Kick It Leadership Team
General Manager/Partner
Dan Stratford
Dan grew up playing soccer in the 70s in the Kansas CIty area. His soccer journey includes playing for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Johnson County Community College, Mid-America Nazarene University, and the NPSL’s Kansas City Attack. Dan was a club president and club coach in Kansas City through 1996, before moving to Colorado. Dan has been actively involved in coaching for multiple clubs in the Denver area, including his company Soccer Fit, LLC, offering specialized soccer clinics and camps. Dan coached and raised his 5 kids in Colorado and currently lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
National Director/Partner
Brent "Zico" Ward
Brent “Zico” Ward, with his roots in Brazilian soccer, moved to Canada in 1984, and then the US where he played for Liberty College. After college, Zico's professional career took off. He was the #1 draft in 1993, drafted by both the Winnipeg Fury of the Canadian Soccer League and the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1994, he moved to Colorado, marking the beginning of his long-term commitment to coaching soccer in the Colorado area. Zico also owns Zico FC, which provides soccer training camps, clinics and private lessons. Zico lives with his wife Beth, and two children in Arvada, CO. He coaches his children’s teams and teaches at Faith Middle School.
National Director of Operations/Partner
Tim Cochran
Born in Cincinnati, moved to Atlanta in the early 70’s where he grew up playing as many sports as possible as often as possible. His passion and forte however has always been soccer. Tim began coaching at the club level when he was only 15 years old which he continues to do 40+ years later for Georgia Storm. He has coached most every age and level possible including High School. Tim has played and Coached numerous teams in Kick It events since its inception and has won the Kick It National Championships on multiple occasions. Tim has worked as an Event Director and National Tour Director for Kick It on 2 previous occasions and also owns All In Play Sports LLC. Tim is happily married and has 2 children that share his passion for the beautiful game.
Partner
Bryce Thornburg
Born and raised in Colorado has worked in event productions since college. Playing soccer at Johnson & Wales University led to coaching and tournament planning. Bryce has produced events in Disney World and worked with players like Christie Rampone of the USA National Team to help grow the sport for youth and adults. Bryce has built and planned over 1,000 soccer programs nationwide reaching over 2 million people. His wife Audra and their two sons are excited to bring the joy of soccer and development to Kick It 3v3.
Director
Tyler Stratford
Tyler grew up in the soccer world as his father ran a soccer club in Kansas City and played some professional soccer. Tyler played constantly and year round through his youth and into highschool (Cherry Creek High School, Colorado) where he played 2 years of varsity soccer, and taking 3rd in the state tournament his senior year.
Previous Clubs Tyler played on as an adulte (Adult) - The "All Army"(Composed of the best 18 active duty soldiers) Soccer team for 3 years (2008-10) (Left Wing in a 3-5-2). He won the silver, and then 2 consecutive golds in those three years in the "All Armed Forces Tournament''. Played against the Navy, Air Force, and Marines (the Coast Guard played on the Navy team). In 2009 and 2010, he also continued on to play on the "All Armed Forces Soccer Team". Which was composed of the top 18 active duty players from all services. They played in a tournament two years in a row against the "All Military" Soccer teams from: Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, and Brasil. He won a bronze medal in each tournament.
After leaving the Army, Tyler played for a semi-pro team in Boulder, Colorado called "Harpo's FC". They participated in the US Open Cup where they made it past the regional stage on multiple occasions. Harpo's FC also fielded an indoor semi-pro team which Tyler was a starter for. Tyler now plays casually, and coaches U8, U10, and High school Soccer in Northern California.
