addition to coaching several youth teams and helping lead the Men’s First Team program.

As the director of the older boys (U13 and up), he oversees the day-to-day operations of the program, but it goes beyond that.

“I would say the most important piece of my duties is developing and managing a club curriculum and culture. When hiring staff and appointing coaches we are creating an environment around coaching curriculum and club philosophy. Establishing what we do and how we do it. What does the soccer look like and feel like? And how do we coach it?

A local that has thrived in the game, Jesse is dedicated to instilling the same passion in the next generation.

“It is a privilege to represent the community and the club that I grew up in. I love the game! I love the process of developing players and teams. I find fulfillment in watching young players grow up in the club, learn the game, and move into adulthood having learned tools for success in soccer and in life. I enjoy the process of implementing a club culture and vision. I enjoy building relationships and working with our membership, our families, players, coaches and teams.”

As a coach and director, he oversees the development of the style and culture on two levels.

“The role of director and coach are intertwined. Being a director is coaching coaches, who then coach players. As you gain experience as a coach you gain knowledge of the processes that make the club work. Being a director takes extensive knowledge of the game, coaching, as well as working with people and building relationships.”

A few years into the role Jesse is taking lessons he has learned and forging forward into creating the next generation of players.

“I have learned that building relationships is the most important element we can do as directors. Creating a community within our club and providing a positive experience around soccer. As directors and coaches, we have the ability to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have learned that we never stop learning and improving. There are always avenues for seeking knowledge around the sport i.e. coaching education as well as personal development.”

One passion most people who know Jesse are aware of is his love of fly fishing. While he has taken on the director role, he is also balancing that with working as a fly-fishing guide for the Silver Bow fly shop.

“It is a seasonal job that lasts from June-November. This makes for some long days and busy months juggling soccer duties and putting clients on fish,” he said of the job.

But in addition to being some time to relax away from the pitch, it has some similarities to the game.

“There are a lot of correlations between being a guide and a fly-fishing instructor and being a coach and a director. Being a guide takes patience and the ability to work with people. It takes extensive knowledge and the ability to articulate how to do a complex action like fly fishing. This is just like coaching.

“Fly fishing is also highly variable and success is not guaranteed. This is just like soccer. Being able to put a client on fish is comparable with getting 11 youth soccer players to fulfill a game model. Either is essentially organized chaos. A day of floating and fishing is so much more than catching, it’s about the experience and learning. This is true of a soccer journey as well.”