Laurel D. Nelson, CEO and Jack Stern, FC Cincinnati
Today, they sit front and center of Cincinnati sports with a stellar new stadium and committed fanbase.
Full disclosure: I am a soccer fan and former soccer player, so believed early on that a partnership with the FC would be a good one. We approached Jeff Berding (team chief executive) and Kate Solomon (marketing chief) and asked that they consider two things:
- An FC individual to be our honorary spokesperson, and
- Some efforts to help to raise our profile.
They generously have done both.
Team leadership didn’t hesitate and has provided us with spokespeople for the past six years. This has included supporting us with some game day publicity and visibility for our annual fundraising campaign. Additionally, Channel 12 has produced public service announcements for many years that features our spokesperson. The last four years have included Goal Keeper coach Jack Stern. The combined efforts have raised our profile and supported our fundraising efforts.
Who is Jack Stern?
Jack Stern has been a valuable asset to the Center. Jack, and his home and FC family are impressive individuals. Jack was raised in the UK with commitment to community and our most vulnerable people. Additionally, he is an award-winning goalkeeper coach and a vital part of our Cincinnati team.
Jack is a hardworking, driven and enthusiastic coach with a proven track record of helping elite professional goalkeepers fulfill and maximize their potential. His skills enable him to work well with colleagues and players of all types and backgrounds. For the past 14 years, he has immersed himself in all aspects of the profession, gaining valuable experience at the highest levels in Europe and North America.
Jack’s experience, qualifications and Bachelor’s degree in Sports Coaching Science has given him a vast knowledge of coaching theory and practice and enabled him to take a holistic approach in coaching that considers the technical, tactical, psychological and physical aspects of elite goalkeeping.
Prior to his move to Cincinnati, he was employed for five seasons at EPL side West Bromwich Albion. At the club he was responsible for goalkeepers from the age of 7 to 21 delivering a technical program that produced five England youth internationals in five years.
In 2014, he joined Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer as Head of Academy Goalkeeping. In his first three years in Montreal, he restructured the academy goalkeeping department, developing a new technical and tactical program whilst also implementing a new talent identification model.
In January 2017, he was appointed as Montreal Impacts Head of Goalkeeping and First Team Goalkeeper Coach. Within this role he was responsible for all planning and implementation of the goalkeepers training as well as opposition video scouting for both the goalkeepers and field players. Jack has developed an extensive knowledge of all MLS teams and players and an understanding and ability to plan, prepare, train and win in MLS.
In January 2018 Jack joined FC Cincinnati as Head of Goalkeeping and First Team Goalkeeper Coach.
We are thrilled that Jack is our partner, and that the new FC stadium is located just blocks from the Center.
