Jonathan Wells
Google
“All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” The facilities at St. David’s are excellent — easily 5/5. But this review is about the Austin FC Academy that trains there, and for us, the experience was mixed.
My son played under Coach Memo for 18 months — that time was positive, challenging, and engaging. But his final year was the opposite. His new coach, Marco, gave him little regard, offered little to no feedback, and made no meaningful effort to help him improve. The team itself underperformed — finishing 6th in the league and going 0–8 against key rivals.
Academies often talk about 'developing the whole player', but here there seemed to be more focus on recruiting new players than nurturing those already committed — the ones showing up 10 hours a week, week after week. In a development academy, if a coach can’t keep all players engaged, connected, and valued, something essential is being lost.
We understand that being released is part of the game — players and families accept that — what’s harder to accept is the lack of professionalism and care in how it’s handled. The absence of some basics overshadows the free tuition, cleats, and gear.
If you're considering this academy, pay close attention not just to the badge or the brand — but to the coach. Make sure he’s as invested in your son’s growth as you are in his journey. Otherwise, even the best facility in Texas won’t make up for being disregarded.
