92. Will Smith - LEAD Academies & Charter Oak Advisory with Chris Norris, Head Coach William & Mary Men's Soccer

Hi, I’m Scot Cooper and welcome to the Tales From the Trail podcast by MatchPlay. In this episode Chris Norris, the head coach of the College of William and Mary men’s soccer program and I welcome one of his former players, Will Smith. As you will hear, Will made the most of his opportunity as a student-athlete on the field, on campus, and abroad. Among many other highlights, he went on to co-found a residential youth soccer academy in Liberia called LEAD MFA. There’s more to the story obviously, thank you for listening to hear the rest. Thank you to Will and Coach Norris for being great guests.

Check out the links to the LEAD network:

www.leadedu.org www.monroviafa.com www.leadmorocco.com

Summary

Will Smith shares his journey as a college soccer player at William & Mary, discussing his recruitment process, the challenges he faced, and the impact of his leadership. He highlights the importance of self-belief, resilience, and personal growth throughout his career. Will also reflects on the role of other sports, such as golf, in shaping his mindset and skills. He discusses memorable moments, including defeating the number one ranked team and the lessons he learned from his experiences. Will concludes by sharing his research project in Liberia and the transition to life after college. Will Smith shares his journey of discovering the potential of soccer in Liberia and starting a leadership academy. He talks about his experiences playing with George Weah and the transformative power of soccer in the country. Will also discusses the challenges and successes of expanding the academy to Morocco. He then transitions to his current role at Charter Oak Advisory, where he helps design and implement impact programs for various organizations. Will concludes by discussing the possibility of future academies and his commitment to creating positive change.

Takeaways

Self-belief and resilience are crucial for success in college sports.

Playing multiple sports can provide valuable skills and perspectives.

Leadership styles should be personalized to meet the needs of individuals.

Maintaining momentum and addressing challenges are key to achieving success.

College sports can provide valuable lessons and skills for future endeavors. Soccer has the transformative potential to empower young people and create positive change in communities.

Building strong relationships and partnerships with local individuals and organizations is crucial for success in international development work.

Curiosity, resilience, and the ability to overcome adversity are valuable skills learned through sports that can be applied to other areas of life.

Empowering others and giving them the opportunity to lead is essential for sustainable and impactful initiatives.

Understanding the cultural context and adapting programs accordingly is key when working in different countries and communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:02 Assessing Will's Potential as a Player

08:40 Choosing William & Mary and the College Soccer Experience

19:01 Developing Self-Belief and Leadership Skills

24:46 Highlights of Will's College Soccer Career

41:11 Research Project in Liberia and Transitioning to Life After College

46:00 Discovering the Potential of Soccer in Liberia

51:31 Starting the Leadership Academy in Liberia

58:21 Expanding to Morocco

01:14:42 Transitioning to Charter Oak Advisory

01:17:22 Future Plans and Expansion