Founder & Head Coach

Maryland Apex Elite Soccer Academy

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Welcome! My name is Denis Cerritos, and I am the founder and head coach of Maryland Apex Elite Soccer Academy.

Soccer has been a part of my life since I was six years old. Over the years, I have played for numerous teams and developed a lifelong love for the game. Soccer has taught me lessons that extend far beyond the field—discipline, perseverance, teamwork, respect, and confidence—and those same values are at the heart of everything we do at Maryland Apex Elite Soccer Academy.

While soccer has always been one of my greatest passions, my life's work has been dedicated to helping children learn, grow, and reach their potential.

For more than 30 years, I have worked as a Montessori educator, teaching and guiding children between the ages of three and six during some of the most important years of their development. Those years have given me a deep understanding of how young children learn best—through encouragement, exploration, patience, and meaningful relationships.

That experience shapes every training session I lead.

Rather than focusing only on winning games, I believe children thrive when they feel safe to explore, make mistakes, solve problems, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing. This philosophy closely aligns with both Montessori education and the U.S. Soccer Grassroots coaching model, which emphasizes age-appropriate learning through play, guided discovery, and positive coaching.

In addition to my work in education, I have spent more than 25 years volunteering as a counselor for children whose siblings were battling cancer. Through this program, I organized recreational activities and sports—including soccer—for children between the ages of six and twelve.

Those children taught me the importance of creating spaces where every child feels seen, included, and encouraged. Many were balancing emotions and responsibilities beyond what most children their age experience. On the playing field, they had an opportunity to laugh, build friendships, gain confidence, and simply enjoy being kids.

That experience reinforced a belief I carry into every practice:

Sports should build children before they build athletes.

Today, I combine my lifelong passion for soccer with more than three decades of experience working with young children as a U.S. Soccer Grassroots Licensed Coach.

 

See you on the field!