July 16th, 2024

SOCA Hires New Challenge Program Coordinator ­

Julian Khalili joins SOCA as Coordinator of Challenge Program and coach for Skyline Elite.

The Soccer Organization of the Charlottesville Area has hired Julian Khalili as the club’s Challenge Program Coordinator.  Julian will lead SOCA’s innovative Advanced Recreational Program, overseeing a league with more than 50 teams, U10-U15, boys and girls.  In addition to his role as Challenge Coordinator, Julian will co-coordinate the Winter Indoor Soccer League in the SOCA Fieldhouse and serve as head coach for the 2011 and 2006/07 Skyline Elite Boys teams in Fall 2024.

Khalili comes to SOCA by way of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club where he served as their Zone 1 Coordinator, Head Coach and Program Director.  In that role he developed and oversaw the methodology for the development of all U6-U12 aged players across the club.  Additionally, he was the head coach of the Kickers Pre-ECNL U11 and U12 boys teams.  Khalili has experience coaching players from U7-U18 at youth level and was the head coach of the Under 23 team for Richmond Unted.  Prior to the Richmond Kickers, Khalili served as the Program Director for Dynamo Soccer Club in Hanover County and was a four-year player at Randolph College.  He holds a USSF B License, USC Advanced National Diploma and the Barca Innovation Hub: Coaches Academy II Certificate

SOCA’s Challenge Program is an essential step in SOCA’s player development pyramid.  Classified as an Advanced Recreational Program, players must participate in a player placement process to earn a position in the program based upon merit, but training and games are local unlike a travel program.  Teams are balanced by talent with geographic consideration to create meaningful and competitive games each weekend.  The elevated developmental platform provides an essential step between SOCA’s Recreational and Travel Programs and is unique to the club.  Challenge represents the highest level of play available in Charlottesville for the U10 age group.

You may welcome Julian to his new position at his email address:  [email protected].

New SOCA Challenge Coordinator, Julian Khalili said:

“I am excited for my new role at SOCA and looking forward to meeting the coaches and players at the club.  The Challenge Program is a unique program that has great merit for local players.  I look forward to helping our players develop their full potential and enjoy the sport that we all love.  I am ready to get started this fall.”

Executive Director of the Virginia Soccer Alliance, Matt Wilson said:

“Julian brings a wealth of experience to SOCA as a youth coach and program director.  He has spent considerable time working with youth players, particularly in the U10 and U12 age groups, and that will serve him well as the Coordinator of the Challenge Program.  I think our players and coaches will enjoy getting to know Julian and I’m excited for him to bring a fresh approach and new ideas to the program.”