FRISCO, Texas (May 19, 2025) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) today announced former Mississippi Soccer Association (MSA) Executive and Technical Director Chris Bentley as its Director of Education. USYS CEO Tom Condone made the announcement.
This pivotal position is aimed at advancing coach, player, parent, and club development nationwide. In this leadership role, Bentley will oversee the design and delivery of innovative educational initiatives and resources, supporting holistic growth across all levels of the game.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris Bentley as our new Director of Education,” said Condone. “Having collaborated with Chris on several U.S. Soccer coaching licenses, I’ve witnessed firsthand his commitment to player and club development, as well as his work guiding coach educators. His leadership will be instrumental in driving the expansion of educational initiatives across the country.”
Bentley’s oversight of the Mississippi Soccer Association coincided with one of the largest periods of growth in the organization’s history. From 2022-2025, MSA saw a 28-percent increase in state membership, 72-percent increase in State Cup participation, and 198-percent increase in Olympic Development Program (ODP) participation.
His many day-to-day responsibilities included coaching education, player development, staff management, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and supporting local club programs. Bentley also led day-to-day operations, partnered with the board on statewide initiatives, and guided efforts to push organizational growth and long-term impact.
Prior to his time in Mississippi, Bentley was part of the leadership team that brought together one of the largest youth clubs in the country — the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club. There, he served as Regional Managerbefore being promoted to Regional Technical Director, where he led coach education, player development, daily operations, and technical programming, also overseeing budgeting, scheduling, staff supervision, and member communications.
Bentley coached at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels, as well as across all ages and levels of the youth game.
Bentley holds a Master of Education from Delta State University, Bachelor of Arts from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and his certifications include the following, among others:
- U.S. Soccer ‘A’ License
- U.S. Soccer Educator Developer License
- U.S. Soccer Coach Educator Licenses
- U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching License
- United Soccer Coaches Coach Developer Diploma
- United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma
– USYS –
About US Youth Soccer
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers 2.68 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.
