In his first season with the Charlotte Independence, defender #4 Nick Spielman solidified his spot in the starting lineup. Outside of team obligations, Spielman coached individual training sessions for local youth players. Little did he know, his one-on-one training would open the door for him to lead the next generation of soccer players in nearby Matthews, North Carolina.
On Thursday, July 27, the Athletic Director at Butler High School, Chris Satterfield, learned that the boys’ soccer coach would not be returning to his position for the 2023-24 school year. This stirred panic in Satterfield’s mind, knowing that tryouts were only four days away. He sent a message to the families preparing for tryouts to explain the situation, and they jumped into action to help find a coach. Spielman’s name was sent to Satterfield by one of the players training individually with the defender.
“On Friday, I started getting resumes and phone calls,” Satterfield explained. “I went through the whole process and spoke with Nick. He wasn’t sold at first and needed some time to think about it. A few days later, Nick and I talked about some of the expectations on what I was looking for, and we were looking for the same things. Nick is such a cool, calm, and collected guy. Being an AD, that’s what you’re looking for.”
It was not a simple decision for Spielman considering the Independence were in the middle of the USL League One season and vying for playoff qualification.
“Before I even accepted the job with Butler, I looked at my schedule and collaborated with AD Satterfield and tried to sort out if I was going to be able to be at every game and every practice,” Spielman shared.
Once the logistical issues were eased, it seemed like the right path for Spielman, following in the footsteps of numerous family members. Spielman’s dad, Donald, coached him for many years as a child. His brother coached soccer for a brief stint. His brother-in-law is currently the Director of Coaching at a club in Georgia. All of the signs pointed to the opportunity at Butler HS being the natural choice for Spielman.
“It just kind of runs in my family with everyone being around soccer,” Spielman said. “I can’t really imagine doing another job that doesn’t include soccer.”
After accepting the job as the Head Varsity Boys Coach, the next step was to find an assistant coach and someone to lead the Junior Varsity squad. Naturally, Spielman turned to his Independence teammates. While many declined for various reasons, midfielder #6 Omar Ciss was open to the challenge. Ciss, a native of Dakar, Senegal, was hesitant about taking on the leadership role, but it has certainly changed him for the better.
“Omar has grown as a coach because he has grown to be more vocal,” Spielman said of his teammate. “On the Independence side, he’s more of a role model in the way he plays and carries himself, and I think being a coach now, he’s increasing his talking more, so it’s translating from him being a better coach to being a better player too.”
Not only has this opportunity afforded Spielman and Ciss personal growth opportunities, but it has benefited the Butler HS community and the people of Matthews. Butler High School is only one mile away from the Independence’s training facility and the fields where young soccer players begin their playing journey.
“It brought instant credibility having Nick and Omar here because they’re playing and practicing themselves,” Satterfield expressed. “The town of Matthews is a small knit community, and we have many families who are fans of the Charlotte Independence, so they’re able to identify that those are our coaches who are also playing. This is a great opportunity for everybody.”
There is no doubt that having a professional soccer player as a coach during high school is one of the best possible options for players who hope to develop their game and continue playing at the next level. Spielman played Division I soccer at East Tennessee State University where he appeared in 26 matches, starting all 17 games during his senior season.
There are increasingly more opportunities for young players to advance to the next stage, and Spielman is an example of exploring these avenues. Spielman played four seasons in USL League Two, a pre-professional league composed of mostly collegiate players competing during the offseason to stay fit and gain exposure. After finishing college, Spielman signed his first professional contract with Chattanooga FC, playing in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). He spent three years with the side, making 52 appearances. A preseason trial with the Charlotte Independence led Spielman to the Queen City.
Fast forward to September 2023, and the Butler Bulldogs are in conference-play. Navigating the season under the guidance of professional players has had a positive experience on the teams.
The boys’ varsity captain, Samuel Koul Biar, shared, “It’s pretty exciting having a professional player as a coach because the advice is more live like they’re going in the game with you.”
Fellow teammate Crubel Tesfaye added, “I’m looking forward to learning new things from our coaches. These are experiences that they’ve also encountered, and it’s something that they’ll have more experience to guide us through since they’ve played.”
Being a role model for these players is something that Spielman and Ciss both cherish. Each of them had coaches growing up who cared for them and guided them to be better people, and this is the perfect opportunity to give back and continue the cycle. Although it is certainly a tall task to balance the rigor of playing professionally for a team striving for playoffs and developing practice plans for high schoolers, Spielman and Ciss have tackled this challenge with such responsibility and leadership.
Two months ago, leading a high school soccer program was likely not on Spielman’s radar, but his ultimate decision to take on the opportunity will forever impact his journey, Ciss’ journey, and the journey of all the players they help.
