Us Club Regional Pictures

Team Stats

Coach Craig Smith

Craig Smith in his fourth season as the U19 Boys Coach and former Director of Coaching for the Dothan Youth Soccer Association and Alabama Alliance Premier Soccer Club.  In the last three seasons, he has helped develop DYSA and the Alabama Alliance into one of the top competitive clubs in the south.  In just three seasons the Alabama Alliance have won 5 State Championships, won 6 Southern Soccer League Championships, won 18 Tournament Championships, have had 6 players selected to the State ODP program and has had 18 players recruited to the collegiate level.  Craig is very excited about the future of DYSA and the Alabama Alliance and feels that the club is headed in the right direction. 

 Prior to Coach Smith taking the Director of Coaching position he served as the assistant coach for the United States Amateur Soccer Association Midwest Regional Team (2000-2003).  In this position, he worked with the top collegiate players in the Midwest, developing them for the Olympic and National Teams.  He was also an assistant coach / administrator for the United States Amateur Soccer Association National Select Team (National B Team).  In this position, he worked with the top players from all four Regional Teams, developing players for the National Teams and the W.U.S.A.  Coach Smith also was the Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  Coach Smith also holds a USSF National  "D" coaching license.

           As a player, Coach Smith led Canyon High School (Anaheim, California) to three conference championships (86-88), played eight years in the California Select League (Arsenal), played four years for the United States Army (91-94), played five years on the State of Iowa’s 3 v 3 Team (99-03) were he competed 4 out of the 5 years for the National Championship.

           Coach Smith is originally from Anaheim, California.  He is married to Julie M. Smith and he has two children, son Joshua and daughter Jenna.

Assistant Coach Rich Thorne

Coach Rich Thorne is now in his fourth season as President and coach for the Dothan Youth Soccer Association and Alabama Alliance Premier Soccer Club.  In the last four seasons, he has helped develop DYSA and the Alabama Alliance into one of the top competitive clubs in the south.  In just three seasons the Alabama Alliance have won 5 State Championships, won 6 Southern Soccer League Championships, won 18 Tournament Championships, have had 6 players selected to the State ODP program and has had 18 players recruited to the collegiate level.   Coach Thorne has also served as the DYSA Club President over the past four years.   

Prior to joining Coach Thorne led the Dothan Leisure Services 12-13 year old co-ed to a League, City, and ARPA District Championships.  He has also been an assistant of a DIV II runner up and Head Coach of DIV II State Champion. He has coached with soccer organizations in lower Alabama since 2001. Coach Thorne also holds a USSF National  "D" coaching license.

           Coach Thorne is originally from Steubenville, Ohio.  He is married to Erin Thorne and he has two children, Columbia College Soccer Player Skylarh Thorne, and Alabama Alliance U18 Club Player Caleb Thorne.