Jim Curtin, manager of the Chester-based Philadelphia Union, has completed the soccer Pro License coaching program, becoming one of the first coaches nationwide to do so, writes Jonathan Tannenwald for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

This newly created designation is now the nation’s gold standard in soccer coaching. Curtin was one of 13 coaches in the inaugural class of the new program, which takes 12 months to complete.

During an interview with the Inquirer, Curtin discussed what it entailed.

“In Philadelphia, they watched how we trained on the field for a week, in preparation for a game, and they stayed for that game,” he said. “There was also a Copa América break where we met in Chicago, and broke down some games from the Copa América over four or five days.”

During the course, Curtin also got to hear from several global soccer coaches who have inspired him.

“The biggest takeaway I’ve had from this course is all these speakers in positions of power – a lot of them were business examples, a lot of them were soccer examples – they all have this relentless pursuit of self-improvement,” he said. “They’re always trying to get better. I think by doing the course, I did a little bit of that.”

Read the entire interview in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.