Gareth Prosser
Head Of Coaching
A former scholar at local rivals West Bromwich Albion, Gareth joined us in July 2008 from Derby County, where he spent two years in a similar role. Prior to Derby County, Gareth worked for the FAW as Football Development Officer for Flintshire, a role which also involved him working with the FAW regional and national squads, as well as in coach education.
Gareth has also represented Wolves on behalf of the Premier League as a head coach on the Premier Leagues flagship international programme 'Premier Skills', which has taken him to countries including India, Kenya and China to coach coaches.
A UEFA 'A' coaching licence holder with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Coaching Science gained from Liverpool John Moores University, Gareth is responsible for the Under 9 - Under 16 Schoolboy programme at Wolves.
Mick Halsall
Professional Lead Coach
Mick Halsall made the short trip across the Black Country to join Wolves in the summer of 2009 after a hugely successful decade bringing a host of young players through the ranks at Walsall, including Matty Fryatt and Scott Dann.
A highly respected figure in the game, he has also been caretaker manager of Walsall on several occasions during his lengthy spell with the Saddlers.
Born in Bootle in Merseyside, as a player Mick stacked up almost 400 appearances with Birmingham, Carlisle, Grimsby and Peterborough.
Having become something of a legend at Peterborough even before captaining the side to Division Three play-off success in 1992, he also later managed the club before joining Walsall during the 1998/99 season.
For much of the decade he has been the Saddlers' Head of Youth development, but as well as the spells in caretaker charge he has also worked as first team coach.
In February, 2012, following a staffing reshuffle, Mick also took on reserve team duties as Development Coach, a role he was set to fulfil until the end of the season.
Darren Ryan
Youth Development Lead Coach
Darren is a former professional with Shrewsbury, Stockport, Chester, Rochdale and he gained UEFA Champions League experience with Welsh League winners Barry Town FC in 1996. Darren joined Wolves Academy permanently in the summer of 2011 after being manager at Newtown AFC in the Welsh Premier League and having previously worked with the Academy’s Under-13 team.
Darren came in to work specifically with the 12-16 age group on the school release programme that the Academy still currently have in place.
The role has developed as part of the co-operation between the Academy and the local schools which allow Academy players to come out of school during the day and enjoy additional coaching.
Darren's experience as an ex-professional and as a fully qualified UEFA A Licence Coach with an infectious enthusiasm for the job, he is viewed as a key part of the Academy team’s strategy since the gaining of Category One status.
Darren is currently undertaking his UEFA Professional Licence and the Module 3 Youth Coaching Award.
Paul Clements
Goalkeeping Coach
Paul arrived at Wolves from Middlesbrough FC for the start of the 2012/2013 season.
Having joined Middlesbrough in 2005 as a part of the community team, he developed a goalkeeping programme that acted as a successful link to the Academy with many players progressing.
Paul then became part of Middlesbrough FC’s productive goalkeeping department and worked with many goalkeepers that have since gone on to gain contracts with Middlesbrough and other clubs including Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City and Sunderland.
Paul had also been working at International level with Tunisia after impressing on a trip whilst working for the Premier League. He was invited back by the National Federation to coach throughout the country at national training centres and worked with the National U16 and U14 goalkeepers.
Paul holds a UEFA B licence for both outfield and for goalkeeping and is a licensed tutor for the FA. In his tutor role he has provided coach education at grass roots level where he feels goalkeepers are often overlooked and he has a passion for giving young goalkeepers the best opportunity to improve and progress. It is hoped that Pauls’ experience and expertise will help Wolves Academy produce more goalkeepers to follow in the footsteps of Matt Murray, Carl Ikeme and Wayne Hennessey.
Alan Travis
Head Of Recruitment
Alan Travis arrived as Wolves Head of Recruitment in 2009, succeeding the long-serving Tony Lacey.
In keeping with the role Alan has already amassed over two decades of experience in youth football even before starting at Wolves.
Having previously worked with Wolves Academy manager Kevin Thelwell at Derby, Alan has also previously worked for Manchester City.
Players he has spotted during his lengthy career in recruitment include Jermaine Pennant, Liam Lawrence, Giles Barnes and Nicky Weaver.
Bob Bennett
Assistant Recruitment Officer
A member of the scouting staff since 1998, Bob turned full-time at the club in 2002.
He was initially approached by Wolves to join the club as a scout when youth coach at Willenhall Town FC having previously worked for Bilbrook Juniors.
As a schoolboy he was the X-Country Champion of Staffordshire on two occasions later becoming a respectable middle distance and marathon runner.
In his youth he was with Walsall Football Club before dropping out of football for 3 years. He later returned on the amateur football circuit becoming a regular in the Wolverhampton Amateur League Select side and amongst other clubs played for Bilston Town FC in the West Midlands League.
It is a little known fact that he is a respected poet in his own right being featured on various websites in his ancestral Scotland including Poetry of Scotland , Scotland's Enchanted Kingdom and Smart Community Fife. He also has his own website Poetic Writing of Robbie Kennedy Bennett.
Concentrates on the local recruitment programme and registration compliance and is well regarded for his diligence.
Bob is currently the Academy's longest serving full-time officer.
Nick Loftus
Head Of Education
Originally a school PE teacher, Nick became Head of Personal and Social Education and a Work Related Curriculum co-ordinator in schools in Wolverhampton and Willenhall, before joining the Academy in April 2004.
He is also Team Manager and football Secretary for Wolverhampton Schools FA, and team manager and Vice Chairman of West Midlands Schools FA.
Nick oversees the Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence NVQ programme as the club's Core Programme Coordinator, ensuring the players achieve high standards of academic, personal and social development.
Nick also fulfils the role as Wolves' Safeguarding Officer for Children and Vulnerable Adults.
Jennifer Rice
Academy Secretary
Now performing a crucial administrative role for the Academy, Jenny was formerly a Naval Writer and PA to a Naval Commander.
Responsible for all Academy administrative procedures, clerical support initiatives as well as fully supporting the Academy Manager on a daily basis.
Ron Picken
Operations Coordinator
Highly valued member of staff, Ron ensures the highest standards of operational management in matchplay and all training sessions.
Very well organised and motivated, he has been at the Academy over ten years and also provides a link to parents and guardians.
Having worked diligently for the Academy on a part-time basis for over a decade, Ron became a full-time member of staff at the start of the 2009/10 season.
Marc Campbell
Foundation Lead Coach
Marc arrived at Wolves in 2005 and started work as a Community Officer for the Community Trust department.
In July 2008 he started working with the younger age groups of the Academy and in February, 2009, he became a full time member of the Academy staff.
His role is to ensure the young players that train with the Academy receive the best technical coaching possible and to ensure they are given the best opportunity to progress through the early ranks of the Academy.
Marc also co-ordinates the Wolves Development Centre programme for young players in the community who show good ability and football potential. Wolves have development centres in Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Marc has a UEFA 'B' coaching license along with FA age-specific coaching qualifications for coaching five to 11-year olds.
Dan Bolas
Foundation Support Coach
Dan joined the Academy full time in May 2012 as the Foundation support coach.
Dan joined Wolves in 2011 as an Academy scout and Development Centre coach. He then progressed to join the Foundation Phase (5-11) coaching programme, where he has been able to apply his vast experience of coaching young players when working with our Pre-Academy and Academy players.
Dan holds a UEFA 'B' Coaching license and is currently undertaking his FA Youth Award Modules. Dan brings expertise in working with grassroots clubs,
School teams and has also been responsible for delivering Physical Education within Wolverhampton schools.
Daniel Copnall
12-14's Youth Development
12 – 14’s Youth Development Phase Support Coach/ Core Programme Coordinator
Daniel first joined the football club part time in 2010 to work with the Foundation age groups (5-11 years) whilst also working as a secondary school Physical Education teacher at Codsall High School.
Prior to his time at Wolves he was a schoolboy player at Wrexham and also spent 7 years as a coach at their Centre for Excellence. During his time at Wrexham he also spent 3 months coaching at soccer camps in USA, in New York State.
Since July 2012 Daniel has been working with Wolves Academy players in the Youth Development Phase (ages 12-14 years) coaching to improve their football ability and with additional responsibility for the academic and social development of our young players. He also assesses scholars against NVQ standards.
Daniel has a BA (Hons) degree from Glyndwr University in Wales and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Bangor University qualifying him as a Teacher. He holds the UEFA ‘B’ licence, and FA Youth Modules 1, 2 and 3.
Steve Davies
Academy Chaplain
Profile to follow.
Teaching Staff
Jamie Chapman, David Cooke, Sara Hargreaves, Suzanna Crznan, Lee Cooper
Profiles to follow.