Best Fit USA
Coach Carl’s Story
“Thank you for your offer, but I’m going to America. “
This was my reply to the Manchester City scout after he invited me to pre season.
We had just won the national county finals at Maine Road Manchester City.
We won 2-0 and I scored both goals, but it was time to go.
After discussions with my family and having spent the previous four years at Everton and Liverpool football clubs, walking away from a potential England rugby spot, leaving school early to go full-time at both clubs.
We felt as a family that the best long-term plan was going to be return to education, play at a high level, go pro if possible and if not I had a degree as a roadway moving forward.
The critical part was the great fit regarding the coaching.
I played under Jim Lennox who was the national B team coach at the time and we went back to back final fours an Elite eight and a sweet 16.
I graduated with dual degrees in Psychology and Philosophy.
Upon graduation I had a professional soccer career in the ASL and moved onto coaching following my masters degree in education.
36 years later I have been assistant coach at Hartwick College reaching a Final 8 and have taken a University team at Fairfield University from the bottom 6 in the country to a top 25 finish and five championships.
National youth team scout, Assistant Coach of the New York Cosmos working with Eric Cantona, FIFA World Cup Technical Committee working with the Deutscher Fußball-Bund.
I owe my life journey to the game of soccer.
It has introduced me to an amazing range of people from Mickey Mouse to Eisenhower, David Beckham to Daniel Day Lewis it goes on and on, all through the game of soccer.
Life long friends, memories, championships.
I have been lucky to be in a position and I stand in the position now to share my story for those families and athletes that share the same vision to live a similar life.
It has, and continues to be, incredible.
Meet the Team
Decades of Academic and Professional athletic program building, across many universities and global brand name clubs, means you’re not just in good hands, you’re in Best Fit hands.
Carl Rees : Founder and CEO
“It’s not just the 4 years you’re in college, it’s the NEXT 40 years that we’re looking to provide support for.”
Head Coach Fairfield University men’s soccer program from 1996 until 2023
NSCAA New England Coach of the Year
Four-time Div 1 MAAC Coach of the Year
US Soccer Academy National Team Scout
FIFA Technical Committee World Cup
NSCAA National Rankings Chairman
Assistant Coach of the New York Cosmos
Asst Coach Hartwick College NCAA D1
Asst Coach Frostburg State NCAA D3
Asst Coach SUNY Plattsburgh State NCAA D3
Playing Career:
1988-1991 Played for the Albany Capitals: American Soccer League (ASL)
1984-1988 Hartwick College NCAA D1, 2 x Final 4
Liverpool FC Full time age 17-18
Everton FC A team age 14-16, Full time 16-17
Shaun Fletcher : Partner
Shaun Fletcher is a seasoned educator and engineer with more than 30 years of mentoring students in both academic and industrial settings. Shaun was raised in the United Kingdom and holds an Engineering degree from Peoples College, Nottingham. He began his career in industrial automation, working for clients including Ford Motor Company, Rolls Royce, Texas Instruments and Nestle. After being transferred to the United States in 1991, he joined a local football (soccer) club to stay connected to his English roots and suddenly found himself recruited to be the Head Soccer Coach for the Darien High School Women’s Team, thus, beginning his transition into education. He returned to college to obtain a Master’s in Education and worked for a decade in college administration, focusing on athletic academic advising and student retention. After being asked to teach a science course on sound and light technology while at Purchase College, he found his true passion for being in the classroom. He has taught physics and chemistry at both the high school and middle school level. Today he is proud to serve on the BEST FIT USA team.
Brent Boylen : Director of Operations
Serial Entrepreneur and Director of Operations. Over 30 years of building and mentoring the teams that make companies great.
Today he is proud to serve on the BEST FIT USA team.
Get in touch and let us know your goals. We’ll help find your Best Fit.
What these athletes had in common
A proven pathway to the right U.S. university.
Real outcomes. Real confidence.
Every journey is different, but the goal is the same: the best academic, athletic, and career fit in the U.S.
“Carl Rees identified, coached and mentored me in my athletic and personal development as a soccer player.
Additionally he guided me through the application and identification of Universities that were the Best Fit academically, athletically and socially for me.
His guidance and support resulted with me being accepted at the University of my choice whilst securing an athletic scholarship.
He continues to advise and support in all elements of my collegiate experience.
Academic, athletic and social.
I highly recommend him as a person and mentor. I know he will be there for me throughout my college journey and also post college dream.”
– Noah Baumslag
Scholarship Athlete Canisius University (NCAA D1)
“It was a privilege to play and coach for Coach Carl Rees during my time at Fairfield University. Under his guidance, Fairfield consistently fielded teams that balanced American and international talent, fostering both competitiveness and unity.”
– Johnny Raj
Associate Head Coach, Fairfield University (NCAA D1)
“You become a player handler which ultimately cuts through the BS during the recruiting process. No different than agents having relationships with clubs to get deals done. Offering a long term mentorship and advocacy program for your kids differentiates you from the competition. Not just transactional in this challenging time. I need good players and good fits for Syracuse and me as a coach.”
– Ian McIntyre
Head Coach of Men’s Soccer Syracuse University
National Champions NCAA D1 2022