Ross Paule teaches young athletes to play for a higher power

Faith in Memphis feature for The Commercial Appeal

Sept. 29, 2012

Having spent years in professional soccer as a player and a coach, National Soccer Hall of Famer Kyle Rote Jr. understands that professional athletes don’t work on the field forever. Rote also understands that human beings have interests and passions beyond their jobs and that, to be happy and fulfilled, some sort of activity and calling post-competition — a second half, if you will — needs to be in place.

Rote coached the Memphis Americans of the Major Indoor Soccer League, founded the sports agency Athletic Resource Management Inc., and is the current chairman of the national Fellowship of Christian Athletes soccer ministry board. As a way to bring the Christian organization and soccer closer together, a first-ever soccer-specific ministry has been developed for the FCA with Memphian and Houston High School graduate Ross Paule tapped as executive director.

Paule grew up in a Catholic household and began playing soccer at age 4. He was drafted by the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer out of Creighton College in 1997, and went on to play professionally for nine years for Colorado, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Columbus Crew.

His retirement from the pitch was precipitated by health reasons after a number of concussions in his last few years of playing. His dedication to soccer, however, didn’t dissipate with his retirement, and he stayed active in his career’s second half with coaching for MLS, as youth director of the Memphis Futbol Club, owner of Realpro Soccer Programs, executive director of the Arlington Soccer Academy and with his concentration in FCA … (read more)