BEHIND THE NAME

Don met Randy Laffoon in the summer of 2003. Don was coaching teams at Oklahoma Celtic and the Norman North boys team with another familiar name, Bryan Young. The teams Don coached through the club had great success and development and he was given his first “green” team. Enter, Randy. Don began coaching Randy’s oldest son Trevor who was a ‘93. A phone call one day with Randy turned in to the greatest mentorship between the two. Randy wanted to be able to call Don to discuss “soccer things”, and when Don told him, “I don’t have a cell phone. I operate by email”, Randy made sure Don had a phone going forward.

Randy was an avid lover of all sports, especially baseball. But as the years went by, he was known as the “soccer guy”. Randy had a unique way of creating environments for players and parents to gather even outside of soccer. Randy and Don always had a dream of opening a business together, something soccer related, or a way to impact youth. Sadly, Randy left us in September of 2020 after a strong battle with cancer. His impact on the town of Norman, Moore and Oklahoma City was deep. He was passionate about finding ways to provide all kids a chance to play soccer, and being with his wife Debbie, and boys Trent and Trevor.

RL- represents Randy’s initials, as well as Rother-Laffoon.

DREAM is to encourage everyone who enters the facility that they can achieve it, if they embrace the FULL BENEFIT of the good, and the challenges.

OWNER

DON ROTHER

Don Rother is an accomplished and cross-functional leader with over 20 years of experience providing mentorship and managing a non-profit organization. Focused on adhering to organizational missions and culture while also positively impacting daily operations through leadership development, budget management, cultivating relationships and overall community impact. He has proven expertise in developing and managing relationships with coaches, players, and parents in a club of over 3,200 athletes. He has also provided mentorship and consulting for other sports organizations across the state.

Don was raised in the Norman Youth Soccer Association as a player and began coaching at the age of 18. He served Oklahoma Celtic as a Coach, Academy Director, Director of Player Development, Director of Coaching, and Executive Director. Don founded the Academy Program, Celtic Soccer Camps, served as the Tournament Director, and co-founded Oklahoma Premier Clubs. He led the club in being awarded the ECNL bid for both boys and girls and launched The Celtic Leadership Program which consists of players of all ages who help speak into the culture of the club.

Don also has a deep love for high school sports. He helped coach the Norman North Boys program to 2 State Championships in 2000 and 2003, and state finalists in 2008, as well as the Norman North girl’s program to their first State Championship in 2014 and state finalists in 2017. Don began coaching the Community Christian School Women’s program in 2023, and in 2024 led them to a 16-1 record and the first soccer state championship in the schools history. He has a strong desire to help his players manage their overall health by working with athletes who play other sports.

He has been named the Oklahoma Soccer Associations Boys Coach of the Year, Norman’s Top 30 under Thirty, Bob Newman Coach of the Year, The Daily Oklahoman Coach of the Year, Norman Public Schools Coach of the Year, COAC Girls Coach of the Year, Boys 6A All State Coach, Girls 6A All State Coach and Girls 3A All State Coach. He has led more than twenty teams to the State Finals, 4 teams to Regionals, and guided players to the National Pool selection, MSL, WPSL, NWSL. Don has a deep desire to support players as a whole, building confidence while fine-tuning their technique which has led him to serve as a liaison for hundreds of players transitioning to play in college.

Don holds a National Youth License, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma Coaching License, USSF Y License, USSF C License, Director of Coaching Diploma, and holds a Business Marketing Degree from The University of Oklahoma.

Don will tell you his first love is coaching and having the opportunity to influence young kids. After months of research and remodeling, he is excited to offer training through the RL Dream Training Center.