Neil Stafford

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT NEIL STAFFORD

Building and transforming programs throughout my career, I have embraced the opportunity to reshape cultures, foster inclusive learning environments, instill the highest standards of excellence, expect champion-making behavior, and perhaps most importantly, lead teams with a clear vision that creates the legacy others will inherit. Spending the past decade with the University of Cincinnati as their Head Soccer Coach, I am incredibly humbled by the transformation we have achieved, not only improving our RPI ranking from #236 to #11 and winning a Conference Championship but also leading the program to rank #1 nationally across all programs and divisions in the U.S. for team GPA. Leading the total turnaround of the organization, I instilled unprecedented discipline, focus, and direction, building a brand identity based on such elements as continuous improvement, playing with purpose, a collective culture, and acting with authenticity and integrity. Through the creation of a vibrant program culture, I was highly successful in recruiting top student-athletes driven to perform academically and athletically. In addition, I initiated significant and highly innovative partnerships providing access to capital equipment and funds out of reach for most Division I programs. I also engaged our alumni to give back to the program, creating a ‘Legacy’ Series that celebrated the athletic and professional successes of former Bearcats and served as the scaffolding to support the growth and development of the program and players. With a holistic approach to every piece of the program, my athletes, and the community, I can truly say the ‘trees’ we planted—the legacy we built—will bear fruit for generations to come. Earlier experiences proved vital in providing me with exposure to strategic visioning and leadership, program development and growth, partnerships and sponsor relations, fundraising and development, and overarching brand building. As a coach, I see my role as being that of a servant leader, putting the needs of others first, supporting the development and performance of the team, and cultivating strong and sustainable relationships. As such, I am deeply connected to those around me, personally driven to anticipate the needs of others, and show empathy throughout even the most challenging business and leadership decisions. This is truly my differentiator: I seek to build authentic connections, lasting relationships, and strong organizational cultures.