The SABR Director of Coaching and Player Development is a dedicated full-time coach and administrator focused exclusively on our Recreational Programs. This role includes managing the SABR After School training program and developing volunteer parent coaches, essential for our youth initiatives.
Unlike most programs, which typically have Directors focused on competitive players, our DoC is dedicated to serving recreational players, with additional benefits for the SABR Adult program. After over a year of planning and a six-month global search, we are proud to have a uniquely qualified professional leading this innovative position in soccer.
Carrie Maier Barker brings over 25 years of coaching experience across collegiate, youth club, and Olympic Development levels. She has worked as a USSF Coaching Instructor and holds a National “A” License, a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, and a USSF Grassroots Instructors License.
“I am excited to be the first Director of Recreation Coaching & Player Development for SABR and look forward to building and leading the program,” she stated. Barker earned her Bachelor’s in Recreation Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and played for their soccer team, captaining the 1994 Big Ten Championship squad and reaching the NCAA finals in 1991.
Prior to joining SABR, Barker was the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Rock Valley College for seven years, leading the team to multiple championships and national rankings. She also coached at NCAA Division I schools, achieving nine NCAA tournament appearances and contributing to three Big Ten Championships.
Barker’s youth coaching includes stints with Olympic Development Programs and the U-14 United States National Team. She has international coaching and recruiting experience in Europe, Africa, and South America and has volunteered in Uganda, training 380 coaches through an initiative supported by the U.S. State Department.
Carrie relocated to Boca Raton with her husband Stuart, who is also a professional soccer coach, to pursue this unique opportunity.
