Overview

A teacher by training, Dr. Gary F. Russell became an entrepreneur almost by accident when a tiny soccer camp he started during his summer vacation in Pittsburgh, back in 1969, became increasingly popular with parents who liked his approach to motivating youngsters, just as he did in the classroom.  Over a period of more than two decades, that business grew into a national company now based in Mystic, Connecticut. 

The first female players attended Gary Russell Soccer Camps in the early 1970’s. These young ladies are now in their 50’s. Coaches featured from the right to left: Chris Wright, Gary Russell and Dick Jones.

Today, as the official camp and clinic of Major League Soccer, it is almost a surreal experience to take a glimpse back to the genesis of the most recognized youth soccer education company in the United States.

How it all Began

In the 1960’s Russell was a teacher at Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. As with most academicians, his summers were spent performing odd jobs to supplement his salary.  Then came that pivotal summer of 1969 when he vacillated between painting houses and offering a part-time summer soccer camp.  Painting houses was good money — hard earned — but worth the sweat equity.  However, soccer had always been a passion of Russell’s, but he knew if he pursued this endeavor, there had to be a compelling reason for parents to want their kids to be part of it.   Back then, quality coaching was absent from camp programs, and Russell felt there was a need for kids to do something organized since most just played in the street.  The community approach to soccer was new at that point, and residential programs were far too expensive for most families to afford. 

“I felt there was a need to create a program for kids that was exciting and fun,” said Russell.  “One in which the child was the first priority before the sport.”  And so, with his commitment firmly in place, Russell started his first soccer camp.  Over 100 kids came to that first camp, which was overwhelming to him.  Making an amazing $8,000 for the academy spurned him on to talk to their business manager to expand the program and increase his own salary.  Unfortunately, the business manager let Russell know that anyone could do what he did, which certainly wasn’t any reason to pay him more.  The business manager went on to let Russell know that if he thought he was that good, then he should go out and make his fortune elsewhere.  Never to turn down a challenge, Russell did just that and went on to revolutionize the community approach to soccer.

Coach Chris Wright teaching heading techniques while program owner, Gary Russell, watches on.

Gary Russell thought his career may have reached its pinnacle when he was appointed headmaster of Buckley Country Day School in Long Island back in the 1970’s.  But as his “side business” of running camps reached 100 programs, he soon realized that his career was with soccer.

At his earliest camps, Russell had three young coaches working him…Chris Wright, Howard Wells and Dick Jones.  Wright is currently President of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wells is the Irish Football Association’s Chief Executive, and Jones, who has since passed away, is the inspiration for Major League Soccer Camps’ most prestigious coaching award.  And Russell, who is now CEO/President of MLS Camps, also founded additional successful companies and business initiatives over the years and has achieved the status of business owner, speaker and author.

Not bad for a bunch of rookie soccer camp coaches.

Realizing his Dream

Russell spent decades researching how children behave, grow and develop and used his findings to create a truly effective soccer curriculum that matches the development of the child alongside the development of the player.  This research served him well over the years and today MLS Camps is the most effectively researched youth soccer program in the U.S., serving over 1,100 communities, 270,000 clients, and employing over 400 licensed soccer trainers.

Gary Russell Soccer Camps was undoubtedly founded by a most extraordinary visionary.