He coached in Singapore, has FIFA credentials. Now, he brings European soccer to Atlantis.

Competitive soccer was nonexistent for young Joe Keiser growing up in New York City in the 1950s.

But his grandfather from southern Austria introduced the East Long Island native to the game at age 4. He trained himself daily with his younger sister Katherine with his first soccer ball. She became his first opponent in their backyard.

Now, Keiser is taking his knowledge and passion for the game to Fall River.

"When [my grandfather] came here, he was an immigrant," he said. "He brought with him the love of soccer. He just watched the game. Of course, being a young boy, I would spend a lot of time with [him]."

Keiser is the new head coach for the Atlantis Charter girls soccer team, which is in the midst of its first-ever season. The Tritons coach is passionate about the game and has a lot of experience under his belt.

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"It was like a fairy tale you would see on Nexflix," Keiser said. "I talked to the AD and he gave me all the reasons why I would not want the job. Those were all the reasons nobody wanted the job.

"I turned around and told him that is the reason why I want this job. I really wanted to do it because as difficult as it was this is what I've done. I've turned cellar teams into first [place] before."

So far, Keiser is true to his word as Atlantis Charter is off to an impressive 4-1 start.

"Each game is a new game," he said. "If I were to attribute this to anything then it would be to the players' spirit. Psychology is most important and they are responding. I have a lot of trust and respect for these girls. They want to play and play the right way."

Keiser returned to the United States after living in Singapore since 1983. He returned when COVID-19 hit because he wanted to be with his family.

Keiser said he was looking for an opportunity to coach before writing to Atlantis Charter in the summer.

"I began looking around at the scene and seeing what the soccer world was here in the United States," he said. "It took a while to go through all of that. I realized that at the university level is probably where my experience makes the most sense. Then I looked at high schools. It's a place where you're beginning a career in soccer. But I found it's competitive."

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How he became a soccer coach

Keiser went all through high school without playing soccer. After graduation, he entered Fordham University where he played ice hockey instead of soccer.

"Interesting enough, there was a soccer team at the university," Keiser smiled. "The school wanted me to play soccer but instead I played for the local Croatian club team in New York. I wasn't getting up early to do both."

When he graduated college, Keiser worked for Pepsi Cola International and met his wife, Noeline, in 1981. Shortly after that, they were married. Keiser was then offered a job at National Semiconductor in Singapore in 1983.

Four years later, he started as an ANZA coach in 1987.

"I knew nothing about coaching," he said.

Over the years, he coached or was associated with different levels of soccer from youth to the talented European leagues and teams. He even organized a league with all the corporates from Westchester county in New York.

"When we came back to the USA, it doesn't count what you did in other places if you're not known in the place that you're going," Keiser said. "I have scouting credentials, I am an agent for USSF, I have all the coaching credentials from FIFA on down. I coached in all levels."

His wife received a presidential award in Singapore for her involvement in community soccer and he became the chairmen of the community league in 2009. Keiser, who also received many awards, had over 118 assistant coaches. His stamp on the sport stretches from Australia, New Zealand, Italian and London club teams and Singapore football league.

"I have always lived an entire life where no one played football [soccer]," he said. "I had to do it myself."

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Teaching European soccer at Atlantis

Keiser loves teaching soccer his way — the European way. His team is taking full advantage of the lessons.

Atlantis Charter players include CC Cabral, Destiny Rodney, Julia Ribon, Izzy St. Pierre, Jasmine Almeida, Bella Dos Reis, Jayda Braga and Cidney Barboza, and Keiser says they have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Three of the four wins this year were by just one goal. The other win was a 4-0 shutout against South Shore Christian.

"The kids are playing, very exciting now," he said. "I'm targeting the tactics instead of the technique and teaching them how to play soccer the way soccer is played in the countries that I'm used to."

Currently, the Tritons are ranked 47th in the Division V power rankings. They can still get into the state playoffs as long as they maintain a .500 or better record.

"The girls are taking to it and loving it," Keiser said. "They are going step by step."

Keiser resides in Seekonk with his wife. They have four children — Joe III, Nicole, Kristofer, and Shane — along with six grandchildren.

"We are a northeast family," he said.

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Atlantis Charter girls soccer coach has FIFA, ANZA, USSF experience