HAMILTON – Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer Club (MHYSC) is pleased to announce that Carl Horton has been hired as the club’s Technical Director and General Manager.
Horton will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of MHYSC’s day to day soccer and business operations in his role as Technical Director and General Manager.
He will ensure the club’s house league, academy, competitive and other on-field programming is at the standard of the best programs in Ontario and creating a culture of learning and development for coaches, volunteers and officials. He will also work closely with the Board of Directors on the long-term strategic direction for the club and building a solid foundation on the business operations side.
It is a homecoming for “Coach Carl” as he was Club Head Coach previously with Mount Hamilton from 2008 to 2014. He brings to the position more than 17 years of experience as a leader within Ontario Soccer’s Coach Development with a strong understanding of Long-Term Player Development and operations within the club environment.
Horton brings experience from all levels of youth soccer: Regional Manager of Player Development, Technical Director, Club Head Coach, National Coaching Certification Program Learning Facilitator, Master Learning Facilitator and Evaluator. He created and facilitated curriculum at the Provincial and Club Levels, created Long-Term Player Development Resources, Webinars, Grassroots Workshops and created components for the Technical Directors course which was launched in February 2016 by Ontario Soccer.
He joins MHYSC from North Toronto Soccer Club where he was Head Coach of the U13 and U14 Boys OPDL Teams. Prior to that Horton had previous stints as Technical Director for Richmond Hill Soccer Club and Waterloo United. After leaving MHYSC in 2014, he was Regional Manager, Player Development West for Ontario Soccer until September 2016, and went on to Oakville Soccer Club as Coach Development and Youth Programs Manager.
Carl Horton commented, “It is a pleasure and honour to be rejoining MHYSC as Technical Director and General Manager. I previously enjoyed six magnificent years at the club building programs for players and coaches, creating a foundation for all to enjoy their soccer experience here in Hamilton. Having the opportunity to return to MHYSC is exciting for my family and myself. My stepson Jordan played at the club for 15 years and it’s here where I met my wife Nicole.”
Horton added, “I look forward to helping players and coaches within the Hamilton community develop on and off the field and build their love of the game of soccer here at Mount Hamilton. I’m looking forward to creating this foundation once again in the city I call home.”
Club President Mark Fonovic commented, “On behalf of the Board of Directors I am pleased to welcome Carl Horton back to Mount Hamilton in his new role as Technical Director and General Manager. We had a number of qualified candidates apply for the position. Carl’s experience in youth soccer, in mentoring and developing coaches, understanding of best practices in player development, and his ideas and vision to grow the business side of the club really came through. It is interesting to have him return to the club and have the chance to continue to build programs such as the Academy for players ages 8 to 12 years, which were launched during Carl’s previous time with the club from 2008 to 2014. We look forward to having Carl apply his ability to build strong relationships with the volunteer executives, coaches and parents to help the players at MHYSC continue to learn and develop within the sport of soccer.”
Horton has a number of credentials including his Canada Soccer National Children’s License, United States Youth Soccer – Youth License, Ontario Soccer Technical Directors Diploma, FIFA Grassroots Coaching Diploma and Canadian Soccer Association National A License. He is originally from Grimsby, England and came to North America in 2001 working in New York and then New Jersey in soccer. Horton came to Canada in 2005 as Technical Director with London Football Club.
