Executive Director (16+ years)
Shane Hackett has served as Executive Director and board member of Heartland Soccer Association for more than sixteen years.
Heartland Soccer
Heartland Soccer Association.
Heartland Soccer Association is recognized as the largest soccer league and tournament host in the United States. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, it serves 30,000+ league players and 40,000+ tournament players each year across the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Shane Hackett has served as Executive Director and board member of Heartland Soccer Association for 16+ years. Under his direction, Heartland operates more than a dozen tournaments annually at four primary venues: SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex, GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex, Wyandotte Sporting Fields, and Swope Soccer Village.
In 2025, Shane Hackett was inducted into the Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame for sustained contribution to youth soccer in the region.
Largest league in the U.S.
Heartland is recognized as the largest soccer league and tournament host in the United States.
30,000+ league players
More than 30,000 league players compete each year. An additional 40,000+ players participate in Heartland-operated tournaments annually.
12+ tournaments per year
Heartland operates more than a dozen tournaments annually across the Kansas City metro, from regional invitationals to national qualifiers.
1977
Heartland Soccer Association was founded in 1977. The organization is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.
Recreational to premier
The league serves players from recreational, academy, and competitive divisions through premier-level competitive play, with referee development and coach education programs alongside league play.
Venues
Venue
Venue
Venue
Venue
Four primary venues across the Kansas City metro.
Heartland operates at four primary venues spanning Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Jackson County. Each is a multi-field complex purpose-built for tournament-scale play.
SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex
World-class soccer facility in Overland Park, Kansas. Twelve lighted soccer fields with two championship fields featuring stadium seating. Selected as host for the 2024 and 2025 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships.
GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex
Premier soccer facility in Olathe, Kansas, named after Garmin International. Home to the annual Heartland Spring Cup and multiple regional and national-level tournaments throughout the year. Live streaming for every game since 2023.
Wyandotte Sporting Fields
Multi-field soccer venue in Kansas City, Kansas. Hosts league play and Heartland-operated tournament weekends across the season.
Swope Soccer Village
Multi-field soccer venue on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro, supporting Heartland tournaments and league fixtures.
Programs and partnerships
Tournaments
Tournaments
Regional
Referees
Uniforms
Technology
Live streaming
Recognition
Beyond league play.
Programs and partnerships extend the league well past league fixtures and tournament weekends.
Heartland Invitational
Multi-weekend tournament series spread across the Heartland venues, drawing teams from across the central United States.
Heartland Spring Cup
Annual spring tournament hosted at GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex, attracting hundreds of teams across age divisions.
US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional
SCHEELS Overland Park was selected as host for the 2024 and 2025 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships.
Referee Development Academy
Heartland operates a Referee Development Academy supporting new and developing referees across the region.
Capelli Sport partnership
Capelli Sport is the official and exclusive uniform and equipment provider of Heartland Soccer (announced 2021).
GameChanger sponsorship
Multi-year sponsorship deal with GameChanger announced in 2022 to support league communication and scheduling.
Game-day live streaming
GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex added live streaming for every game beginning in the 2023 season.
World Cup 2026 Countdown Clock
Overland Park's soccer complex installed a 2026 World Cup countdown clock in 2025.
Leadership at Heartland
Operations
Facilities
Communication
Growth
Recognition
Governance
What the Executive Director role covers.
Shane Hackett's role at Heartland spans operations, facilities, family communication, and league growth — alongside service on the Kansas Youth Soccer board.
League and tournament operations
Scheduling, refereeing, facility coordination, weather management, and standings across thousands of fixtures per season.
Venue partnerships
Long-term venue partnerships with SCHEELS Overland Park, GARMIN Olathe, Wyandotte Sporting Fields, and Swope Soccer Village.
Family-facing communication
Schedule updates, weather decisions, and tournament logistics communicated across tens of thousands of player families.
Tournament growth
Sustained year-over-year growth across league play and tournament participation.
Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame (2025)
Inducted into the Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame in 2025.
Kansas Youth Soccer board
Concurrent service on the board of Kansas Youth Soccer, the state-level governing body.
30,000+
League players each year.
40,000+
Tournament players each year.
4 venues
SCHEELS OP · GARMIN Olathe · Wyandotte · Swope.
Since 1977
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas.
League
Heartland Soccer Association
Largest soccer league and tournament host in the United States. Founded 1977.
Venue
SCHEELS Overland Park
Host of the 2024 & 2025 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships.
Venue
GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex
Live-streamed game-day coverage since 2023.
Venue
Wyandotte Sporting Fields
Kansas City, Kansas.
Venue
Swope Soccer Village
Kansas City, Missouri.
Apparel
Capelli Sport
Official and exclusive uniform and equipment provider.
Sponsor
GameChanger
Multi-year sponsorship deal (2022).
Governance
Kansas Youth Soccer
Board member.