next level gk academy

 Jon Taylor

Jon is the founder and director of NLGK Academy. It all started when he was doing personal training with several goalkeepers in the Knoxville area and wanted to put a name to his training. In 2019 he created Next Level GK Academy. NLGK has produced a couple of collegiate goalkeepers in its short stent as an academy, with both goalkeepers going on to play for well known NCAA division 2 schools. 

Jon is from Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to East Tennessee to play collegiate soccer at Maryville College. After he graduated he started coaching at Maryville High School for both the boys and girls soccer programs. In his first year with the Rebels, the girls went to state with a 19-2-3 record and had 15 shutouts. They were #3 in the state and #31 nationally. The following year the girls ended with a record of 18-3 with 17 shutouts. In 2018, Jon joined the Tennessee Wesleyan University Womens program. In his first year with the Bulldogs, the team went 12-6-1 with a GAA of 1.39 and had 4 shutouts. The starting goalkeeper was named 2nd team All Conference. The team won the AAC conference tournament and made it to the first round of the NAIA tournament. In his second year with the Bulldogs, the team went 17-4 with a GAA of .76 and had 10 shutouts. The 17 wins on the season represent the most wins in program history. The starting goalkeeper was named 1st team All Conference. The team was ranked #25 in the nation for shutouts and was ranked #19 in the nation for GAA. The bulldogs won a share of the regular season title and got an at large bid for the NAIA tournament. In his two years at TWU, the Bulldogs went 21-3-1 in conference play. 

Coaching licenses held: 

• USC GK Level 1 & 2
• USC Advanced National Goalkeeper License (currently completing)
• USC National license
• USSF grassroots license