STEPHEN Glass was at Triangle when he realised football isn’t always about three points. The former Aberdeen, Newcastle United, Hibernian and Carolina Railhawks midfielder had initially dipped his toes into the coaching waters during a short spell as assistant manager and then caretaker boss at Shamrock Rovers, but it was only when he returned to the United States – as director of coaching at Triangle Futbol Club in North Carolina – that he quickly appreciated that winning was no longer everything.

Managing 17 teams and coaching four others, it would prove to be a “crash course” in how to bring out the best in the young players at his disposal, while coping with the various administrative and pedagogical responsibilities that were also part of the job.

The demands almost overwhelmed him at times but, in the long run, such a grounding served him well. From there he moved to a similar post with Carolina Rapids, and then on to Atlanta United where he has just progressed from Academy head coach to become manager of Atlanta United 2, the Reserve team who begin their USL Championship season this Saturday (March 9).

Glass’ primary responsibility, however, will be to ensure his players are ready to make the step up to the first team, the reigning MLS Cup champions now under the stewardship of Frank de Boer. It is a much higher profile, less chaotic job than the one he had at Triangle six years ago, but Glass still credits that role for starting him on the right path.

“A lot of former players jump into jobs back home as soon as they get an opportunity,” he says during the short commute from his Atlanta home to the club’s training ground. “And I probably jumped into the Shamrock Rovers one a little bit blind. That was possibly a mistake even though the experience was great.

“So I came back to the States as I thought it would be a great environment to learn as a coach. And it was pretty full-on.

“At Triangle I was managing 17 teams while coaching four of them. You’re looking after parental and player expectations and also what happens on the training park and in games. It was like a crash course in management and coaching. It wasn’t top level but the principles were the same.

“It probably wasn’t doable for one person and I made mistakes. But you find a way to manage it. A lot of people jump into coaching but they don’t actually coach. They become managers and they’ve never coached. There’s no right or wrong but I wanted to immerse myself in coaching and really get my hands dirty. And that’s proved invaluable.”

He is dealing with a different kind of pressure now. The cynics said soccer wouldn’t flourish in Atlanta but backed by Arthur Blank – the Home Depot billionaire who also owns the Atlanta Falcons American football franchise – they have proved the doubters wrong, winning the MLS Cup in only their second season. De Boer will now try to defend the title and it will be Glass’ job to support the former Rangers defender in any way he can.

“There are different expectations at this club than at other clubs in our division,” explains the Dundonian. “We are actively trying to help the first team in whatever way possible. That means that if players need time to play then we will give them that. If I can get players who aren’t quite ready for the first team up to that level then that’s also part of my job. We also want to provide a pathway for an academy player to eventually play in the first team.

“With Frank’s background [as Ajax youth coach] the expectation is he will be quite involved in that side of things. And he also wants me to be around the first team as much as possible. That way I’ll be able to see how he and the first team work and will be able to replicate that so my players are ready to step up and fit in as required. That’s how close the link will be.”

His promotion to such a high-profile coaching role won’t have gone unnoticed by clubs back home, but he is in no rush to return to the UK.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for me at this stage in my career,” he admits. “I only joined the academy last year so it’s been a quick progression. I was enjoying my work there, but this level is a lot higher and the players I’m working with are full-time professionals.

“That was something I had always hoped to get involved in longer term and I’ve managed to get it here at a great club. It’s now up to me to make the most of this opportunity.”