America’s First Government Accredited Soccer High School
The International Soccer Academy of America is the first in-person high school in the United States targeted toward soccer players.
Official Youth Academy of Villarreal CF
Earn a Diploma
Our students receive a high school diploma while preparing themselves for collegiate academics and/or soccer, and potentially a pathway to the professional soccer. Diplomas offered are the Indiana Core 40, and Indiana Core 40 with Honors.
Prepare Mentally
ISAA implements a mindfulness curriculum, a course in which students focus on the mental side of their overall performance, which includes academics, athletics, mental health, and more. This curriculum includes meditation and yoga amongst others.
Play Soccer
Each year, ISAA plays approximately 18 colleges and Universities. We plan to play in select club tournaments that will pose a challenge and provide skill development for our student-athletes beginning spring 2025.
ISAA Provides Students a Path to the Pros
Students train in spain
A minimum of two students are sent to Villarreal, Spain for free each year, for one week on behalf of ISAA/Villarreal Indiana to train.
Play Against Collegiate Teams
To prepare students for collegiate soccer, ISAA takes a dozen monthly trips to colleges and universities each fall, and a half dozen each spring, to scrimmage against their reserves teams. Matches are typically played in the late afternoon or evening, therefore, ISAA students spend the morning and early afternoon touring the college/university, receiving financial aid packages, and preparing for college life.
Play for ISAA
Our academy soccer team goes by the name Villarreal Indiana. We are partnered with Villarreal CF and our fellow Villarreal sister academies around the world, and proudly wear the Yellow Submarine kits. Wearing our kits is an honor, earned, and not guaranteed.
Our founding
Ethan Hunt Founder, Executive Director
Masters in Sport Management, Johan Cruyff Institute & the Autonomous University of Barcelona; BA Sport Management, Bethel University, cum laude.
Director Hunt has obtained his National Coaching Diploma from United Soccer Coaches, has completed Sports Management Worldwide’s “Soccer Management and Scouting” & “Soccer Analytics” courses, and is CPR certified. Ethan was Bethel University’s Kinesiology Student of the Year in 2017-18 and Bethel University’s Servant-Leader of the Year in 2018-19.
"America is in desperate need of a soccer academy that develops young women and men academically, athletically, mentally, and emotionally. Meanwhile, soccer academies around the world are in need of the resources and investment that America has to offer. So I decided, 'Why not combine the most popular sport in the world with the American Dream?'"
Director Hunt has known for a long time that the American soccer system is not properly aligned with the rest of the world, and he has made it his goal to fix it. His vision for the ISAA came from knowing that student athletes and parents were finding a difficult time balancing the importance of both school and soccer.
Ethan opted toward another option, the European/South American model, where students go to school and play club soccer under the same umbrella. This allows students and parents more flexibility, less commutes, better team chemistry, and most importantly more successful young women and men. So for his Masters degree thesis, Ethan wrote a 100-page business plan with proof of how it would work, how it would be financially viable, and most importantly how student-athletes would benefit from this proposed model. Presenting it to faculty of the Johan Cruyff Institute and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Ethan successfully defended his thesis in front of the best minds in sport management in the world. Now, he is turning his dream of a soccer-specific, private high school into a reality.
The Board
Beckman, Becky Chair
Becky is a distinguished community leader with immense respect across St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. She is a Principal and Employee Benefits Consultant at Gibson Insurance, and has spent a long period of time in philanthropy.
Why did you join the ISAA board?
“I tend to gravitate towards visionary thinking – ISAA is visionary. I also believe that sport (soccer or other) has the ability to bring communities of diverse people together to celebrate a common goal.
Tell us a little about you: “I have been married to my husband, Isaiah, for 13 years. We have 3 daughters – Hayden (8), Makena (7), and Adrian (4). We have a golden retriever puppy named Wanda!”
Jones, Sharon treasurer
Bio
Ponce de Leon, David
Rodriguez, Jose Vice-Chair
Jose Rodriguez is a financial Professional with over 8 years of experience in the finance industry. Jose works within
his community and beyond to create a financial planning practice his family can be proud of. Jose is the youngest of
6, and was born in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico on 08/30/1993. His parents, Antonio Rodriguez and Catalina Gallegos
made the most important decision of their lives and immigrated the family to Elkhart, IN in 1997. Jose has called
Elkhart home since, and is a proud Elkhart County resident. Jose and his wife Bertha Rodriguez have chosen to raise
their family here they have two children Anthony Rodriguez Cruz and Violet Grace Rodriguez Cruz.
Jose has always been passionate about soccer, at an early age, he discovered his love for the game. In High School
Jose found a creative way to combine his love for soccer and a way to give back to the community. He volunteered
countless hours to coaching middle school students who would not have had the opportunity to play and train
otherwise. Jose has been coaching in some capacity for over 10 years and boasts multiple Championships as a coach.
Latest experiences have been at the High School level at Concord Youth Soccer.
Today Jose has managed to still be able to incorporate his love for the game in his professional career as board
member at ISAA. When asked why join the ISAA board Jose’s response was simple:” to me Ethan Hunt’s vision for
ISAA, were beliefs I also aligned with. Having the first in person high school soccer academy was a dream, that’s the
school I wish I would have attended. I also whole heartedly believe ISAA is changing and impacting kids’ lives for the
better in the community. I also believe that ISAA in the future will have a huge impact on soccer in the US.
Hoover, Sara
MS & BS Elementary Education, Indiana University
Over 20 years of teaching experience
Project Based Learning & STEM Training & Certification, coach and mentor in STEM and Computer Science
Two-time Teacher-of-the-Year for the School City of Mishawaka, top ten teacher’s finalist in the State of Indiana, PAESMT state finalist, specialist in curriculum work for the School City of Mishawaka in Science and Computer Science
Wright, Theresa
Why did you join the ISAA board?
“I joined the board because I believe in its transformative potential to revolutionize education, aligning it with the dynamic needs of today’s students. This initiative not only considers their academic pursuits but also integrates their career aspirations, providing a personalized pathway to success. Moreover, it offers invaluable exposure to sports, enriching students’ experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting.”
Alumni Spotlight
