From tryouts, to trialist, to the starting eleven.
When the inaugural Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC tryout was held in December, players from all over the country were in attendance. One player in particular was a product of Fort Collins High School and the Real Colorado youth club.
“When I first got this job, the first thing I wanted was to get the best talent from the area,” said Éamon Zayed, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC head coach. “Did I think I was going to get something on my doorstep in Fort Collins? No.”
But there was Destan Norman. He has been featured in every game thus far for Northern Colorado, including being a part of the inaugural starting eleven in club history.
After attending Fort Collins High School, Norman chose to attend the University of Denver and would play five seasons for the Pioneers, from 2017 to 2021.
“The more we watched, the more you watched how good his habits were, and how he was a selfless, really fit player,” said Jamie Franks, University of Denver men’s soccer head coach.
Playing in the midfield for the university, Norman started 76 of the 81 games he played in, picking up three goals and six assists. Norman was also named to the Summit League Second Team in 2021 and Summit League All-Academic Teams in 2019 and 2021.
“I promise you by the end of this season, he will be one of the most reliable players,” Franks said. “His character, his leadership … that’s consistent. Managing him for five years, from when he was young, we depended on him heavily to play 90 minutes and do his job.”
Franks, a former USL player himself with the Rochester Rhinos, has seen many of his young players go to the professional ranks from Denver.
“I had a really important talk with Jamie my junior year, with him asking if I was going to go for it (being professional),” said Norman. “I had fear of failure like a lot of people have, and he just encouraged me to go for it. So ever since then I’ve been going full tilt to make a professional team.”
After the tryout however, it wasn’t an immediate contract from Northern Colorado.
“Destan was a player that we wanted to watch, his college coach recommended him highly,” Zayed said. “He did well enough at the tryout that we wanted to keep tabs on him, and he stood out at another tryout in California that my assistant coach Kevin Sawchak was at.”
Norman would first go on trial with USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks before coming back to Northern Colorado for a trial close to home.
“I’m very close with the coaching staff at the Switchbacks, and they mentioned that Destan was there for two weeks working really hard,” Zayed said. “Not sure if he was for them but they were impressed by his work rate, so I wanted to get another look at him and it was his work rate that stood out. His attitude is a coach’s dream, if you ask him to play in goal, left back, right back, center mid, he’ll do it and won’t ask questions.”
Little did Norman know, back when he was attending the tryout, that he would feature in the first ever Hailstorm starting eleven against his former trialist club in Colorado Springs, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
“I just focus on my process every day. Trying to get better and show my skill set, I had the belief that if I did that every day that I’d get opportunities,” Norman said. “I’m excited that I had an opportunity so soon and to play in the club’s first game, it’s really exciting.”
“In Ireland, when I was growing up, there used to be two awards, one for Player of the Year and one for Club Man of the Year. Club Man of the Year was for the most improved player, somebody whose work ethic and attitude stood out,” Zayed said. “If you ask me to name my Club Man of the Year so far for the season, it’s Destan.”
The journey to this point has come with coaches that have experience in the professional game and beyond. With effort and determination, Norman has found himself his first professional contract down the road from where he grew up.
“The most important thing for a young player is just having the right attitude and work ethic, and taking on board what the coach wants and expects of you. Being a sponge and taking in advice and experience from the experienced guys on the club,” Zayed said. “The best thing is to come in every day and want to get better.”
The Hailstorm will play their first ever home game Wednesday against North Carolina FC at 7 p.m. MDT. Norman is expected to be in the lineup for the team’s Northern Colorado debut.
“It means a lot (to be playing here in Northern Colorado). Coaches and friends in this area are coming to support,” said Norman. “I think it’s neat and exciting to see everyone that has helped me get here and just enjoy a moment together.”
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC will play its home matches in the 6,500-seat TicketSmarter Stadium at the Future Legends Complex, the premier destination for sports and events in Northern Colorado. Tickets for home matches in the month of June are now available online. June home matches will be played at the University of Northern Colorado’s Jackson Stadium.
Opening in 2022, the 118-acre Future Legends Complex will feature two stadiums, multiple baseball diamonds and multi-purpose fields, an indoor sports arena, lodging, and retail; and will host guests for major sports tournaments, events, leagues, and more.