Nick Levett

Visiting Teaching Fellow

Health, Science and Wellbeing

Head of Coaching at UK Coaching, Nick brings a passionate and engaging approach to coach and player development, helping drive forward change and challenge the status quo. He is a firm believer in asking the difficult questions that make some people feel awkward but ultimately are necessary if new ground is to be broken! He strongly believes that the person has to be at the heart of the learning process, focusing on their long-term learning to develop better players and better people.

Nick worked at the English Football Association for 14 years, leading national projects in a variety of areas from education to setting up the FA Skills Programme in 2007; a programme with 90 full-time coaches focusing on the 5-11 age group. For six years Nick led the revolutionising of grassroots football in England as National Development Manager, before becoming FA Talent Identification Manager in 2015.

This department’s work focused on building a Talent ID education pathway to help professionalise the scouting industry, working with professional clubs to offer bespoke support for the coaches and scouts involved in the recruitment of academy players, plus supported the selection of players from England U15 to senior squads.

Now at UK Coaching, Nick leads the Coaching Team, which plays a crucial role in developing coaches and the coach development workforce across NGBs, and looks to revolutionise current ways of working. He is an active coach developer, supporting coaches working in grassroots sport through to international and professional coaches across four different sports.

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Sport and Leisure Management – Staffordshire University
  • MA Education and Creativity – University of Chester
  • UEFA A Licence / Level 4 Football Coaching Qualification
  • FA Level 4 in Talent Management and Leadership

Expertise

Sports coaching, coach development, creativity, player development, football, NGB sport and coaching systems.

Teaching

Visiting Fellow to Staffordshire University.

Publications

Towlson, C., Cope, E., Perry, J.L., Court, D. and Levett, N., 2019. Practitioners’ multi-disciplinary perspectives of soccer talent according to phase of development and playing position. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(4), pp.528-540.

Bailey, R., Bailey, R.J. and Levett, N., 2018. Talent management. In Routledge handbook of football business and management (pp. 388-399). Routledge.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021