Nicholas Dziminowicz laughed when he heard that Troy Cowan, North Whidbey Soccer Club academy director and head coach of the Coupeville High School girls team, said Dziminowicz would “revolutionize” soccer on Whidbey Island.
“I’m not sure about revolutionizing, but I definitely want to put my mark on the local soccer scene and help improve the development of players on the island,” Dziminowicz said.
“His philosophy of movement without the ball and the principal concept of movement is really key to everything,” Cowan said, “It is something that is new, especially to the West Coast soccer game.”
This summer Cowan hired Dziminowicz to be the head trainer for the North Whidbey Soccer Club, and, more recently, to serve as his assistant coach with the Wolves.
“Once I discovered this gem, I knew I had to capitalize on an opportunity and get him involved in our soccer program,” Cowan said. “He is definitely an impact coach, has a bright future and is on the cutting edge of soccer.”
Cowan saw the hiring of Dziminowicz as a way to stem the flow of talent off the island.
“For years I have seen the very best youth soccer players leave the island for greener pastures,” Cowan said, “When I ask, ‘Why?’ I always get the same answer, ‘Better coaching.’
“I may or may not totally agree with that, but the facts are indisputable, the best players are indeed leaving the island for other soccer clubs.”
Dziminowicz, although only 19, owns an impressive resume.
He was a four-year letter winner at a 6A high school in Virginia and played on multiple premier elite-level club teams. The club teams participated in numerous national tournaments and showcases, and one finished fourth in a Live National Soccer Tour Tournament even though it competed in an age division three years above its own.
Dziminowicz is a USSF-licensed coach and coached five years for the renowned Virginia training company HP Elite and Beyond.
Growing up in a military family, Dziminowicz moved often. One of those stops was Oak Harbor during several elementary-school years.
He moved back to Whidbey Island from Virginia to coach full time and to be nearer his parents, who live in the area.
“My coaching philosophy is based on creating a safe and fun environment to promote long-term development and help each player reach their highest potential,” Dziminowicz said. “I believe that youth players learn much more efficiently and are more inclined to try harder when they are enjoying themselves. I want the players to want to improve rather than have the coach trying to force them to improve.”
To Dziminowicz, player development should be the primary goal, not winning.
“I believe too many people place too much emphasis on winning games at too young of an age,” he said. “To be completely honest, it isn’t hard to win games when the players are about U6-U11. You just put your two biggest or fastest players up top and have the rest of the team kick the ball to them. The issue with this is that the players aren’t improving tactically and barely, if at all, technically.”
Using a model developed by the top European clubs, Dziminowicz focuses on developing the youngest players’ skills and touch.
The plan is to build upon each skill each year, and “by the time the players reach U14/U15, they are ready to fully compete.”
Cowan said, “I have enjoyed working with Nick, and we will continue to work together building great soccer camps and programs for the youth that live on the island, and from this day forward they can now stay on the island to play soccer and become great soccer players.”
Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich. Too soon to add Whidbey Island to the list?
