Surf Nation is comprised of like-minded coaches and administrators dedicated to our Surf mission to provide the best experiences and opportunities for their athletes. Since 2024, Western Iowa Surf has been a proud partner of Surf Nation, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the partnership. We have watched their amazing club grow and seen them take full advantage of being under the Surf brand.
We sat down with Western Iowa Surf’s Shane Hoss to learn more about how Surf has helped their club, players, coaches, and administrators and their upcoming season goals:
1. What is the greatest benefit to Western Iowa Surf being part of the Surf Nation community?
The greatest benefit of Western Iowa Surf being part of the Surf Nation community is the access to top-tier resources, coaching education, and a national network of elite-level clubs. We look forward to connecting with like-minded clubs nationwide to provide an elite and fun playing experience for all our members.
2. What are some club highlights from 2024 that really stood out?
One of the biggest highlights of 2024 was developing a strategic plan for the club, which led to the hiring of Chris Wright as our new Technical Director. Bringing full-time staff on board has been a key step in enhancing the quality of our programming for families. Additionally, we had 10 coaches earn their D Licenses and one coach achieve their C License, further strengthening our coaching staff and player development.
3. Western Iowa collaborated with Omaha and Lincoln Surf to create WIN Surf for the Surf Nation Champions League event – can you talk about the process of collaboration and what your players/staff got out of this experience?
Our three clubs are located within an hour of each other and joined Surf for similar reasons, to provide better opportunities for our players. Since we joined Surf around the same time, our directors met frequently to explore ways to collaborate and enhance training and competition experiences.
This led to the creation of WIN Surf, an organization where each club has equal representation, allowing us to register for events and leagues together. While it has required significant coordination, the experience has been incredibly rewarding for coaches, players, and families. Players can train together for WIN during the week and then compete against each other in league games just a few days later, adding to their overall development and competitive edge.
4. Western Iowa Surf has built a great group of staff both on and off the field invested in the program – what’s the secret? How do you reinforce your program’s values with staff (I-A-S-U-R-F):
Western Iowa Surf has developed a great group of staff on and off the field by fostering an environment that aligns with the program’s core values (I-A-S-U-R-F). Staff are carefully selected based on their commitment to developing individuals as competitive soccer players and positive members of the local community. Regular coaching education, mentorship, and alignment with the club’s philosophy ensure that every coach contributes to a positive and productive team culture.
5. As we are now in 2025, what are some of the KPI’s you have set for the club?
As we enter the 2025/26 season, our primary objectives are player retention and continued growth. One key focus is aligning our programs, which currently operate somewhat independently. By creating a more cohesive structure, we aim to provide new families with a clear development pathway—from the youngest age groups all the way through to college
Learn more about Western Iowa Surf at https://westerniowasurf.com/
