In this installment of “In Their Words,” JJ Weber, M.Ed. Co-Founder of Player Support Services/ Director of Sports Psychology interviewed Andreas Davi, Owner and CEO of the Milwaukee Torrent.
With an NSCAA Director of Coaching License and extensive experience, Davi has held key coaching and leadership roles, such as Director of Coaching at NS Arsenal, Inter Northshore, and Strike FC, as well as head coach positions for boys’ and girls’ varsity teams at Dominican High School and Catholic Memorial High School. Since 2023, he has also served as a National Premier Soccer League Board Member. As CEO, Davi directs the club’s strategic growth while also serving as Head Coach of the Women’s FC Milwaukee Torrent.
Originally from Leverkusen, Germany, Davi blends European soccer tradition with innovation, shaping a club culture built on excellence, perseverance, inclusion, respect, and opportunity.
Davi’s vision extends beyond simply building a competitive team—he is committed to fostering an environment where players grow as both athletes and individuals. Davi believes that soccer is more than just a game; it is a vehicle for personal growth, resilience, and community impact. His approach emphasizes the importance of discipline, hard work, and continuous learning, instilling in his players a mindset that prepares them not only for success on the field but also for leadership in their personal and professional lives.
By prioritizing both athletic excellence and character development, Davi has established the Milwaukee Torrent as more than just a soccer club; it is a movement that empowers individuals to pursue their highest potential while making a lasting impact on the world around them.
While talking with Davi, I noticed we shared many of the same values. In just a few hours of speaking with Davi, I can honestly say that I came away with a new perspective on the meaning of mistakes and the growth of athletes in general.
Let’s get into it.
JJW: Hi, Davi; thank you for setting time aside to speak with me. Can you tell me a little about your soccer background?
DAVI: I was recruited to play soccer in Germany when I was three years old, basically off the street. It was kind of a tryout where about 100 kids participated. That is how I started.
Then, I moved on to Bayer Leverkusen’s youth team in Germany. I played the whole youth program and through the entire Youth Academy. Afterward, I played professionally and scouted till I moved to the U.S. in 2009.
When I came to the U.S., I became part of a youth soccer organization in Milwaukee, but after 3 1/2 years, I didn’t like it anymore. We had a difference of opinion in the way a soccer program should be run.
In 2015, I started the Milwaukee Torrent. It started as just a men’s team, but now it’s a very successful soccer organization. Now, we have a women’s team and a youth program with over 700 kids.
The men play in the NPSL, and the women play in the WPSL. Our goal is to be a full professional team, and I can confidently say it will happen soon. We have put a lot of work and money into the organization and have many sponsors.
JJW: What was the motivation behind building a soccer organization in Milwaukee?
DAVI: One of my main things when I came to Milwaukee was to start a soccer organization for our kids in southeast Wisconsin. I think there are nearly 80,000 kids who play soccer here, and they have no local soccer team to look up to. There are the Milwaukee Brewers for baseball, the Green Bay Packers for football, the Milwaukee Bucks for basketball, and the Milwaukee Admirals for hockey. But there was nothing for soccer. So, I wanted to change that, and I did.
JJW: What are some of the most significant obstacles your players experience?
DAVI: One of the biggest obstacles is how players view mistakes. Soccer is a game of mistakes. My players know that it is okay to make a mistake. They have in their heads when they go on the soccer field, “Davi allows me to make mistakes. It’s okay if I do. I don’t need to be perfect. Davi wants me to learn from mistakes.” What I always tell them is just to try their very best.
With some players, there are more excuses. They find it difficult to accept criticism. However, if you can take the criticism and accept it as positive, you will see that your coach criticizes because he wants you to get better.
But you can’t just criticize. It is so important for the mental aspect that you praise the players. It doesn’t matter how the game ended; even if it wasn’t good, it’s still okay. It comes back to your view about “making mistakes.” It’s okay to make mistakes. We are not playing in the World Cup. Every mistake will help you in your development. Soccer is a process. We emphasize that a lot in our organization. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the kids or the older players.
JJW: What helps or holds back players from being their best?
DAVI: One obstacle is that some players feel they deserve a spot in the starting lineup as opposed to earning their playing time. When players think they deserve a spot and don’t get what they want, their attitude gets worse towards the sport and the team. Competition within the team is important; that just doesn’t exist for some teams.
I have 30 girls who get up every morning between 4:00 and 5:00 AM and stand in front of the stadium at 6:30 because they cannot wait to practice. They know what I expect from them. We have such great practices because they know I have to sit players. I can take only 20 players to games, and we have 30 on the roster. They know they get treated fairly, but they also know they have to perform well during practice.
Personally, I know how it is. I was always the shortest and youngest player on the field because of my birth date. I knew I needed to work harder than other kids. That was my mindset when I played.
No matter who you are, you have to put the work in every day. You need to prove yourself in practice because, at the end of the day, this is the only way to improve.
We prepare throughout the season to win a national championship. Each year, we get closer. We have a goal we are working towards and are not just doing this for fun. Success comes from putting in the work. Our women’s team knows what they have to do. They need to perform at practice. The expectations have been set ahead of time. This is what every player must do. It’s all about attitude and effort.
JJW: Do you find that some players who experienced success at an early age feel they no longer have to put in the work during practice or believe they can solely rely on their talent?
DAVI: Yeah, absolutely.
What they don’t realize is that work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.
That’s what I said earlier about criticism. This happens when you immediately see every criticism as negative. But that’s no different than in our society in general, right? When you have a different opinion than somebody else, oh my god, friendships break up.
On the soccer field, it’s the egos that hold some players back. They would rather move onto another team rather than putting in the effort and energy to improve their game. In today’s era, it’s too easy for players to find a way out and go to another team where they get what they want without putting in the work. For example, the NCAA transfer portal. That’s a big negative for me. Just because a coach didn’t give an athlete playing time, they’ll just go to another collegiate program instead of working to earn a bigger role on the team.
Again, it all comes down to attitude and effort.
JJW: In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of college athletes commit suicide. In terms of mental health, does your soccer organization provide mental health support for players on the Torrent?
DAVI: Every year, we have mental health providers and sports psychologists talk with the team. We had some players take advantage of services individually.
We also conduct programs with the whole team every year, men and women. It’s a very sensitive topic because the player needs to trust the mental health professional for it to work. Also, I keep my eye on them because I know them very well, and they’re my players.
As an organization, we want our players to feel safe and comfortable so they can perform their best. We provide them with everything they need off the field so the players only have to focus on soccer. We provide the players with housing and cleaning services. Each player has a laundry machine, dryer, and dishwasher. They have transportation to get to practice. The only thing that players have to take care of is food. Players have access to a gym where they can work out and don’t have to pay anything. They have secondary health insurance. We have a health care provider they can go to at no extra cost unless it is something big. Many organizations don’t do that. But this is why our rosters are already full 8-9 months before the season starts.
We truly care about the players and their welfare.
JJW: What advice would you give to a player who wants to play professionally?
DAVI: My recommendation is that they listen to somebody. Someone who is not afraid to give a real opinion, no matter how hurtful that opinion is.
Look for someone genuine. Someone real who may criticize you more than praise you at times, but also someone who is good to you. And that includes finding an agent who has your best interests at heart. Surround yourself with people who are honest with you.
Because if they observe you, see something incorrect, and then criticize you, that means they really care. Again, the player shouldn’t take the criticism negatively. It matters how you take that advice from somebody.
Second, I would tell them never to give up. Don’t allow others to talk you out of your dreams. If I listened to all the people who told me not to move to the U.S., I would never have accomplished what I have. There were bets in Germany that I would be back after a month. Then, when I started the Torrent, people said it would fail or last two years max. Now, the Torrent is going on for 10 years.
You must always find a way. If one door closes, there’s another door. If that door closes, find another door. Find a way to make it work.
There may be luck in specific situations, but I also truly believe that luck is earned. You may feel unlucky sometimes, but when you don’t stop, push forward, and go another day, you can accomplish great things.
Thank you, Davi!
Player Support Services, Ltd. is dedicated to supporting athletes both on and off the field, reinforcing the values of resilience, character development, and holistic well-being—principles that align closely with Andreas Davi’s vision for the Milwaukee Torrent. Through insightful conversations like this, we continue to bridge the gap between performance and personal growth, ensuring that athletes have the tools they need to thrive in competition and in life.
JJ Weber, M.Ed. is a Co-Founder of Player Support Services 
and Director of Sports and Injury Psychology with over two decades of experience working with professional, Olympic, and elite athletes. If you have any questions about PSS Performance, Physical, Mental, Financial, Family, or Post-Career Well-Being services, please email JJ Weber, M.Ed. joe@player-support.com.
