Next Level Performance Program (NLPP)

Pro Staff Coach John De Martini Appointed NLPP Director

Sereno Soccer Club is proud to announce John De Martini as the new NEXT LEVEL PLAYER PERFORMANCE (NLPP) Director. John will lead the Sereno NLPP Staff joined by Pro Staff coaches Brian O’Donnell and Paul Taylor. This NLPP staff has over 50 years coaching high-school age soccer players and building relationships with college soccer coaches. The group is responsible for providing Sereno’s players the understanding and direction to compete at the college level. The collective focus is to help all of Sereno’s student athletes achieve their academic and athletic goals.

John's Background
John De Martini is starting his second year with Sereno and in addition to his responsibilities as the NLPP Director, he coaches three teams. Prior to joining Sereno, John coached at both the elite club level as well as the collegiate level. He currently has over 30 former club players competing in Division I and Division II soccer. Most recently, John came to Sereno from San Juan Soccer Club in Sacramento, California, where he spent five years. He played a significant role in developing the San Juan girls’ soccer club into a nationally recognized girls program. During John's tenure at San Juan, the girls program was recognized as the tenth best girls program in the country by Soccer America 2008, and San Juan U14s won a USYSA National Championship in 2008. John has also been the girls’ director of coaching at Elk Grove United Soccer. Within his three years there, John implemented a curriculum for youth development that was effective in developing players to the next level. With his assistance, Elk Grove and the staff were highly competitive and developed numerous ODP State team, ODP Regional team, and National Team players. In 2003, Elk Grove’s U-19 girls’ team was a USYSA National finalist. John collegiate coaching includes positions at California State University at Stanislaus (men’s and women’s programs), University of the Pacific (women’s program) and California State University at Sacramento (women’s program).

What College Coaches Say About John...
John has been someone whose opinion I have trusted for a long time. His work as a college coach and with some of the premier soccer clubs in Northern California and Arizona make him a great resource for youth players aiming to play college soccer. His understanding and knowledge of what is required to play at the college level as well as his hunger to improve and develop players makes him one of the best at what he does on the West Coast. Mark Carr Head Women’s coach University of San Francisco ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a D1 head coach, it is wonderful to talk to individuals who are focused on what is in the best interest of the youth player. John has done just that over many years. He has developed a trust from college coaches because he understands academic and athletic institutional fit by matching players’ ability for success at the next level. I communicate with him on a regular basis and value his opinion. John Marovich Head Women's coach Valparaiso University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have known and worked with John for over 12 years. He is an excellent coach and most importantly is an outstanding judge of talent. He understands the demands of the Pac-10 level and can determine which players can be an impact, which can be role players or develop over time, and which are not best suited for the Pac-10 level. I have learned this about him through recruiting and coaching players he has recommended, and then having them succeed playing at this level. Due to this, a level of trust has been developed in his abilities. I am not alone in this trust as he knows all the coaches in the west as well as many throughout the country and they refer to him as well. Sereno is fortunate to have him handling their college recruiting services. Kevin Boyd Head Women's coach Arizona State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John De Martini has a proven history of developing players for college and helping place them at the appropriate level. He has college coaching experience at the division 1 and 2 level and knows the majority of college coaches in the west region and many others throughout the nation. He has a great understanding of what it takes to play at each level of college and is very good at helping the players find the school that fits both their level of play and personality. Luke Oberkirch Head Women’s coach Sonoma State University ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John has been around the game for a long time at many different levels. I feel that his unique experience of coaching college and club allows him to give accurate assessments of student athletes’ talent. John has coached players who have gone to top 25 schools, solid Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and NAIA schools. Those players have good success rate in minutes played and retention because I feel he guides player to the correct fit for the kid, not just the glamour school. He will do a great job with his connections to the college world in helping student athletes get placed in the most challenging but comfortable fit. Kai Edwards Head Women's coach St. Mary’s College Moraga, California ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John has a passion for helping others. It is that passion that makes me confident he will put the work in to help players and families find the right fit for college. Paul Stumpf Head Women’s coach University of California, Santa Barbara -------------------------------------------------------------------------------