Local nonprofit executive and longtime Murfreesboro Soccer Club (MSC) volunteer and board member Mike Cowles has been named Director of Business of Murfreesboro Soccer Club.
In this full-time position, Cowles is responsible for managing MSC’s day-to-day operations, working with sponsors, the community, the board of directors and the staff, fundraising and development. Cowles most recently worked as executive director of the Heart of Tennessee chapter of the American Red Cross from 2012 through 2017; his position covered 17 counties in middle Tennessee. Before that time, he worked in executive positions for the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 13 years in in middle Tennessee.
Cowles served on the MSC Board of Directors for the past four years as a Commissioner and Club Treasurer.
“We are so pleased that Mike has joined us as Director of Business,” said Bryan Kleparek, MSC President. “He has hit the ground running because he’s been involved with us for several years as a hard-working volunteer and leader, and he’s very knowledgeable about our Club. Mike’s strong background in nonprofit, his executive skills and experience, and his commitment and knowledge of this community were key in his selection for this position. We know he will continue to do a great job for us in this role.”
“I’m thrilled to be at Murfreesboro Soccer Club and I look forward to supporting our Board of Directors, our soccer families and our great community,” Cowles said. “I love this Club and the work we’re doing here. Both of my sons play soccer in our Select and Rec programs, and so I’ve had a vested interest in helping make this Club the best it can be in all areas of working with young people.”
Cowles is married to Carrie Lynne Cowles. The couple has two sons, Cameron, age 16, and Tucker, age 12. The family is heavily involved in soccer, both at the high school and club level.
“I’ve worked in the nonprofit world by choice for a long time,” Cowles added. “It’s important to me to do work that is significant and makes a contribution to our community. Here at Murfreesboro Soccer Club we have a chance to positively influence the lives of not only the kids we coach, but the entire family, including mom and dad, and younger brothers and sisters who often end up playing soccer with us. It’s important to all of us that our community’s kids are healthy, are outside running and playing and learning, and are having fun. We have a truly great group of coaches who work here and who give so much to our players. I appreciate my own children having mentors like them.”
Both Cowles and Kleparek are looking forward to a strong 2018 and beyond for Murfreesboro Soccer Club.
“We just had our Board retreat in January,” Cowles said. “I don’t think there is any soccer club anywhere that is better than ours here today. We have invested the dollars, time and people in our programs and in our coaches. We’re doing great work here, and I’m going to be out in the community telling that story and inviting companies and organizations to join us in sponsoring the club.”
Kleparek added: “Last month we sent nine people from our club, including Mike, to Philadelphia for a national conference on coaching. Our coaches were in seminars and classes for several days there, and we all learned about new ideas and new practices from across the country. We’re committed to investing in our staff, our coaches, our players, our volunteers and our programs so our players have an excellent experience while they’re playing soccer with us.”
In addition to recreational and select soccer for young people, Murfreesboro Soccer Club offers an adult soccer program and TOPSoccer, a program for children with special needs that is completely free. The club recently began a new program for very young children ages two to three years old. For more information, visit Murfreesborosoccer.com.
About Murfreesboro Soccer Club: The focus of the Murfreesboro Soccer Club (MSC), in existence as a non-profit organization since 1977, is the development of each individual player. MSC maximizes the development of the individual through programming that challenges each player, a coaching staff that adheres to the highest standards. MSC is resolute in dedicating its time and resources to the technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of playing soccer. MSC offers multiple programs: Recreational (ages 2 through 18), focusing on helping players learn the game of soccer in a fun and stimulating environment to be the best soccer players they can be; Select (ages 8 through 18), focusing on helping players master higher level technical skills and fundamentals with a rigorous fall and spring schedule; Adult (ages 19 and up); and TOPSoccer, a free program for children with special needs.
