On the latest Inside College Soccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with Benno Nagel - former professional coach, club builder, and soccer entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience across elite youth, collegiate, and professional levels.

From working inside the prestigious Dinamo Zagreb Academy to helping launch clubs like Oakland Roots SC and The Town FC, Benno brings a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on what it really takes to build soccer environments that develop players and communities.

In this episode, we dive into:

✅ What makes elite academies like Dinamo Zagreb so effective
✅ The realities of building professional clubs from the ground up
✅ How soccer culture is intentionally created - not accidental
✅ Why player burnout is rising and how to prevent it
✅ How coaching and player development have evolved in today’s game
✅ We also highlight Benno’s current work with The Soccer Spot, where he is focused on redefining player development through structured guidance, film analysis, and individualized support.

This aligns closely with SRUSA’s vision through the Player Progression Program (P3) - a modern approach to player development built around individualized development plans (IDPs), performance tracking, and long-term athlete growth.

🎧 A must-listen for players, parents, and coaches serious about development beyond just talent.

On this episode of the Inside College Soccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with leading sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to break down his new 2026 book Compete: Developing a Mental Playbook for Performance Under Pressure in Sport.

Dan shares practical, game-ready tools designed to help athletes perform when it matters most. The conversation dives into:

• The High Performance Mindset (HPM) - how athletes can control attention, intensity, and intent in pressure moments
• The Elite Competitor Model - building a proactive, purposeful approach to performance
• The Mindset Scale - a simple but powerful tool athletes can use mid-game to reset and refocus
• Mental Playbook strategies - managing nerves, frustration, and mistakes while developing a “go again” mentality
• In-game routines & confidence tools - how to build consistency and “bulletproof” belief

This episode is a must-listen for players, parents, and coaches navigating high-pressure environments - especially those pursuing the U.S. college pathway, where mindset is often the difference-maker.

📚 Pre-order the book via Hawksmoor Publishing or Amazon
➡️ Learn more: www.danabrahams.com

On the latest episode of Inside College Soccer, Don Williams sits down with Scott Wilson, Assistant Coach of the Florida Tech Women's Soccer Programme, for an in-depth conversation covering his journey from decorated college player to experienced coach operating at both national and international level.

Scott reflects on his playing career at UW-Superior - where he was a 3-year captain, three-time UMAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament champion, two-time NCAA Tournament participant, and 2021 UMAC Defensive Player of the Year - before walking through how that experience shaped his approach to coaching.

Scott and Don also dig into what it takes to recruit effectively at the college level, the realities of building a women's programme, and what young players should know about the college soccer pathway - particularly for those serious about maximising their opportunities at the next level.

🎧 Sponsored by Sports Recruiting USA (SRUSA)
🤝 Brought to you by gapyearsoccer.com

Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, this is a valuable listen from someone who has lived the college soccer journey from both sides - and is now helping the next generation do the same.