“Curran Soccer Academy Elevates Pittsburgh’s Young Athletes”

By Emily King

Pittsburgh might be known as a football town, but when it comes to youth sports, soccer is a top contender. If you’re in the youth soccer world, you know how competitive it is. Kids are vying for spots on competitive club teams and school rosters, where openings are limited.

What’s missing, is focused attention on improving the individual player. Aiden Curran, owner and head coach of Curran Soccer Academy (CSA) is filling that gap with a different approach to high level player development.

Curran was born and raised in Waterford, Ireland and played soccer semiprofessionally there. In 2015, he moved to the United States to pursue his master’s degree at the University of Findlay in Ohio, on a soccer scholarship. He met his wife, a Wexford native, and his soccer career took them across Europe to play in Ireland, Germany, and the U.K. In 2021 they moved to her hometown in Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs.

Coaching became the next logical step, and though soccer clubs in the area were plentiful, Curran found that players and parents were looking for more individualized training. His business began organically, training players at local fields, and grew as the demand rose. In 2025, Curran opened CSA’s first facility in Wexford, the region’s only year-round private soccer training academy.  They work with over 100 players around the region, ages six and up.  

The academy offers several ways to train, including one-on-one and small group sessions (usually 2-4 players), tailored to each players goals, age, and level. The Academy Group Training is a regular weekly training program and is limited to six players. These sessions focus on ball mastery, speed and agility, and technical skills.

Curran’s coaching style focuses on individual development and is designed to supplement club training. 

“The coaching style is very much player first. There's that connection that we with the and every player is treated individually,” he says.

The program addresses the gap in individual development that often occurs in club settings as players reach their teen years, where the focus shifts from team tactics over individual skill enhancement. CSA aims to fill this gap in training, providing support that enhances both individual skills and team performance

Curran knows the value of perseverance and overcoming challenges. At 29, he survived a catastrophic hemorrhagic stroke. After making a full recovery, he now uses this experience to inspire his coaching style, encouraging kids to find their purpose, set goals, and reach their potential with drive and determination. 

Curran is excited about the possibilities for the future of CSA. For now, he is focused on growing the program and expanding training options, but he sees the possibility of expansion in the future. To learn more about CSA, visit curransocceracademy.com.