David Irby

CEO, Surge International • U.S. Soccer ‘A’ Coaching License; M.A.T. (Teaching), University of La Verne (California)


A native of Southern California, Dave played soccer on the first team at Azusa Pacific University. At the age of twenty-three, he became the Cougars Head Coach, twice being named Coach of the Year, while at the same time playing with the Athletes-in-Action soccer team. A pioneer of soccer ministry he has literally crisscrossed the global as a soccer coach, player, and speaker. He was the first coach for the Sports Life team (WA) and the original full-time staff member, and founder of the Seahorse soccer team for MAI (CA); before going on to found Surge International, commonly known as Surge Soccer.

Dave and the soccer teams he has led, have traveled to thirty-five countries of the world, bringing hope to those they meet. His teams have helped with reconciliation in Uganda, after the civil war and peace in Sudan during their civil war. More recently he and his colleagues used soccer for “civil war “prevention” in Burundi.  He spent three years developing soccer projects to help refugees integrate into Austria after they fled tragic circumstances in their own countries.

He recently coached the Southern California Seahorses in the National Under-23 League (PDL); and a youth team for the LA Galaxy; and was a Head Coach with the Capital FC Timbers Academy, a branch of the Portland Timbers.

Currently, Dave resides in Salem, Oregon with his wife Susan. He splits his time mostly, between Oregon, Southern California and international Surge projects.