U.S. Soccer secretary general Dan Flynn, who succeeded Hank Steinbrecher after serving as the Federation’s chief administrative and chief operating officers and as executive director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, is starting to feel at home again in Soccer House.

SOCCER AMERICA: You’ve been on the job a month and a week. A progress report?

DAN FLYNN: It’s been hectic, between [World Cup] qualifying and having the women in Europe. And in summertime there are a lot of youth activities.

Coming on board, I know some people from my past time [at the Federation], but there’s also a lot of new faces. I’ve been assessing the organization, meeting everybody.

Essentially, the first 90 days you want to assess what you have and start to develop a strategic business plan. We’ll take it from there how we need to reshape the organization, how we’ll set our priorities.

SA: Where, initially, do you see the most need?

DF: I think the first need is to add some clarity and focus. … There are three real focuses. The first is player development: how we develop players in the current system, what we need to do in the future.

Second, how do we add value to the sport – obviously, to our constituent base, but also to our sponsors and suppliers: the soccer food chain, if you will. Third, and this encompasses the first two: creating a successful business model, a business plan we can operate now and into the future.

SA: Is this a job you’ve had your eye on?

DF: Absolutely not. When I went to work for Hank after the World Cup, I told him, “I’ll work for you under one condition: I never pursue your job.” … When Hank resigned, I still was not necessarily going to pursue it. After discussing it with Hank, I ultimately did put my hat in the ring.


‘Truly unique time for our sport’

SA: What do you think will be Hank’s legacy?

DF: Some may debate it, but I think Hank had a truly great bond with people. The last 10 years, less than that, have been a truly unique time for our sport, with the World Cup followed by the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup. So when you consider that statement [about Steinbrecher’s bond] globally … he was a terrific fit.

SA: You and Hank have different styles. How will we see this difference play out?

DF: That’s a difficult question. … I think the dynamic of the business has changed. Look at the next three to five years: We don’t have a men’s or women’s World Cup [in America] on the horizon, we don’t have another Summer Olympics. Our focus has to be a more day-to-day focus. I think this fits my business background.


‘I’m not a dreamer’

SA: Are you satisfied with player development in America, with our model of player development?

DF: Player development is first of all a philosophical commitment. You either believe in it or you don’t. I think everyone in soccer contributes to player development, and you don’t know the results sometimes for years. … I don’t think it ever stops – it’s an ongoing process, and there needs to be an ongoing commitment.

As to our model, I think the best way to answer that is this: Whatever we’re doing needs to be examined on a pretty consistent basis. We have met internally on the subject, and work is underway. We’re not at the point where we can say everything we’re doing, but everything we’re doing reflects the results we’ve gained in the last few years.

SA: There’s plenty of political divisiveness within U.S. Soccer. Are you ready to deal with that?

DF: Let me say this: I don’t want to answer that question. What I prefer to focus on is that I think everyone is committed to grow the game. There are different opinions about how to do that, where the discussion should be. … I’d like to think that when we’ve developed a strategic business plan and worked through the discussion levels, we’ll know where the focus should be.

SA: You think it’s possible to reach any consensus within U.S. Soccer?

DF: We have a broad customer, or constituent, base. The first thing is to hold open and candid discussions, so hopefully we can better understand each other. …

I’m not a dreamer who thinks it’s all going to happen in 30 days. I do think we can certainly make a commitment and focus to make the sport better and add value.

SA: How would you describe the Federation’s financial health?

DF: I think we’re reasonably healthy. There’s a challenge in the short term with some operating costs. We have more teams than we’ve ever had, which corresponds to more training days. I think you have to – and we will – prioritize.

Obviously, player development is supreme in our efforts. We’ve got very solid contracts in place to provide resources. Those can be stretched at times, no question, and what is stretched is the technical development side. You need to play the game, and that’s a real challenge financially.

You have to balance that, but we always want to err on the side of playing as many games, having as many training days, as possible. This is a long-term development aspect, and we hope to see continued improvement on the field.

I believe a couple of our sponsorships may be ending at the end of this year, but I’m pleased with the general level of sponsorship. I can’t comment on it, but we’re very close to potentially a couple new sponsors, as well as one particular opportunity that may be unique.

SA: Understanding that work on a strategic business plan is in early stages, can you give us some idea of what is being addressed?

DF: As a national governing body, we have certain requirements we have to fulfill to our membership base, and we want to spell those out and clarify what we are to everyone. Once we’ve managed organizationally to address those, one of the key areas we want to focus on is being prepared for international competition. This is really where player development falls and why it’s a key part of what we are, what we do. Everyone contributes, AYSO and USYSA and the amateurs – everyone contributes to overall player development.

Clearly for us, we’re trying to focus on how we can compete within a business plan, and we obviously have to split up resources to get that done.

SA: What are your warmest playing memories?

DF: I think it’s playing. The people and the experiences. I’ll sound like an old man, but I still remember the day we won the [1973 NCAA title] at SLU. You grow up in St. Louis, the place to play was SLU, and having a chance to win, that’s a great memory.

Also the travels. It was a tremendous education for someone like myself, who grew up on the north side of St. Louis. Traveling with that team posed opportunities I would not have experienced otherwise.

SA: Are you still playing?

DF: Five knee operations have limited that. And some age, a lot of things. I still get a pretty good workout three or four days a week.

by Soccer America senior editor Scott French