Pitch to Pro

This Stoppage Time release brings you an excerpt from Episode 6 where we traced the unlikely rise of Arkansas adult soccer. In this segment, we spotlight how late-80s street games grew into a full league by the early 90s, weathered disputes and mismatched divisions, and eventually gained official city backing after a period of chaos and community perseverance. We walk through the origin, eight tea...

Mental health has finally entered the sports conversation, but how much progress have we really made? Our latest Stoppage Time episode brings you powerful insights from sports psychology experts who are transforming how we think about the mental game. Gone are the days when sports psychologists merely played "deficit detective." Today's approach balances identifying weaknesses with...

Soccer history unfolded right in our backyard as the Marshall Islands national team made its international debut at Springdale High School in Northwest Arkansas. What makes this story extraordinary isn't just the debut itself, but the remarkable spirit and progress shown by a team where nearly half the players had never competed in an official 11v11 match before. Coming primarily from futsal...

Dean Johnson is transforming soccer in Northwest Arkansas through a remarkable dual role that few coaches would dare attempt. With one foot firmly planted in the OZFC Academy as U19 boys head coach and the other pioneering Northwest Arkansas Community College's first-ever men's soccer program, Johnson brings championship-winning expertise to a region hungry for soccer development. The Lo...

This Stoppage Time release features a powerful excerpt from our earlier conversation with Woody Watson. In this segment, we spotlight the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Soccer Tournament — an event that made history by hosting the first-ever Marshallese national team matches at Springdale High School. You’ll hear how what began as a grassroots effort has grown into a community-driven movem...

Soccer history is coming to Northwest Arkansas! The Ozark United FC team reveals exclusive details about the upcoming Outrigger Challenge Cup, a groundbreaking international soccer tournament featuring teams from the US Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and most notably, the Marshall Islands, who will be playing their first-ever international match. Set for August 13-16 at Springdale High School&a...

Soccer history unfolded right here in Northwest Arkansas as the Outrigger Challenge Cup brought FIFA-sanctioned international matches to Springdale. Kevin Tello, Ozark United FC MLS Next Technical Director, joins host Wes Harris to break down this landmark event that put our region on the global soccer map. The tournament featured the senior men’s national teams of Turks and Caicos and the US Virg...

Our latest Stoppage Time episode reveals the extraordinary efforts of a volunteer team spanning three continents who are determined to ensure the Marshall Islands' place in football history. The urgency is palpable as Woody Watson explains why this initiative matters: "A nation that possibly might not exist in some capacity in 10 years is able to get their first matches played, is able t...

The beautiful game of soccer has reached nearly every corner of the globe, but until now, one nation has remained on the sidelines. The Marshall Islands stands as the last UN-recognized country never to have played a match, a distinction about to change thanks to an extraordinary grassroots effort with surprising ties to Northwest Arkansas. Woody Watson, VP of North American Operations for the Mar...

In this special Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast, we dive into one of the show’s most personal and vivid storytelling moments: a heartfelt memory about watching MLS veteran Jack Jewsbury in action. The segment from Episode 46 with Ross Cully features reflections on how an unassuming trip to Portland turned into a deep lesson in soccer culture, as he recalls traveling with his youn...

What happens when passion for soccer meets the explosive growth of Northwest Arkansas? Ross Cully, founder and CEO of Harvest Group and early investor in Ozark United FC, reveals the powerful vision behind bringing professional soccer to this dynamic region. Ross shares his personal connection to the beautiful game, from youth leagues in Missouri to watching his former teammate Jack Jewsbury capta...

This Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast features a focused look at the role of vision in entrepreneurship, regional development, and professional sports ownership, all through the lens of Northwest Arkansas’ rapid transformation. In this short segment from Episode 45, we revisit a conversation with Ross Cully that highlights how NWA’s explosive growth has forced local leaders to rec...

Ever wonder what happens when entrepreneurial vision meets professional sports? Join us for an engaging conversation with Ross Cully, founder and CEO of Harvest Group and investor in Ozark United FC, as he shares his two-decade journey in Northwest Arkansas. Ross takes us back to his first encounter with NWA at Nolan Richardson's basketball camp, through his arrival with Procter & Gamble,...

As the FIFA Club World Cup captivates soccer fans around the globe, it feels like the perfect time to take a step back and revisit one of the most confusing—and often misunderstood—aspects of the beautiful game: how soccer is structured here in the United States. In this Stoppage Time episode of Pitch to Pro , we’ve pulled together highlights from Episode 10 that shed light on the U.S. soccer pyra...

Welcome to this week’s Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast, where we feature a powerful five-minute excerpt from one of our previous full-length conversations. In this episode, we take you deep into the economic transformation of Northwest Arkansas — a region whose growth story is often reduced to headlines about big-name companies. But there’s more to the evolution than just corpora...

This Stoppage Time Episode pulls a powerful snippet from one of our earliest Pitch to Pro conversations - Ep. 16 - From Local Chambers to Soccer Fields: Pioneering Progress in Northwest Arkansas. Soccer isn't just a sport; it's an engine for economic growth and a force for community connection. In this archival highlight, we revisit a moment that explored how professional soccer is helpi...

Welcome to this Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro Podcast — a fast-paced highlight from last week’s full episode. In this five-minute segment, we explore how professional sports have transformed into one of the most lucrative investment landscapes in modern business. From Jerry Jones’ once-controversial $250 million purchase of the Dallas Cowboys — now valued in the billions — to the $500...

Ever wonder how waste management and professional soccer intersect? Andy McNeil, a successful Arkansas entrepreneur who built multi-million dollar environmental service companies, takes us on an unexpected journey through both worlds in this captivating conversation. McNeil's business savvy shines as he explains how he transformed small waste management operations into industry leaders, inclu...

In this special Stoppage Time edition of The Pitch to Pro Podcast , we revisit one of the most heartfelt and powerful moments from a past episode—an honest reflection on the indescribable magic of Northwest Arkansas and the unifying spirit of soccer. You’ll hear a behind-the-scenes glimpse from Mayor Greg Hines into the intentional process of building a professional club that’s not just about wins...

Ever wondered what truly separates exceptional soccer players from the rest? The answer might surprise you.  In this Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast, we dive deep into player development, purpose, and the exciting soccer landscape emerging in Northwest Arkansas. The conversation explores how finding meaning beyond your career creates a foundation for success, not just in soccer,...

Kevin Tello is coming home to Northwest Arkansas with a mission. The newly appointed Director of Ozark United FC's MLS Next Academy joins us to share his journey from LA transplant to rising Division I coach, and why he's passionate about building a professional pathway for soccer players in the region he once called home. "When I was a player, and I've talked to other coaches...

Money makes the beautiful game possible, but what happens behind the scenes to fund a professional soccer franchise? This revealing Stoppage Time edition of Pitch to Pro pulls back the curtain on the complex investment structures that can make or break a soccer club. We dive deep into the critical role of the primary investor in professional soccer, exploring US Soccer's strict requirements a...

The seed for Ozark United FC was planted as "a crazy thought" in co-founder Chris Martinovic's mind years ago, and today, that seedling has grown into a full-fledged plan to bring professional soccer to Northwest Arkansas. In this candid conversation with Managing Director Wes Harris, Martinovic gives listeners unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes journey of building a prof...

Check out this Stoppage Time Special from Ep. 18: What Makes a Good Soccer Crest? What's the difference between a forgettable logo and an iconic football crest that fans proudly tattoo on their bodies? Our latest Stoppage Time segment dives deep into the art and science behind the badges that represent the world's most beloved clubs. A truly great crest tells a compelling story that reso...

Check out this Stoppage Time special from Ep. 41 - Her Game Too: Fighting for Equality in Soccer - Part 2! Gender equality in soccer remains an uphill battle, especially in communities where women's participation is still considered unusual. "I don't know many women my age who watch soccer... it's me and my dad, that's all I know about soccer fans," shares Jenn Ramczy...