REAL COLORADO ACADEMY PROGRAM

Real Colorado Alumni - Tajon Buchanan with Inter Milan — **The Badge on the Front. The Future Behind It.**

**The Real Colorado Academy: Where Future Legends Begin.**
Our Academy Program is the cornerstone of elite youth development at Real Colorado — a proven pathway for high-potential players to reach their next level, on and off the field. With a focus on individual growth, technical excellence, and tactical understanding, our Academy builds complete players ready to compete at the highest levels.
In 2025, Real Colorado Academy teams will compete in the **ECNL Texas Conference**, one of the nation's most competitive and prestigious platforms. The ECNL delivers top-tier competition, unmatched exposure, and a holistic approach to player development. It’s more than a league — it’s a launchpad.
**The journey starts here. The future is Real.**

Real Colorado alumni who came through our academy program include Ethan Horvath, Tajon Buchanan, Tidaine Dia, Taylor Kemp, Ryan Sailor, Ian Smith and Adam Beaudry to name a few! Check out our Wall of Fame

Real Colorado is excited to share that we are adding U11 and U12 from the same teams as our ECNL and ECNL-RL program to the Pre-ECNL platform beginning in the 2026–2027 season.
Pre-ECNL is designed as a supplemental competition opportunity, adding to the environment our players already experience.
What this means for our players:
- 6–7 additional games played locally throughout the Fall and Spring
- Opportunities to participate in Pre-ECNL events, including a season-ending championship format
- Continued participation in CSA as our primary league
What this does not change:
- Our approach to development remains the same. Pre-ECNL is one piece of the pathway, not a destination. Our focus continues to be on providing the right environment, level of challenge, and long-term development for every player.
At Real Colorado, we are fortunate to offer multiple platforms across our club, allowing us to place players where they will grow and succeed over time.
We will share additional details, including scheduling and any administrative updates, in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Mike Garnhart - Academy Director
Ri Armstrong - As. Academy Director
- U15-U19 Academy boys
Tito Ward - As Academy Director
- U13-U14 Academy boys
See full staff directory here.

If you are a player who is currently playing at the highest level in your club and looking for something more, please reach out and find out what more looks like. Our elite programming isn’t for just anyone, but it might be great for you.

Elite Player Placement

Real Colorado Futures

The Real Colorado Academy Futures Program is offered by Real Colorado as a supplemental training opportunity designed to provide U10–U13 players and families with exposure to a high-level academy training environment. Sessions are led by Academy staff, club directors, and occasional guest coaches, with the goal of supporting player development for participants from both inside and outside Real Colorado.

This program is open to players from any club or community. Participation is voluntary and fee-based, and involvement in Futures does not imply selection, placement, or commitment to any Real Colorado team. Players are encouraged to remain fully engaged with their current teams and clubs throughout their participation.

Futures consists of weekly training and educational sessions offered in seasonal segments (spring and fall), with optional opportunities available during the summer and winter. At times, training may include internal training games or learning experiences appropriate to the environment. The intent of the program is developmental exposure only, not evaluation or recruitment, and participation does not affect a player’s current club status.

The purpose of Futures is to provide families with an opportunity to learn more about the training methodology, standards, and environments associated with Real Colorado’s national platforms, including Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and ECNL Regional League (ECNL-RL), while continuing to prioritize the player’s present team commitments. Coaches will not discuss placement within Real Colorado until May 1st of the current seasonal year.

Please reach out to Shawn Comegys with any questions

Registration Coming Soon

Fall 2026/Spring 2027 Coaching Assignments

The Real Colorado staff is excited to announce our coaches for the upcoming Academy (ECNL-Tx), National (ECNL-Mtn) and Athletico (ECNL-RL - Mtn) teams. Even as we are confident in the accuracy of these decisions, it’s important to stress a player is accepting a position on a team at Real Colorado. Further, it’s our expectation if there are future changes to the coaching lineup, the experience for the player and her team will remain consistent.

Real Colorado Academy
(ECNL - Texas)

U19 Boys - Ri Armstrong
U17 Boys - Peter May
U16 Boys - Massimo McGuire
U15 Boys - Mike Garnhart
U14 Boys - Tito Ward
U13 Boys - Mike Garnhart

Real Colorado National
(ECNL - Mountain)

U19 Boys - Mike Hix
U17 Boys - Scott Dedycker
U16 Boys - Scott Dedycker
U15 Boys - Casey DeBerry
U14 Boys - Danny Woolliscroft
U13 Boys - Lenny Kusina

Real Colorado Athletico
(ECNL - RL Mountain)

U19 Boys - Andrew Cipolla
U17 Boys - Steve Sherman
U16 Boys - Greg Watts
U15 Boys - Greg Watts
U14 Boys - Mike Hix
U13 Boys - Tim McCarthy

Real Colorado Nat’l North (ECNL - RL Mountain)

Fall 2025/Spring 2026 Coaching Assignments

The Real Colorado staff is excited to announce our coaches for the current Academy (ECNL-Tx), National (ECNL-Mtn) and Athletico (ECNL-RL - Mtn) teams. Even as we are confident in the accuracy of these decisions, it’s important to stress a player is accepting a position on a team at Real Colorado. Further, it’s our expectation if there are future changes to the coaching lineup, the experience for the player and her team will remain consistent

Real Colorado Academy
(ECNL - Texas)