Gene started with Premier in 2001, he has followed the guidelines and used his training to gain knowledge in scouting all sports. He has seen the program work for the clients he has signed. “It’s a great feeling to see the young people develop in college and see their dreams coming true, while getting an education and playing the sport they love."

Hobbies: Watching his daughter Thea perform in the arts, fishing and hunting.

Jerry Cooper
Certified Consultant / Scout
jcooper@premierscouting.com

Jerry is a retired physical education teacher, who has taught in Troy, Michigan for thirty-five years. He has also enjoyed coaching basketball, football and volley ball at the middle school level with both boys and girls, being an Assistant Varsity basketball coach and coaching travel soccer and AAU basketball for over fifteen years. Jerry coached an AAu boys basketball team to three straight national championship appearances in the early 90's. He also helped two different AAU girls basketball teams reach the national level. Not ony has Jerry had much success on the court with his teams, but he has also gained the respect of those involved in other organizations. He has an eye for finding talent and the heart for helping players achieve their goals. Over his coaching career he has found many "diamonds in the rough" and helped them reach great heights. He enjoys helping good players become great!

Jerry looks forward to the opportunity to work with, get to know and help recruit athletes throughout Oakland county and surrounding areas. He is very anxious to start this new phase of his life working with all the athletes and their parents through the Premier Scouting Service, LLC.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are nothing compared to what lies within us."

Wilberto is on active duty with the US Navy and stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. His Navy career has taken him to around the world, while in the Navy he has played soccer in Japan, Australia, Korea, Thailand and Guam. Wilberto played high school soccer at Bishop Hartley H.S. (Central Catholic League) in Columbus, OH. under Ian Hamilton and going to England his senior year for a soccer trip. Ian helped him get recruited with Tiffin University where he played sweeper his freshman year (1983). Wilberto's coaching career started in Gainesville, FL. where he coached a U-16 Boys Select team (Gainesville Panthers) to win the Presidents Cup in 1995 (Panama City, FL.). Wilberto has soccer experience in all platforms (beach soccer, indoor soccer, 6 a side, 3 a side, futsal and 11 a side).

He lives in Lexington Park, MD. with his wife Kanjana and daughter Miranda (17 month's). Wilberto's goal is to give back to the game by helping players get recruited to play at a higher level.

Wilberto will be a scout / consultant for Premier Scouting Service in the state of Maryland.

Ian played fourteen years of professional soccer in both the United States and the UK. Ian was a Columbus, Ohio area high school male soccer coach with a 328-53-36 record. While coaching at Thomas Worthington H.S. his teams have won two State Championships (91 & 98), was in the USA Today's National Top 25 three times (5th/91, 6th/98 & 10th/99), and has been DI National Coaches Association Midwest Coach of the Year (91), just to name a few of Ian's coaches accomplishments. Ian has placed over one hundred players into colleges prior to coming with Premier Scouting Service and says, “This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the sport. Premier Scouting Service does a wonderful job and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

His hobbies include traveling and playing golf.

Ian is our scout & consultant based out of the greater Columbus, Ohio area and Franklin County.

Craig is a member of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association and is currently the head baseball coach for both the Bowsher High School and Toledo Legion Post 335 teams. He has worked numerous baseball camps working with players from any age or grade. Craig has helped run tryouts for the United States Baseball Stars, an international baseball association, and has served as a talent evaluator for youth baseball clubs in the Toledo area. These experiences have given him the opportunity to evaluate and closely work with college bound student-athletes. He also has coached junior high football for six years and has attended numerous football clinics. Craig is currently a basketball and football official for varsity high school games, both in Ohio and Michigan. Craig has been a licensed official for the past 10 years. He lives in Toledo and covers all sports. Craig’s wife is Cindy and he has two sons (Corey & Colin) that have played varsity baseball in high school.

Craig likes to work with athletes of all ages, in any sport. He enjoys interacting with athletes and their parents.

“Being truthful with athletes about their talent, gives them the ability to reach their full potential and character.”

Brad is a native of Northwest Ohio, where he played football, baseball, and tennis before attending The Ohio State University.  In his time at Ohio State, Brad was a member of the OSU Rugby Football Club that won two Midwest Rugby Football Union (MWRFU) titles and births in the national sweet sixteen tournaments.

Brad is currently a Minor League umpire.  In the off-season, Brad substitute teaches at area high schools in Northwest Ohio.  He also works with student athletes on strength and conditioning to help them reach their goals.

“I have been an athlete and been around athletes from the lowest levels all the way up to the pros.  I have seen great successes and missed opportunities.  I am looking forward to working with Premier Scouting Service in helping student athletes realize their potential and achieve their dreams at the next level.”

Brad will be scouting, but not limited to Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan area.

John represented Maryland as a referee at the USSF Region I Championships in 1995 and 1996.   He was named Best Out Of State Referee at the USA Cup in 2002, and was the center referee in two locally televised championship matches.  He works as a penalty box attendant for the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2006, John worked game 1 of the MISL championship series, and represented Maryland as a referee assessor at the USSF Region I ODP tournament.

John played varsity high school baseball, soccer, and indoor track, along with playing American Legion baseball and club indoor soccer while in college.

John joined Premier Scouting in order to help student athletes continue their academic and athletic endeavors in college.  John sees first hand the injustice of student/athletes who are not playing in college simply because the coaches do not know they exist.  “I am tired of seeing excellent student/athletes not getting the opportunity to play college soccer.  When I found out about Premier Scouting, I realized that working with Premier Scouting would be something that I could do that would make a positive difference for young adults.  Premier Scouting maximizes the opportunities for these student/athletes to get their talents recognized outside of their local area.”

John lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending time with his family, and vacationing with them in Ocean City Maryland.

Matt grew up in southeastern Indiana. Played sports, and was a member of a regional and semi-state championship tennis teams, he also played baseball, and was a member of two sectional championship teams. Matt has been a successful youth baseball coach for eighteen years, compiling a record of 358-157. Matt is dedicated to seeing that deserving young men and women get the opportunity to play college athletics. "Too many times I've seen young men and women overlooked and not get a chance to play on the college level. "I can't imagine how frustrating it is for parents and young athletes today to get into college level athletics. I wish Premier would have been there when my daughters were going through the process."

"At present Scout Matt Tinker will be covering the Ashland KY, Ironton, OH area to Huntington WV.

Premier offers today's best solution for families and young athletes to get that opportunity to become a college athlete, and realize their dreams. I look forward to working with families and young athletes to realize their full potential on the field and in the classroom.