Passion meets purpose: Revamped Eastside FC Internship Program wraps up second year

Eastside FC is proud to celebrate the successful completion of the second year of its revamped Coaching Internship Program, a hands-on initiative designed to identify and mentor aspiring coaches, and provide them with a meaningful experience within a competitive youth soccer environment.

Guided by Experience: Hannah Deighton, Program Director

Hannah Deighton, current Eastside FC coach and former intern herself, serves as the Intern Program Director. Having started her coaching journey at Eastside FC as an intern in 2020, Hannah now leads the program she once benefited from, bringing insight, mentorship, and passion to every aspect of the experience.

“The goal of the program is to offer aspiring coaches a 360-degree view of what it means to coach youth soccer,” Hannah explains. “Interns are tasked with assignments on and off the field that highlight the technical, tactical, and cultural elements of coaching. While we focus on the ‘X’s and O’s,’ there’s much more to being a great coach, and this program shows them the full picture.”

Program Structure and Training

Over eight weeks, interns complete a program designed around the six components of coaching outlined by the U.S. Soccer Federation: leading the player, leading the team, coaching the game, coaching the training, and managing the performance environment. Assignments range from studying Eastside FC’s club culture to performing film analysis of our teams.

However, the most impactful aspect of the internship is on-field mentorship. Interns shadow Eastside FC’s experienced coaches, witnessing firsthand the growth and development of players in a competitive, supportive environment.

Strengthening the Youth Soccer Ecosystem

Interns gain exposure to coaching without immediately taking full responsibility for a team of 18+ players—a vital stepping stone for aspiring professionals. The program also focuses on increasing female representation in coaching, aiming to create a more inclusive environment for players and aspiring coaches alike.

Tom Bialek, Eastside FC Director of Coaching and Director of Soccer, shared his thoughts on the program:

"The internship program gives aspiring coaches a real opportunity to grow, to learn, and to see the impact they can have on players. It’s about cultivating not just technical skills, but the values and culture that make Eastside FC unique."

Impact on Players, Coaches, and Club Culture

Having interns shadow coaches and work with players allows Eastside FC to showcase its values in action. Interns bring energy, new ideas, and leadership to the field while helping reinforce our club’s culture and player development philosophy.

Voices

The interns themselves describe the program as transformative:

• Makenna Hall: “This internship allowed me to step into a leadership role where I could guide and support others. I’ve found a deep passion for coaching and hope to continue developing the next generation of players.”

• Ikhlas Patel: “Spending time with kids across different age groups was so rewarding. Their energy and excitement made every day enjoyable, and I loved building those little connections.”

• Kate Veenhuizen: “I learned a lot from working alongside such experienced coaches and picked up ideas I can use in the future.”

• Victor King: “I was able to coach multiple teams to tournament wins and apply what I’d learned in real games. The experience has inspired me to continue coaching.”

• Gavin Honey: “Spending so much time with players gave me confidence to step into leadership roles. Watching development week to week was incredibly rewarding.”

Other interns included Wolf Pfaeffle (featured above in the YouTube Video) and Reese Wharton, rounding out a group of seven passionate, talented individuals shaping their coaching futures.

Supporting the Soccer Ecosystem

Programs like this one play a vital role in growing the coaching pipeline. For those who are curious about coaching but not ready to take on a full team, internships provide a low-pressure entry point into the profession.

“It can be daunting to fully commit to coaching a team,” said Deighton. “This internship is a stepping stone for aspiring professionals to see the space without having the responsibility of 18-plus kids from the start.”

The program also aims to address a key challenge in the coaching landscape—gender representation. With far fewer women in coaching roles compared to men, Eastside FC hopes this initiative will help increase the number of female coaches in the game and offer strong role models for young players.

Looking Ahead

Hannah and the Eastside FC leadership team are already thinking about the next steps for the program. “We hope to host USSF D-License Courses right at our facility,” Hannah shares. “Licensing can be inaccessible depending on location and time of year, so bringing education to our home pitch helps continue learning and growing the next generation of coaches.”

Reflecting on the program, Hannah adds: “It’s been a source of pride to lead this internship. We’ve redesigned it to give up-and-coming coaches hands-on experience, mentorship, and a real understanding of what it means to coach. We hope to continue increasing accessibility for all who want to join the coaching community.”

By investing in the next generation of coaches, Eastside FC is strengthening not only its own programs but the broader youth soccer ecosystem. The coaching internship program is one more example of how the club continues to develop leaders on and off the field.

Join Us in Celebrating Our Interns

The Eastside FC Coaching Internship Program is more than just a summer experience—it’s a pathway for future leaders in youth soccer, fostering growth, confidence, and inclusivity on and off the field. Congratulations to all of our interns for a successful second year, and thank you for helping build the future of Eastside FC coaching!