Taj Soupidis
Thornleigh
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at Kano Football, excelling in staff management and program development. Proven track record in enhancing team performance through strategic planning and effective communication. Skilled in logistics coordination and quality control, fostering a culture of discipline and teamwork that drives success on and off the field.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Head Football Coach/Head of Administration
Kano Football
Hornsby
01.2025 - 03.2025
- Head of Staff Pay.
- Head of Staff Contracts.
- Head point of communication for NSW and Victoria staff.
- Assisted in potential new staff interviews and CV analysis.
- Head of staff onboarding.
- Head of quality control across all programs.
- Head of school programs.
- Head of Staff schedule and Staff timesheets.
- Head of Logistics - ordering staff uniforms, equipment, distribution, and warehouse cleanliness.
Head Football Coach/Administration Assistant
Kano Football
Hornsby
05.2024 - 01.2025
- Co-lead a team in administration.
- In charge of overseeing the quality of a variety of programs.
- Responsible for staff pay.
- Main support and head of communication for around one hundred staff members across multiple states.
- Being the head coach on the ground for football sessions, in charge of organization, staff communication, quality control, and communicating with clients on the ground.
Football Coach
Kano Football
Sydney
01.2020 - 05.2024
- Directed effective programs and training strategies, bolstering individual and team performance.
- Developed a strategy ahead of key matches and competitions.
- Evaluated individual knowledge, skills, and strengths, and assigned team positions accordingly.
- Built player strength and technique through strategic direction and mentoring.
- Instilled discipline and principles of good sportsmanship, reducing pitch misconduct, and penalties for bad behavior.
- Established a positive team culture by building an inclusive and supportive environment.
- Observed player movement, determining, and addressing skill gaps and shortcomings.
- Engaged positively with players in high-energy sessions to improve field skills and talents.
- Delivered technical and tactical training, equipping players with practical skills.
- Work resulted in the success of top development teams in match-day competition.
Radio presenter (work placement)
National Radio News
Sydney
09.2023 - 10.2023
- Presented prerecorded news and information.
- Worked in a timely manner to reach short deadlines.
- Created seamless transitions between songs, segments and advertisements through pre-recording and editing.
- Conducted research to produce topical and informative non-biased information.
Sports Journalist (work placement)
NSW Rugby League Centre of Excellence
Sydney Olympic Park
08.2023 - 09.2023
- Interviewed coaches/players and to produce engaging article segments.
- Covered live events including Grand Final Day, expertly operating and utilising social media platforms to report live.
- Partnered with production staff on final proofing to facilitate smooth and timely events.
Sports journalist (work placement)
Zero Digital Media
Sydney
11.2022 - 01.2023
- Generated a five figure viewership within three months.
- Wrote detailed match reports for football, rugby league, and cricket matches to drive readership and engagement.
- Worked collaboratively with Sports Desk team members and wider Editorial Team members to draft, pitch and finalise over seventy story ideas.
- Produced knowledgeable editorials and commentaries on topics of interest.
- Applied understanding of public opinion, social media and traditional media use to create engaging and attention-grabbing stories.
- Conducted research on assigned topics, generating comprehensive, factual content.
- Covered current events and breaking news stories.
Marketing (work experience)
NRL
Sydney
05.2018 - 05.2018
- Researched data points supporting Magic Round proposed initiatives.
- Worked with accuracy and efficiency to accomplish goals.
- Quickly established good working relationships with range of professionals.
Education
Bachelor of Sports Media - Journalism
Charles Sturt University
Bathurst, New South Wales12.2023
Turramurra High School
Turramurra, New South Wales12.2020
Skills
- First aid certified (2023) and Working With Children Check certified (valid until 2025)
- Sports copyediting
- Radio broadcasting
- Quality control
- Staff management
- Program development
- Team communication
- Staff onboarding
- Performance evaluation
- Strategic planning
- Logistics coordination
- Conflict resolution
- Event organization
- Discipline enforcement
- Team building
- Public speaking
- Safety awareness
- Safety management
- Leadership development
- Sports clinic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Team collaboration
- Game refereeing
- Team Strategy Development
- Community engagement
- Equipment management
- Facilities oversight
- Football team management
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Sports analytics
- Player development
- Coaching meetings
- Recruitment management
- Editing and reviewing
- Content creation
- Story development
- Media operations knowledge
- Public opinion understanding
- Marketing and advertising strategies
- Interviewing skills
- Football expertise
- Rugby expertise
Publications
https://www.zerowicket.com/australia-vs-england-odi-series-preview-and-prediction-26549/
https://www.zerotackle.com/nanai-linked-with-monumental-deal-to-shift-from-cowboys-125741/
https://www.zerowicket.com/australias-new-opening-stand-steve-smith-and-englands-bowlers-what-we-learnt-from-australia-england-odis-26664/
https://www.zerotackle.com/every-nrl-clubs-signings-and-retentions-graded-for-2023-127281/
https://www.zerowicket.com/the-top-five-australia-west-indies-tests-of-all-time-26797/
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/09/15/rise-academy-numbers-more-than-doubled-in-2023/
Name & contact
Taj Soupidis
0491126894
taj.soupidis@gmail.com
Affiliations
- Avid sports nerd, lifelong Arsenal FC fan, and Parramatta Eels fan.
- Massively into cooking, I live by my own mantra: "You eat too many meals in a lifetime to not be able to cook".
- I would also describe myself as a random information acquirer, and have a passion for knowing a wide range of things.
Accomplishments
- I graduated high school, receiving three awards during my years there.
- Graduated from the university without failing a subject
- Was successful on work placements for University, namely getting good readership on my NRL-based articles, and working in the press box on Grand Final Day.
- Worked my way from two hours a week work at Kano Football to the top position.
- Sport success, most recently securing back-to-back promotions, securing my football club's first ever season with senior teams in the top two tiers, winning a player award last season.
References
Ehsan Popal (Boss and Co-Founder of Kano Football) - 0424 949 049
Karyn Henner (Head of People and Culture at Kano Football) - 0419 417 934
Simon Becker (Former Head of Football for Kano Football) - 0403 898 150
Timeline
Head Football Coach/Head of Administration
Kano Football
01.2025 - 03.2025
Head Football Coach/Administration Assistant
Kano Football
05.2024 - 01.2025
Radio presenter (work placement)
National Radio News
09.2023 - 10.2023
Sports Journalist (work placement)
NSW Rugby League Centre of Excellence
08.2023 - 09.2023
Sports journalist (work placement)
Zero Digital Media
11.2022 - 01.2023
Football Coach
Kano Football
01.2020 - 05.2024
Marketing (work experience)
NRL
05.2018 - 05.2018
Bachelor of Sports Media - Journalism
Charles Sturt University
Turramurra High School
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