Leland Hammonds Named Athenians SC Technical Director

Published by San Antonio Athenians SC Communications 1/27/22

The San Antonio Athenians are delighted to announce the appointment of Leland Hammonds as Technical Director for the 2022 season. Leland has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in and around the game of soccer as a coach from since 1996. Beginning in 2006, Leland has served as a professor of coaching and kinesiology locally at the Alamo colleges, receiving the National Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Texas in 2013.

In 2016, Leland took over as Director and Head Coach for Northwest Vista College Women’s Soccer and recently came on board with the Athenians to head up the Athenians NEXT program, which has seen exponential growth under his watch. Speaking about the program, Hammonds said “I believe our Athenians NEXT program is the gold standard of individual development devoted to the technical aspects of soccer while focusing on the overall physical and mental well-being of the athlete.”

Leland has devoted his professional soccer career to the pathway and comprehensive training process aimed at focusing on individual physical and technical development. Leland holds Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma 1 & 2 and has been recognized as the instructor of professional development for coaches in the state of Texas. We believe with his experience improving both players and coaches, there is no one better to help lead our club forward in 2022. 

“The proudest accomplishment of my life is being a #girldad,” Hammonds said,  “and with that in mind I’ve dedicated my professional career to investing time and resources towards equality and ensuring that my amazing female athletes always have the best coaching and resources and that we demand the same standard of excellence as others do from their male counterparts.”

“I’ll like to thank Soccer Central for this platform to promote and advance women’s soccer and to all the great female athletes and families that I’ve had the privilege to work with over the past 25 years.  It’s their hard work and dedication that should be celebrated today.”  

Hammonds has already been hard at work developing the NEXT program and coordinating the upcoming Winter ID Camp on February 6th, as well as working behind the scenes to craft a winning roster in 2022. To hear directly from him about all that is currently happening and all that this season will hold for the club, watch this interview on the UWS weekly show! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJaEDcp2uA0&t=24s