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What influence has soccer had in your life?

Soccer has played a big part in my life in spite of starting later than most just 2 and a half years ago. It has allowed me to make great new friends, encouraged me to work hard, made me a better team player and taught me the value of being more coachable.

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I believe I was nominated for this award because of my consistent effort on the field, in both practices and games. Also, I’ve tried really hard to be a more better and more supportive teammate.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

The most enjoyable part of playing for the Rapids Soccer Club has been playing and spending time with my friends, the guidance and support from my coaches, and the excitement of playing in the Rapids Classic.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

The soccer accomplishment I’m most proud of is achieving the dual rank of scoring leader and assist leader on my team. During the recent regular season, I scored 9 goals and made 6 assists in 8 games. Two other close seconds would be winning first in the Rapid’s Classic this year and only losing 1 game and having 1 tie in my 3 seasons as a competitive soccer player.

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

The academic achievement I am most proud of is the opportunity to be homeschooled and my proficiency in studying math at a higher level than my grade.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

Teammates would likely describe me as a good friend, though occasionally way too energetic. Also, they might mention my skill as a good dribbler and being very competitive.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

I am always eager to help with young children and babies. I willingly lend a hand to other homeschool moms, families from our church, and neighbors. I once spent an entire day hanging out with my neighbors 5, 3 and 1 year old while their mom was able to get things done around the house and I did this without asking to be paid. I just love hanging out with the kiddos and being a help to others. I also regularly help my siblings with their chores.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

My favorite soccer player is Alex Morgan, and I cheer for any team fortunate enough to have her on their team.

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

I hope to one day play for the US Women’s National Soccer team and be a Doctor and a mom.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

Alex Morgan inspires me because of her amazing work ethic when she committed even as a kid to daily practice in order to get better. Her story is like mine because she started soccer a bit late but was still successful.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

Outside of playing soccer for the Rapids, I enjoy playing competitive basketball, going out to play football or any sport for that matter with the kids in my neighborhood, playing with little kids, listening to music and feeling the thrill of victory of any kind of competition.

Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.

What influence has soccer had in your life?

Soccer has been an outlet from my academically busy life to enjoy spending time with my friends and playing a sport that I love! I have been playing soccer since I was four, so this sport has always been a big part of my life.

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I believe that I am nominated for this award because I strive to be better in everything I do. I am able to manage my time well so that I can dedicate time to both athletics and academics and maintain a healthy balance between the two.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

I enjoy the players and the coaching staff! I have made some of my best friends playing for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and have learned so much from the coaches I have had.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my resilience after missing my school soccer season and part of my club soccer season due to a concussion and consequently being diagnosed with POTS roughly two years ago. After about 7 months of not being able to play, I came back to the field ready to work and continue improving as a player.

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being able to manage a heavy workload as well as my ability to try new things and challenge myself. This year in particular, I wrote a research paper focused on the extent to which gene editing will be used as a tool to treat cancer in the future, and I am also leading a biotechnology club where we have partnered with Colorado Christian University to try and discover novel yeast species.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

I think my teammates would describe be as hard-working, optimistic, open-minded, and encouraging.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

I love to serve the community in any way that I can, not only within Colorado but also nationally and internationally. I went to Panama in the summer of 2022 to teach kids ages 7 through 18 at various schools how to play basketball, and this past summer I went to Alaska and did community service at a school and organized a soccer and basketball camp for children in the area.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

My favorite soccer team is Real Madrid because of their long history and their ability to consistently remain at the top.

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

I hope to continue to make a difference in people’s lives and to study some sort of engineering in college, although I am uncertain as to which specific field I want to pursue.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

My mom inspires me because she is the smartest person I know, and she is so passionate about what she does. She never fails to encourage me to do my best and she reminds me that the effort and not the outcome is what is most valuable in life.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

I love to play the piano and I also play basketball and golf! I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family as well.

Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.

What influence has soccer had in your life?

I started soccer to just play. But now it means much more to me than that. It has taught me core values and now truly is part of who I am. It taught me good sportsmanship, how to lead or help my teammates succeed, and what I think is the most important is the ability to be coached and listen to adults (which has also helped me in other parts of my life as well).

Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?

I believe that I was nominated for this award because my coach has had faith in me since day one. He has supported me throughout this whole season watching me grow and helping me develop as a player. He is always working to find a way to bring me up to the next level and perform to my highest ability. He has seen my capability in other aspects of my life as well, whether that be my grades or participation in other activities outside of soccer.

What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?

I have enjoyed playing with the Rapids for a multitude of reasons. I love the people I have gotten to play with and make many friends throughout the years. I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3-years-old and played with some people in rec leagues who I am again playing with at an elite level. The Rapids have also given me opportunities that I would’ve never dreamed about such as playing in Spain and in a session with USWNT players Lindsey Horan and Mallory Pugh.

What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?

This past ECRL season my team finished top of our bracket with zero losses and zero goals scored against us. I think our record reflected well on our team and gave me a great sense of accomplishment and made me proud to be part of this team.

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

When I was in 8th grade, my language arts teacher nominated me to be a creative writing mentor at a nearby elementary school. This was an achievement because they only selected three 8th graders out of 500 students. One of the reasons I am so proud of this is because I didn’t consider myself a strong writer and it felt good to be seen as someone who could help younger students improve their writing skills.

How do you think your teammates would describe you?

My teammates would describe me as a strong leader and someone who listens. I think they also like the fact that I can bring levity to a situation and help lift the spirits of the team. My teammates know that I care about them.

What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?

When I was in elementary school I was recognized with the Inclusive award a couple of times. I am always looking for a way to get people involved and don’t ever want anyone to feel left out. Once, when we had a new player join mid season, I wanted her to feel accepted and like she was part of the team so I let her know she could come to me anytime she needed to with questions and that she could trust me.

What’s your favorite soccer player and team?

My favorite team is the U.S. Women’s National Team. I look up to them and love that so many of their players are from Colorado. They are strong role models and remarkable women.

What do you hope to pursue in the near future?

I have always had an interest in the medical field. I love the idea of helping people in any way possible and want to make a career of it. Along the path I would also like to play college soccer if given the chance.

Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!

There is a dad from one of my teams who inspires me. He not only played soccer in college but became a doctor. He has taken the time to help me with my soccer skills and explore my interest in medicine. He continues to astonish me in all the various things he has accomplished and the more time I spend with him the more I strive to be like him.

What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?

I love to challenge myself in a varity of sports including, basketball, softball, skiing, swimming, and diving. I am also part of three clubs at my school; Student Council, Students Demand Action, and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). Along with that, I have volunteered with MotherWise for the past 5 years, been a Girl Scout, and recently volunteered at Food Bank of the Rockies

Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.

As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.

Prior to his move to U.S. Soccer in 2017, Crawford served as Technical Director for the Alabama Soccer Association, where he led a membership base of over 25,000 registered players and approximately 2,000 active coaches, referees, and administrators. His tenure was defined by remarkable growth, with a highlight being a 143% increase in registrants from 2013/14 to 2014/15. In this role, he provided technical leadership in coach education and spearheaded the growth of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and outreach programs.

In addition to his experience at state and national associations, Crawford has ties to Colorado, having previously served at Stinger Soccer Club in Evergreen as General Manager, Girls Director of Coaching, and Developmental Director of Coaching. He has a deep understanding of the local soccer landscape and a history of leadership in the state.

“I’m excited to return to Colorado and join Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, where I will have the opportunity to support a great staff with whom I’ve had the pleasure of interacting over the years. From a distance, I’ve admired CRYSC and the job that Donald Gillies, Aaron Nagel, and the rest of the leadership team have done over the years, and consider this to be a destination club. I’m looking forward to building relationships with all the staff and coaches to help develop remarkable coaches who will continuously deliver uncompromising, player-centered experiences. At the U.S. Soccer Federation, I’ve had the privilege of building our country’s technical plan and the educational system to support it. I’ll bring my best every day to the players, staff, parents, and the rest of the Colorado soccer ecosystem to help inspire us to be better versions of ourselves continuously.” – Zac Crawford, CRYSC Chief Technical Director

Finally, Crawford’s dedication to his education on and off the field is reflected in his two master’s degrees and numerous coaching licenses. Graduating from the University of Alabama, Crawford received his master’s in Cognitive Psychology as well as Human Performance with an Emphasis in Sport Management. As a coach, he has attained his U.S. Soccer “A” License, National Youth License, Grassroots Instructor License, and the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. Crawford is a lifelong student and true soccer enthusiast who strives to inspire others to have a growth mindset and utilize their own self-regulated learning process.

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is excited to bring Crawford back to the Rockies and looks forward to elevating the development of local players together in 2024 and beyond! Please join us in welcoming Zac Crawford as the Chief Technical Director.

Bills also brings extensive experience from his previous coaching roles, including Director of Coaching for Colorado Storm Soccer Club and Director of Coaching for Colorado Rush Soccer Club. His achievements in player development, recruitment, and team success have been consistently recognized throughout his career.

In addition to his coaching roles, Bills has a strong background in college coaching, having served as the Assistant Coach for Regis University Women’s Soccer from 2015 to 2018 and the Men’s Assistant Coach at Metropolitan State University of Denver from 2005 to 2009.

With an impressive playing career with collegiate and professional development league experience, Bills’ understanding of the game extends beyond coaching. As a former player at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of New Mexico, he earned numerous accolades, including All-Region, All-Conference, and Conference Champions.

Some of Bills’ coaching achievements include leading the 17U Real Colorado MLS Next team to a national finals appearance, earning the MLS 2023 Fair Play award, and coaching the 19U Colorado Rush USYSA National Finalist team. His commitment to player development is evident in the 27 committed college players from his program in 2023.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to join Rapids Youth Soccer and work with so many great staff members. Over the last five years, CRYSC Technical Director Donald Gillies has done an outstanding job, and my ambition is to continue to grow the club on and off the field based on the building blocks he has created. I look forward to bringing my expertise and ideas to this role and can’t wait to start an exciting new chapter in my career!” – Danny Bills, CRYSC Chief of Soccer Operations.

Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club is confident that Bills’ passion for the game, leadership skills, and extensive coaching experience will contribute to the continued success and growth of the club. Please join us in welcoming Danny Bills as the Chief of Soccer Operations.