American Soccer Nation: The Remarkable 150-Year History of Yanks on a Roll, from Mob Football to the Modern Game

Franek, Mark C.: - Mark C Franek is an American sports writer, former attorney, and educator. Franek (JD and EdD) has published over 75 opinion-editorials on a variety of educational and human interest topics, and has taught writing pedagogy and sportswriting electives at the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, and Cabrini College. He currently teaches English classes and a series of electives, including a History of US Soccer course, at YSC Academy, an independent, college-preparatory school embedded completely within Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union franchise. The Academy, established in 2013 by Richie Graham, a minority owner of the Philadelphia Union, sits on a 15,000-square-foot campus adjacent to the stadium and integrates rigorous academics with professional-level soccer training. Franek also served as an English teacher and dean of students at the William Penn Charter (Quaker) School, one of the oldest independent schools in the nation. Over nearly three decades, Franek has had the privilege of teaching dozens of student-athletes who went on to play professional soccer in MLS and Europe. His former students include Olympic and World Cup players. Others, after hanging up their boots, graduated to become coaches, technical directors, and general managers of professional teams. Their DNA and dreams are in this book.