Our Story
About HS Academy
HS Academy was founded in 2016 by founder Caity Heap just after she graduated from Texas Tech University and began her pro career for the Houston Dash. She was committed to bringing the best out of her players and providing them the confidence to take their game to the next level. Her attention to detail and focus on technical abilities using both feet are the foundation of HS Academy. Our mission within HS Academy is to provide our athletes with everything they may need for both the on and off the field aspects of the game to guide them towards success.
Get to Know the Founder
I was born in Tampa, Florida but grew up in McKinney, Texas. I started playing soccer when I was four years old and quickly adapted myself to a life on the field. My soccer career started on a recreational front, but as my skills quickly started to progress, my parents acknowledged my potential and encouraged me to take my talents to another level. This graduation brought me up to the club level, giving me the opportunity to push myself and see the game on a whole new front.
My club team was Sting Royal 95 out of Dallas, with whom I played since I began select soccer. Needless to say, I was and will forever be a Sting Lifer. I will never forget that group of girls and the many experiences we encountered, including the victory of three national championships together. However, my coaches, Tatu and Kenny Medina, really taught me everything. They led me to success, preparing me for life on and off the field and brought me into the mindset I needed in order to play on a collegiate level.
My life continued to work its way around soccer and before I knew it, I was a starter on the McKinney Boyd high school soccer team. My growth on the field as a Sting player was quickly admired, leading me to a verbal commitment with Texas Tech University as a sophomore in high school. During my junior year, our team later took the title of 5A State Champions, solidifying our role in the McKinney Boyd Hall of fame. My senior year, however, came to a more anticlimactic close after tearing my ACL in my right knee. Being that this was the night prior to me signing at Texas Tech, the injury absolutely devastated me. Fortunately, Head Coach Tom Stone believed in me as a player and was not ready to let an injury get in my—or frankly, his—way. I rehabbed my knee, got back into the game and was ready to play in 6 months.
Though I didn’t see much of the field, I did end up getting to play my freshman year at Tech! That was typical of someone coming back from an injury, but I was never satisfied with that as an excuse. By my senior year, I was better than ever; I was a starter and played every minute. Coach Stone taught me just as much about the the game as he did life and was an integral part of my development as a person. That same year, we took home the Big 12 Championship, which was the first tournament win in Texas Tech History. This win gave me the opportunity to play a part in the All Big 12 Team, a list of the best players participating in the tournament.
I graduated from Texas Tech University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Sport Sciences and a minor in General Business, ready for the next move!
After graduating from Tech, I secured my spot in the draft of the National Woman’s Soccer League. I wasn’t drafted at the time, but was highly sought out by the coach of the Houston Dash, Randy Waldrum, where he asked me if I would be interested in participating in a camp with the team. I accepted the invitation —thrilled— and later succeeded in signing my first professional contract as a Midfielder on the Dash. I played in Houston for the 2016 and 2017 season, averaging two starts a year, which advanced me in doubling my playing time.
There was so much to take away from my experience on the Dash —however— getting the exposure to play both with and against the top players in the world was immeasurable.
After two competitive seasons with the Dash, things took a bit of a turn when we were assigned to a new coach. 2018 was suddenly a whole new game, as I found myself fighting my way back onto the teams’ roster. Once the camps came to an end, the decision to terminate my contract with the Dash was set in stone.
Though this may be discouraging to some, for me, it was actually a blessing disguised as a curse. My journey with the Dash had concluded itself, opening up the opportunity for me to take my talents to the other side of the globe. I signed my first international contract, where I played for Mallbackens IF in the Swedish second division Elitettan. This was —without a doubt— one of the most influential experiences I have ever had as a player. When I arrived, I was ready for whatever challenge that presented itself. I saw a lot more playing time than that of my previous seasons, which allowed me to develop in ways I never had to before.
In 2019, I began a new chapter with AC Sparta Praha; immersing myself in the new reality of a big time club. However, as history tends to repeat itself, four months into my contract, I ended up tearing my ACL in my left knee.
I had a few different options, but I chose to terminate my contract with AC Sparta, get surgery on my knee and do my rehabilitation back home in the states. Though this injury was a major hurdle in my career at the time, I knew that when the time was right and I was healed properly, I could play wherever I wanted to later down the road.
I returned home to Dallas, got my surgery and decided to take the rest of the year off so I could heal properly. It was important that I was the best version of myself —emotionally, mentally, and physically— before continuing to pursue my soccer career.
In May of 2020, I was playing for a local semi-pro team called Dallas International FC. It was a great opportunity for me, as it showed me how much I still love the game and want to continue playing.
While also pursuing my professional career on the field, I ran the soccer department for a college recruiting company. Working for that company gave me the opportunity to help high school athletes earn scholarships to play collegiate sports. I was able to mentor and guide both the players and their families through the recruiting process, which provided an unparalleled sense of purpose in my life.
Once I got a taste of playing on the local semi pro team, I knew that I wanted to continue my playing career. I searched for a new agent, found an amazing one, and he began searching for teams. I knew exactly what I wanted in a team, country, and program. After two short weeks, my agent came to me with a great opportunity to play for UMF Selfoss in Iceland. After thinking through everything and talking it over with my family, I knew this was it – a whole new country I have never been to, a competitive league, and a club that takes care of their athletes.
My experience in Iceland was amazing – it was a beautiful country and I was playing every minute of every game. I had to be a difference maker for this team and I finished the season with probably my best pro career record. This was one of the best experiences abroad i’ve ever had.
Why Retire Now?
People always ask me – ‘Why did you decide to retire so early?’ It was honestly an easy decision for me and one that no one will truly understand. But what I felt throughout my Icelandic season was that there was more to life than soccer – the losses didn’t feel the same and I wanted to create a new chapter in my life. I always said that I would play the game for as long as I could and as long as I still loved it – the truth is, I will never not love the game. I just had this feeling that I wanted something beyond soccer – a family, kids, and a new career path, all while still being a part of the game in some capacity. I’m glad that I decided to play one more season after my injury and close out my professional career with one of my best seasons yet. It’s weird to think about me retiring at Carli Lloyds age, 39 – I just feel like so much could happen in that 12 years outside of life on the field. For me, I just want something different, a way to still be connected to the game, while also having the opportunity to explore other interests of mine. I’ve played the game since I was 4 years old and professionally for 6 years. I knew the kind of dedication and commitment it takes and physically I could keep going, but mentally I am not there in the same capacity that I know that level of play requires. Overall, I’m glad that I was able to retire on my own terms and coming off my best season as a pro player. At this point in time, I love being able to use my expertise to coach, mentor, and guide the kids in my academy, and show them how to love the game that gave me absolutely everything.