MEET OUR TEAM
TAYGUN KOC
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Houston, Texas to Turkish-Canadian parents, Taygun is a first-generation American whose life has been deeply shaped by the beautiful game. From a young age, he competed at the highest levels of youth soccer, playing in elite platforms such as the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), ECNL, and MLS Next.
As a standout leader on the field, Taygun captained Seven Lakes High School—one of the top-ranked high school programs in the country. His efforts earned him multiple honors, including All-District, All-State, and an All-American nomination. As a result of his success at the youth level, Taygun received over 21 NCAA Division I scholarship offers before ultimately committing to Xavier University, where he competed in the Big East Conference. After college, he continued his playing career in USL League Two, the nation’s premier pre-professional league, for two seasons.
Taygun founded PlayerFirst with a mission: to empower student-athletes and their families by demystifying the college recruiting process. Leveraging his firsthand experience and expansive college coaching network, Taygun is committed to helping players who are ready to invest in themselves find the right fit—on the field, in the classroom, and for their future.
Education – Texas A&M University, Xavier University, Seven Lakes High School
KORTAY KOC
SCOUTING DIRECTOR – NORTHEAST REGION
Kortay is another seasoned recruiter with an in-depth understanding of soccer in the United States and abroad. His youth career was shaped at the USSDA and MLS Next levels, earning him a full scholarship to Northeastern University, an NCAA Division 1 program right in the heart of Boston. Kortay also played professionally in the Spanish 4th Division with C.F. Fuenlabrada, a club settled in the outskirts of Madrid.
Kortay was brought on board in January 2026 to spearhead PlayerFirst's efforts in expanding to the Northeast region.
Education – Northeastern University, Seven Lakes High School
ROSS VERSARI
SCOUTING DIRECTOR – MIDWEST REGION
Ross Versari brings firsthand experience from every side of the college recruiting process, having navigated it both as a high school prospect and university transfer. His playing background includes MLS NEXT and several Italian academies, most notably ACF Fiorentina, and he currently competes at NCAA Division I University of Nebraska Omaha.
Ross joined PlayerFirst in March 2026 to spearhead the agency’s expansion throughout the Midwest region.
Education – University of Nebraska–Omaha, University of Texas at Dallas, A&M Consolidated High School