(Photo courtesy Pomona College).

John McDermott, head of coaching and player development at EPL club Tottenham Hotspur since 2005, will speak at 5 p.m. Tuesday on “Teaching in an Elite Soccer Environment” at Pomona College’s Rose Hills Theatre, 170 E. 6th St., Claremont.

The event is free and open to the public.

Here’s more on McDermott via the Pomona College press release:

McDermott has worked with players of all ages and at all levels since graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1989. He began his career at Leeds United’s Football in 1991 before becoming Watford’s first football and community development officer and, later, its youth development officer and academy manager. As national coach of the Football Association, he worked with young players, from 16 to 21 years old, on international teams. In 2015, the FA presented McDermott with the Outstanding Contribution to Youth Development Award.

Under his leadership, the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Academy has earned a strong reputation for developing home-grown Premier League professional footballers and equipping many other graduates to play in both the English and European football leagues. The Daily Mirror newspaper said he has “played a massive role in development” and is “hugely respected with in the game,” while The Guardian observed he has “built his reputation as a shrewd judge” of upcoming players.