Coaching Staff

Coached by Champions.
Mentored by Pros.

No parent volunteers. No uncredited staff. Direct instruction from proven tacticians with state championships, national academy experience, and international playing résumés.

At Lud's Soccer Academy, we believe coaching is a profession of profound trust. Your children are taught directly by tacticians who have won at the highest high school levels in Arkansas and competed within elite national youth pipelines, NCAA collegiate programs, and European professional academies. We combine decades of pedagogical success with modern, elite playing insights to provide the most developmental soccer education in the River Valley.
Coach Lud Elizondo
Coach Lud Elizondo
Founder · Head Coach

"A legendary figure in Arkansas soccer with over two decades of championship coaching experience."

  • 2x Arkansas State Champion Coach (2007, 2024)
  • 18 State Playoff Appearances in 20 Seasons
  • 3x Arkansas State Runner-Up Finishes (2010, 2012, 2022)
  • 5x State Semifinal Appearances
  • President, Tri County Soccer Association (2018–Present)
  • Owner & Head Coach, Clarksville United (UPSL)
  • Former All-State Goalkeeper (1999, 2000)
  • Arkansas Dream Team Selection (2000)
Full Biography

Coach Lud Elizondo

Coach Lud Elizondo is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in Arkansas high school soccer history, having built the Clarksville Panthers into a perennial state powerhouse while actively anchoring the sport's development across the entire River Valley.

Elizondo's deep connection to the game began on the pitch as a standout goalkeeper for the Clarksville Panthers, where he earned back-to-back All-State honors in 1999 and 2000, and was selected to the elite Arkansas Dream Team in 2000.

Immediately following his decorated playing career, he returned to his alma mater in 2001 to step into coaching. After successfully managing both the boys and girls programs, Elizondo assumed full-time leadership of the boys varsity program in 2007. He instantly guided Clarksville to its first State Playoff appearance in school history — a breakout run that culminated in the school's historic first-ever State Championship.

Over the next two decades, Elizondo engineered a true soccer dynasty: 18 State Playoff appearances across 20 seasons, 5 Final Fours, 3 State Runner-Up finishes, and two Arkansas State Championships.

Beyond high school competition, Coach Elizondo impacts regional player pathways as President of the Tri County Soccer Association and as Owner and Head Coach of Clarksville United in the UPSL, establishing a semi-professional avenue for regional talent.

Full Biography

Coach Truman Hensley

Coach Truman Hensley brings a wealth of elite modern playing experience and developmental expertise to Lud's Soccer Academy, spanning the highest tiers of American youth soccer, collegiate captaincy, and international professional trials.

Hensley spent four years competing in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) — the premier tier of youth soccer in the United States — representing both the Houston Dynamo Development Academy and Rush Development Academy from 2014 to 2018. His elite technical profile earned him a U18 United States National Team trial in 2016, alongside players currently competing across Major League Soccer and European top flights.

Hensley transitioned into the semi-professional ranks as a starter for the Dutch Lions U23 squad in the NPSL (2017–2018) and later anchored Clarksville United in the UPSL during their 2023 season. His technical abilities earned him three prestigious international professional trials in Europe with Sparta Rotterdam (Netherlands), HIK (Denmark), and BK Frem (Denmark).

At the University of the Ozarks, Hensley earned University Freshman Athlete of the Year, three consecutive ASC All-Conference honors, and captained the Eagles after leading them to the 2020 American Southwest Conference Championship.

As a coach, Hensley holds a formal University Coaching Endorsement Certification. He helped guide the Clarksville Lady Panthers to the State Semifinals in 2023, coached the boys program to the 2024 4A State Championship, and currently serves as the Clarksville Panthers Developmental Coordinator and Volunteer Assistant Coach for the University of the Ozarks Men's Soccer program.

Coach Truman Hensley
Coach Truman Hensley
Director of Development

"Elite developmental specialist with extensive national and international experience."

  • Former U18 U.S. National Team Trialist (2016)
  • 4-Year USSDA Academy Player (Houston Dynamo & Rush)
  • 3 European Professional Trials (NED & DEN)
  • NPSL U23 Starter, Dutch Lions (2017–2018)
  • UPSL Player, Clarksville United (2023)
  • ASC First Team All-Conference & Conference Champion (2020)
  • University of the Ozarks Freshman Athlete of the Year (2018)
  • University Team Captain (2022)
  • 4A State Champion Coach (2024)
  • Clarksville Panthers Developmental Coordinator (2026–Present)
  • University of the Ozarks Volunteer Assistant Coach (2026–Present)
  • Tri County Soccer Association Coaching Coordinator & Board Member

Train with the Best

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