David Baird is a coach-educator and youth development practitioner whose work spans club academy coaching, federation support, and early career performance analysis experience within the professional game.
He currently works full-time with the Scottish Football Association as a Club Services Officer (June 2019–present), supporting clubs and practitioners with the broader aim of increasing participation and raising standards of performance across the game. Alongside his federation role, he has extensive hands-on experience in player development environments, having served as an Academy Coach at Heart of Midlothian FC (January 2016–May 2021). In that post, his focus was on helping young players progress through the club’s development pathway, contributing to long-term growth within a structured academy programme.
Earlier in his pathway, Baird gained professional analysis exposure as a Performance Analyst Intern at Hibernian FC(September 2015–January 2016). During this internship, he worked within a first-team analysis setting and developed applied skills in opposition and individual feedback processes, using tools such as Sportscode, Gamebreaker, Focus, and Wyscout, building a practical understanding of how analysis supports coaching decisions.
His coaching foundations also include experience in the United States with New Jersey Soccer Group (January 2011–September 2015), where he worked as a coaching professional and developed further experience in session delivery and player support across a different football culture.
Academically, Baird studied at the University of the West of Scotland, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Coaching and Sports Development (2010–2011). He holds the Scottish FA UEFA A Licence (issued May 2021) and an Advanced Children’s Licence, reinforcing his specialism in age-appropriate coaching practice and learning design.