Ben Hardy
Head Coach, U16 Girls First Team
 

 Ben began his youth soccer experience during the mid-80’s in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he competed in the town and recreational programs and watched Moon Township High School games at a time when Sean Shapert (Nation record-holder for most goals in a high school career and Indiana University record-holder for most career assists) was “scoring from just about anywhere except the moon.”

 While attending high school in Durham, New Hampshire, Ben captained the first ever Seacoast United Soccer Club team, which was conceived and created in his living room by his father, another parent, Mike Noonan, and current SUSC Director Paul Willis. During SUSC’s infancy years Ben was fortunate to have been coached by Mike Noonan (then Head Coach at UNH and current Brown University Head Coach), Rob Thompson (current UNH Head Coach) and Caspar Pauckstadt (former Swedish National Team Player and current Head Coach of Höllvikens GIF in the Swedish Professional League). 

 Ben went on to attend Middlebury College, where he played for four years, captained the team his senior year, and took home First Team All-American honors in his 1998 season.  Under the well-regarded coaching of Dave Saward, the Middlebury team made four straight appearances in the NCAA tournament during Ben’s college career.  In his summer months in between his college years Ben began exploring the soccer coaching world, working numerous camps for his old club Seacoast United and UNH’s Soccer Dimensions overnight camp.

 After graduation, Ben moved to Burlington and began his semi-professional career with the Vermont Voltage.  While with the Voltage, Ben furthered his coaching experience, working Voltage camps and New Horizons Goal-to-Goal Soccer Schools in the Vermont communities.  In 2000 he was hired as Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach with Champlain College, where he served for two years.  It was during this time that he also began coaching for Far Post, as Head Coach of the U15 Girls Team. 

 In 2001 Ben was brought on by the club to assist Club Director Todd Kingsbury in administrative and coaching duties.  Within a year he was made Education Program Director and charged with coaching two club teams in the outdoor season. 

 In Fall of 2006, Ben left his position as the Club's Education Program Director and returned to his Alma Mater as Assistant Coach for the Middlebury College Men's Soccer Team.  He'll continue with Far Post as a Staff Coach and Trainer.