Coaches

Alex Pama

Coach Pama learned about winning championships as a product of the famed Dutch soccer (sports) scene.


As SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden’s Chief Executive Officer / General Manager for 5 years, Pama took his lessons learned from the field and applied them administratively at the sports highest level to help spur SC Cambuur’s growth into one of the most respected Dutch professional soccer organizations. Through his tireless efforts, Pama was been responsible for instilling the groundwork for SC Cambuur’s success in his five years at the helm and well into the future.


In his five-plus years as the organization’s CEO and GM, Pama overhauled Cambuur’s business framework, leading to, among other things a near promotion in 2009 and 2010 to the Eredivisie, the highest professional league in the Netherlands. He emphasized the development of local talent and as a result, SC Cambuur had the (transfer) rights to some of the most talented young players in Dutch soccer. Several records were broken during his tenure at Cambuur (longest winning streak, highest average attendance, most replica jersey’s sold in single season, highest play off TV ratings etc). Furthermore, the club was recognized by the Dutch government and KNVB as one of the most involved professional sport franchises in the community. In 2011, Pama resigned from SC Cambuur.


During his stay in the Netherlands, Pama served as an Executive Board voting member of the KNVB, the Dutch Soccer Federation. In that role he put his strong (business) background to work in preparing the framework to help the Local Organizing Committee try to bring the 2018 World Cup to the Netherlands. He also served on several other committees at the Dutch Soccer Federation and at the Jupiler League. Some of the committees involved were the sales and marketing committee, the advice committee for the Executive Management of the KNVB, future platform committee and Clubs/Player’s Union negotiating committee.


Pama took over a 1-15 Life University program in January of 2017 and immediately turned the program around resulting, a short two years later, in capturing the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship compiling a 13-5-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 in conference play in 2019. In 2017 and 2018 his team also reached the semi-finals of the Mid-South Conference Tournament and in 2019, the team reached the conference tournament final. In 2019 the program was ranked number 21 in the NAIA National Coaches Poll. The team reached to the second round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Coach Pama was voted Mid-South Coach of the Year by his peers in 2019 and in 2020 he was selected Life University Coach of the Year in the Life U Athletic Department. Many of his players received accolades as well with selections to the first and second team All-Conference in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Three players received All American honors. Life U junior forward, Thierry Jules was selected Player of the Year in the Mid-South Conference in 2019. Life U freshman forward, Danny DeLorijn was selected Freshman of the Year in the Mid-South Conference in 2021. Academically his team(s) received many NAIA Daktronics awards, meaning that they kept a high GPA while being a student-athlete. In total over 41 of his players received this prestigious award. In 2022, his team captured the Southern States Conference Tournament crown and therefore qualifying for yet another National Championship appearance. The team was ranked as high as number 14 in the United States NAIA Coaches Poll. Defender Lars Van Der Steen was MVP of the Conference Tournament. Three more players received All American honors and several players got selected on the First, Second All conference team, while others made the All-Freshman Team of the SSAC. The team maintained an average GPA of 3.4 throughout the year.


He also served as an ambassador for the Kika Foundation (Children’s Cancer Foundation) in the Netherlands. He owns Pama Sports, a soccer training and consultancy company in the United States. He served four years as a volunteer assistant coach for Kennesaw State University Women's Soccer program (NCAA Division I). He has been a member of the boys and girls Region III and IV ODP staff for more than 15 years and he was a head coach for Georgia's Olympic Development Program (ODP) for over 10 years. He has been an instructor for US Soccer and served for more than 22 years as a director of coaching for various soccer organizations around the States (Idaho, Arkansas, Georgia). He consults several CONCACAF countries on youth and senior football development. He has produced over 325 collegiate players (NCAA/NAIA) in all those years as well as 11 World Cup participants and over 33 professional players. Currently he also coaches at United Futbol Academy (UFA) U17 (2007) Girls who play at the ECNL (RL) level of competition.


Coach Pama holds a KNVB (Dutch Federation) Trainer Coach II and III License (UEFA B and C), a United States Soccer Federation A and B License, an US Soccer National Youth License as well as a KNVB Referee License.


Pama resides in Canton. In addition to his passion for soccer, he enjoys hiking, cycling, long beach walks and history.