Raleigh, NC - Today the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) named Gary Buete as executive director. Buete comes to CASL from the Baton Rouge Soccer Club in Louisiana where he had served as executive director since 2000. Buete will start work at CASL on Monday, June 2.

"Gary Buete is a proven leader in youth soccer in the United States. He understands what it means to be a full-service soccer club that serves its members and its community well, and what it takes for players and teams to compete and grow on the field. The Board is excited to have someone with Gary's experience, commitment and passion for youth soccer leading CASL," said John Dalpe, Chairman of the CASL Board of Directors.

Buete's tenure at the Baton Rouge Soccer Club (BRSC) was marked by significant growth, strong community partnerships, and success on the field. Under Buete's leadership, the BRSC grew from 2,400 players to 5,000 and has forged partnerships with local schools, Parks and Recreation, and the business community. The club has captured more than 40 Louisiana state titles among all age groups since the summer of 2000.

In addition to his role as executive director of BRSC, Buete has served as the commissioner of the US Club Soccer Gulf States Premier League since 2011. He spearheaded the creation of the league and its 10 member clubs and was elected its first commissioner.

Buete brings extensive coaching to the executive director post at CASL. He has a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "A" License and National Youth License and is an instructor for the USSF "E" and "D" level coaching licenses and Youth Modules. He is the current Head Coach for the 2000 girls Region 3 ODP team and has served on the Region 3 GODP staff for the last 6 years. Since 2012, Buete has also served as a voluntary assistant coach at Louisiana State University.

Buete received his undergraduate degree in exercise physiology from Lander University in 1994 and his master's degree in sport management from East Tennessee State University in 1996. He earned NSCAA All-America honors in 1991.

Buete and his wife, Fain, have three children, Joseph, Fain and Will.

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to work for such a distinguished organization. CASL is at the forefront of youth soccer in the United States. Through my interview process, it was evident that the quality of the CASL staff and Board support are second to none. I look forward to continuing to build and grow the CASL brand by providing quality soccer programs for all ages and levels of play. I am excited to join the CASL family."

The Capital Area Soccer League was the first youth soccer organization to serve youth soccer players in the greater Wake County area. Founded in 1974, CASL is one of the largest and most recognizable youth soccer clubs in the nation. Soccer America has named CASL one of the top ten youth soccer clubs in America. Today, CASL serves close to 9,000 youth soccer players and their families across all levels and ages of play.

CASL has established itself as an innovator and leader in youth soccer operations both on and off the field. CASL offers programming at the recreation, challenge and classic levels as a member of the NC Youth Soccer Association. These levels of play are led by an acclaimed soccer staff that has earned USSF "A" licenses and national coaching diplomas, brought home state, regional, and national championships, and coached at the highest levels of competition with youth and adult United States national teams. CASL's tournaments are equally as recognizable across the country. The CASL visitRaleigh.com National Soccer Series attracts more than 1300 competitive youth teams and 1000 college coaches from across the continent to the triangle area during four weekends of play. CASL recently expanded its service line to include soccer community outreach, which is focused on opening up the game of soccer to underserved populations and to encourage diversity within the youth soccer scene. Through other community relations efforts including a charity soccer tournament which raised $14,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a food drive to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, and volunteering with community groups like Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, CASL is committed to being a community partner in improving the quality of life in Wake County.

The mission of the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) is to provide positive and high-quality instructional and competitive youth soccer opportunities at all levels of play that enhance character, community and the love of the game for a diverse membership of children ages 4-18 and their families across Wake County and to serve as a community partner to improving the quality of life in Wake County.

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Contact: Katharine Kelley, CASL Director of Relations
Katharine.kelley@caslnc.com
(919) 341-4553