At IMG Academy, coaching responsibilities are split between Kevin Hartman and Rusty Scarborough, with the former taking the lead when it comes to developing and training goalkeepers.

Hartman is no stranger to American soccer, having earned five caps for the United States Men’s National Team and making an MLS record 416 career appearances in goal. He played for the LA Galaxy, Kansas City Wizards and FC Dallas from 1997-2012.

“Prior to my arrival to IMG Academy, I wrapped up my playing career and worked as the Director of Goalkeeping Development with New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer,” Hartman said. “Now that I’m here, I continue my work with the goalkeepers but also have the opportunity to help facilitate the delivery of our technical program with our coaching staff.

“This season is the second year that Rusty Scarborough and I have been working with the PDL team. As part of the development pathway for IMG Academy alumni, we couldn’t be happier with the opportunities and flexibility that the league provides.”

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One of the reasons why Harman decided to join IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, was the opportunity to coach with college-aged players who are seeking to make the leap to the next level.

“Every coach seeks the opportunity to work with skilled players who are vested in their own development,” Hartman said. “I was also interested in working with older players and the new dynamics that come along with that.

“We consider ourselves to be specifically geared towards younger players and development. While some teams use their full allotment of overage roster spots, we’re perfectly content using younger, college-age student-athletes. The youthfulness of our team breeds a culture of eagerness and a desire to become more. That fits seamlessly with the IMG Academy environment, where we seek to provide professional-level expertise to the next generation of athletes. Whether our players are using our state-of-the-art facilities, attending mental conditioning classes, or working with our nutritionist, we are providing substantial opportunities for the athletes that commit to IMG Academy for their summer break.”

IMG Academy’s facilities and fields are considered to be some of the best in the U.S. Club teams, such as the United Soccer League’s FC Cincinnati and MLS’s New York City FC, from across the country and around the world have used IMG’s facilities for training and competitive purposes over the years.

“At IMG Academy, we are extremely lucky to have quite a few soccer-related events occurring on campus,” Hartman said. “For example, last summer Boca Juniors First Team was on campus at the same time that we had both camp and PDL. It’s very exciting, but it does take quite a bit of organization and resourcefulness to keep things flowing smoothly. We’re very lucky to have excellent staff that work together smoothly.”

While hosting these club teams at IMG gives Hartman more work to do, the events also provide priceless experiences for him and the players in the PDL. And with the personnel at IMG, Hartman is able to make each day a great one for the continued development of the players.

“The facilities and the expertise of the shared staff that we have on campus are second to none,” Hartman said. “I feel so lucky to be able to pick up my office phone and reach out internally to a top mental coach, nutritionist, or physical conditioning coach. When you have information and team members like that at your disposal, it allows us to concentrate solely on what happens on the field. That is truly unique.

“The most memorable moments for me will always be the day-to-day interactions with the group,” Hartman continued. “Those relationships, forged through sweat and blood, aren’t just for the players. As a coaching staff, we feel fully invested in each athlete. Seeing players have success in the college ranks or move on to Major League Soccer means the world to us.”