Gulf Shores City Schools hires director of soccer program

Gulf Shores City Schools hires director of soccer program

Gulf Shores City Schools has hired a director of soccer to oversee the overall direction and coaching of the soccer program. Chad Harrelson, who most recently worked as the head boys’ soccer coach at St. Paul’s in Mobile, has accumulated a record of 401-196-62 and over twenty-nine years of experience as a teacher and coach at the high school level. His background coaching and guiding high school soccer programs include nine Final Four appearances, advancing to state championship matches five times, and coaching the 2019 6A State Soccer Champions. His career has also included serving as junior varsity coach at the University of Mobile, serving as an Olympic Development coach for the Alabama Soccer Association, and developing coaches as the Director of Coaching for the Mobile Soccer Club. He also spent the last twenty-one years developing and running the Southern Shootout, one of the Southeast’s largest high school soccer tournaments.
“I am leaving a big piece of my heart at St. Paul’s and I have been privileged to work with amazing families, faculty, and students for the past eighteen years. I look forward now to bringing that same drive and determination to Gulf Shores as we train up a new generation using the beautiful game,’’ Harrelson said. “We will learn to do the small things right, to not fear failure, to grow from our mistakes, and most importantly, to love those both on our side and across the midline. I am excited to be a Dolphin.”