WASHINGTON- DC Soccer Club, DC’s largest youth soccer organization, has hired former Major League Soccer and DC United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra as the new Director of Goalkeeping. Dykstra brings high-level playing experience, both collegiately and professionally, and high-level youth coaching experience from the local club area.
Born in Hawaii and raised in Northern Virginia, Dykstra played collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned All-CAA honors twice and earned high academic conference honors as a student-athlete. He made his MLS debut with the Chicago Fire in 2010 and went on to play for several other clubs in USL and MLS, including DC United, Sporting Kansas City, and Colorado Rapids.
Dykstra has spent the last several years coaching youth travel soccer at various competitive levels. He came to DC Soccer Club after working as the Director of Goalkeeping at Virginia Development Academy (VDA), which competes in the ECNL (National League). Before that post, he worked as the goalkeeper director and sports performance director at Prince William Soccer Inc (PWSI).
DC Soccer Club Executive Director Greg Andrulis said, “We are thrilled to add Andrew Dykstra to the DC Soccer family. The modern game requires specific coaching for this important position. With Andrew, we have a professional coach with high-level experience that he has included in our developmental program for our goalkeepers and coaching staff.”
“I am very excited to join DC Soccer Club as the Director of Goalkeeping,” said Dykstra. “I look forward to this new era for the goalkeeping program at DCSC. I am excited to work with a club with boundless potential along with all the coaches and staff. I am most thrilled to work under DC Soccer Club’s Executive Director Greg Andrulis. He has a very similar background to me and understands my vision for the club with the goalkeeper program.” said Dykstra.
Dykstra will be charged with implementing a curriculum for the goalkeepers in the club and leading a staff of goalkeeper coaches.