United academy under-18 head coach Tom Torres has accepted a position with the Washington Spirit to become a first team assistant and director of youth development.
“Tom is a tremendous coach and leader, and countless academy players have grown in our academy system under his guidance,” Ryan Martin, United’s director of youth development, said. “The academy wouldn't be where it is today without his hard work, belief and passion to the game of soccer and to D.C. United over the last decade. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors with the Spirit.”
Torres joined D.C. United in 2007 working summer camps, training programs, and assisting with the under-18 developmental academy team. In 2009, Torres was involved in creating the D.C. United pre-academy program and was the head coach for the under-15 team. In 2010, he became the pre-academy manager and an assistant coach for the under-18s and under-23s in addition to coaching the under-15s. In 2011, Torres was named the head coach of the under-16 developmental academy team, head youth scout, pre-academy manager and under-23 assistant coach. At the time of his departure, he was the under-18 developmental academy head coach and assistant for the under-23 team.
Torres holds several advanced coaching licenses such as the NSCAA National and Advanced National Diploma with Distinction, a USSF A license, and a UEFA B license. In 2016, represented D.C. United in Major League Soccer's partnership with the French Football Federation as a candidate in the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL), which concluded in October of 2016.
Martin will assume the role of under-18 head coach in addition to coaching the upcoming under-23 program and the under-16 team.
