TRAVEL TEAM COACH BIOGRAPHIES
FOR THE 2024-2025 SEASON



 

MAKAI BEADLE - Assistant coach foe our 2014 birth boys E team
Makai is a former LMSC Invictus 04 player and an alum of Lower Merion High School. After a few years at LMSC, Makai earned himself trials with the Philadelphia Union and FC Delco. In his final two years of high school he was a member of the FC Delco's 2004 MLS Next squad. Makai also had the opportunity to be invited to Jamaica for a National team Camp in 2022. After his high school career he went on to play with East Stroudsburg University. He has since decided to coach with LMSC and give kids the same positive impact that so many coaches here have given to him.


 

MICHAEL BEADLE - Head coach for our boys Under 14 A team and boys Under 13 B team.
Mike has been coaching for many years at the Chester Upland Youth Soccer Program and the West Philly Hurricanes Soccer Academy. He has also served for five years as the Director of Soccer Programming for the Village of Champions Network in Philadelphia. He oversees a staff of coaches and volunters, organizes fundraising events and coaches in that program. Michael played at the college level for Lincoln University where he majored in Health Science. Michael was the team captain for three years and led the team to the Division Conference championship in his senior year. He was awarded the "Senior Player Of The Year Award."


  RICK BELL - Head coach for our boys Under 14 A team and our girls Under 12 A team

Rick has been an active soccer player since the age of five. He played club soccer and high school soccer up in Connecticut where he was selected to the Greater New Haven District all area first team. After high school, Rick played for the Temple University club team and still plays in various adult leagues in the area. Rick began his coaching career for the Barnard Middle School team in New Haven, CT. He recently moved to this area and was an assistant coach for the LMSC Vortex (Under 13A boys team) in 2017-2018. Rick helped lead Vortex to the state cup semifinals.



  CHRIS BLACK - Head coach for our girls Under 8 A team and our girls Under 10 A team

Chris is an assistant coach at Gwynedd Mercy College. While attending Gwynedd Mercy College as a student, Chris was an all-conference selection as well as a team captain. He is currently the head coach of our 2011 boys LMSC Rangers Navy team and Rangers Red team. Chris was an Olympic Development Program Region 1 selection, as well as captain of the State ODP team in Eastern PA. Chris also won a championship at his High school team where he was the two year captain and received the Player Of The Year Award in his senior year.



  JEROME BLAND - Head coach for our girls Under 14 / Under 15 team

A London, England native, Jerome played at the Semi-professional level in South London before becoming a student athlete. Bland is a former Bloomfield College athlete and part of the CACC Championship winning team in 2015. He would then play in the semi professional leagues in New Jersey winning championships in the GSSL, UPSL and NISA Nations league. He served as an assistant coach at Bloomfield College and then most recently at Kean University from 2016 through 2020. Bland has coached youth travel soccer since 2017, and runs a soccer coaching company offering camps, private, and group sessions to the community. His favorite team is Manchester United, and enjoys spending time with family and friends taking adventures. Bland graduated from Bloomfield College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 2017. He would go on to graduate from Kean University with an MBA in 2020.



  JEREMY BRODOVSKY - Assistant coach for our boys 12 Dominators and Gladiators teams

Jeremy has been a youth soccer coach for both boys and girls in the Philadelphia area for over 25 years, including taking the GCVSA U14 Girls to the EPYSA State Cup semifinals in 2012. He also coached 10 years at the college level, including five years as head women's coach at Neumann Univesity (2008-2012), where he was named the 2011 Colonial States Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. While at Neumann, Jeremy had twenty players named to the All Conference Team and also had the 2010 and 2011 Rookies of the Year. Jeremy led the team to its first playoff berth as well as its first postseason berth. The teams received four Team Ethics Awards and two Team Academic Awards from the NSCAA. The team was also voted the EP&D Fair Play Award in 2009. Jeremy holds an NSCAA National Diploma and USSF C license as well as a goalkeeping certification.



  FRANKY CARROZZA - Director of 4 and 5 Year Old Programs and director of LMSC Summer Camps

Franky was a full time preschool and kindergarten teacher for 10 years. She played youth soccer for the New-Hope Solebury Soccer Club. She later played field hockey and lacrosse at Lehigh University and has coached soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and floor hockey for a wide range of age groups. Franky also coached in the US Field Hockey Futures Olympic Development Program.



  DAVID CASSANELLI - Head coach for our Under 9 B boys team and assistant coach for our boys Under 11 A team.

David has been the head coach for the Haverford High School Haverford High School boys varsity team for the last six seasons and has led them to the district playoffs in five of those seasons. Prior to David taking over as head coach, the team hadn't made district playoffs since 2007, when he was a senior at Haverford High School. In 2021, he was voted Central League Coach Of The Year. He is currently the head coach for the LMSC Crows Navy, our boys Under 9 A team, as well as the LMSC Eagles U-16 boys team. Prior to coaching the Crows, he coached the LMSC Mayhem, and LMSC Boom, who won the U9 'B' flight indoor state championship. David played for the D1 Men's team at Duquesne University for four years. As a youth player, David played for many years at the 'A' level for LMSC. In high school, David earned All Southestern Pennsylvania Honors, All State Honors and was selected Delaware County Player Of The Year.



  JUSTINE DAVIS - Head coach for our girls Under 10 B travel teams.

Justine played soccer at the collegiate level for Bryn Mawr College and recently graduated in the spring of 2022 with an undergraduate degree in economics. She served as an assistant coach with LMSC for several seasons, and most recently spent the last two seasons as a head coach with the U9 girls teams. Justine is from West Chester, PA and grew up playing club soccer locally at FC Delco and Penn Fusion as well as on ODP teams throughout high school.



  KAILA DEFRANCESCO - Head coach for our girls Under 8 B team and girls Under 17 A team. Director of LMSC Summer Camps.

Kaila is the current head coach for our 2016 Girls B team and 2008/2009 Girls A team. She played goalkeeper throughout her travel soccer career in Connecticut. Kaila has been involved with numerous teams in LMSC including the Developmental Academy and our LMSC Summer Camp Programs.



  CHARLIE DODDS - Head coach for our boys Under 17 A team.

In 2017, Charlie led his LMSC 007's team to the boys Under 10 state finals. Charlie was the President of YSC Sports in Wayne. for many years. He is currently President of Rocket Sports in Hatboro. Charlie is the head coach for the West Chester East boys varsity. East were league champions in 2020 and co-champions of the ChesMont League in 2018. Charlie was named ChesMont League coach of the year at East in 2020, 2018, 2003 and 2002. He was Central League Coach of the Year in 2012 while coaching Marple Newtown High School. Charlie was also awarded as the Daily Local Coach Of The Year in 2020. In 2003, Charlie lead West Chester East High school to a second place finish in the state playoffs, losing the state championship game in overtime. Charlie has been coaching youth soccer and running soccer camps for over 25 years. Charlie was a standout player at Cabrini College.



  MACKENZIE EHRESMAN - Head coach for our boys Under 9 D team

Mackenzie was a captain for the St. Joseph's University Women's team and a four year starter for the team on defense. In 2018, Mackenzie was selected for the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and was the only rookie to start all 21 games. She also started all 19 games in 2019. Mackenzie was a team captain as a junior and as a senior for Central Bucks South, leading the team to the state final as a junior. She also played basketball at Central Bucks. Mackenzie graduated from St. Joes in 2022 where she majored in Biology.



  HENRY FARR - Head coach for our boys Under 10 B team.

Henry is co-head coach for the LMSC Wolves, our Under 9 boys travel teams. He served as also the assistant coach for the Harriton High School Boys Varsity for several years. Henry played high level travel team soccer in Lower Merion Soccer Club for many years, helping lead his team, the LMSC Magic, to two state championships. He was a standout soccer player at The Shipley School and later played soccer at Trinity College. Henry started out at LMSC as one of our youngest players and is now helping lead the Pee-Wees, Atoms and Neutrons Divisions.



  PETE GANGL - Head coach for our girls 2017 Birth A and B teams as well as our Under 12 B boys team.

Pete has coached at LMSC for over 20 years. He is also the head coach for the Harriton High School girls varsity team. Pete's LMSC Impact team won the girls Under 16 state championship in 2021. In 2019, Pete was voted Eastern Pennyslvania Youth Soccer Association's (EPYSA) Travel Team Coach Of The Year. Pete was the head coach for the LMSC Storm for 10 years. During that time, they were in the state championship game six consecutive years, winning state cups at U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19. In 2019, the Storm were finalists in the Under 19 Region One championships. They were Region One semifinalists in 2017 and 2018. Over 20 of the Storm players went on to play at the college level in 2019. The Impact were state finalists in 2017 and are were one of the top teams in the state. Pete was the recipient of the LMSC Girls Coach Of The Year Award in 2006, 2017 and 2019. In 2017, Pete led both the Storm and the Impact to EPYSA Indoor State Championships. Pete earned his NFHS/NSCAA Professional Development Certificate as well as his NSCAA Mental/Physical Player Development Diploma. Pete coached our LMSC Stingrays girls team through U-14 and the LMSC Mustangs boys team from U-13 through U-18. Pete was assistant coach for the Valley Forge Military College's Men's team for several years. Pete holds a USSF National License, NSCAA diploma, NSCAA Goalkeeper Diploma and a USFF Futsal Certification.



  ANTHONY HAINES - Head Coach for our Under 8 A boys team

Anthony is the current head coach for our Under 8 A Mambas Navy. He is also the assistant coach for the Sporting PA 2011 Irmaos and 2011 Premier groups. He currently holds his UEFA B and USSF C coaching licenses. In 2021, he led the LMSC Rovers to the boys Under 9 EPYSA State Cup finals. He served two years as the head coach for the Harriton High School Boys Junior Varsity team. Anthony was named the Boys Travel Team Coach Of The Year in the Fall of 2019 and Intramural Program coach of the year in 2017. Anthony grew up playing for LMSC Magic, helping the team win two outdoor and three indoor State Championships. Anthony played varsity soccer at Lower Merion High School for three years where he was captain his senior year, receiving All Main Line second team and All Central League honors. He played on the Club soccer team at Temple University where he graduated with a BBA in Economics and Finance from the Fox School of Business. Anthony is currently the Operations Director at Sporting Athletic Club - a partnership club of LMSC for the travel team program.



  DALE HAINES - Club Vice President, Boys Travel Team Director of Coaching, head coach for our boys 2016 B team. Head of Summer Program for travel team players.

Dale has been coaching with LMSC for 17 years. Dale is LMSC Vice President and Travel Team Director. He also runs the LMSC Summer Travel Team Program. Dale's teams have won three State Cup Championships (Invictus 2017 and 2021, Irmãos 2022), have been State Cup finalists four times (Invictus 2018, 2019, 2022, Sporting PA 2010 Premier) and State Cup semi-finalist twice (Swarm 2014, Irmãos 2021). Invictus was also a Region I finalist in 2017 and semifinalist in 2021. Dale's teams have also won numerous league championships and elite tournaments, including Bethesda Premier Cup (Swarm, Invictus 2X, Irmãos), EDP tournament events (Irmãos, Invictus), Lou Ramos (Invictus), Annandale Premier Cup (Swarm), Nation's Capital Cup (Irmãos) and the Tottenham/Southampton Cup (Swarm, Sporting PA 2011 Irmãos). Dale was awarded the LMSC Intramural Coach of the Year in 2012 and the LMSC Travel Team Coach of the Year in 2021. He has been nominated twice (2021, 2022) for the EDP Mid-Atlantic Zone 1 Boys Coach of the Year honors. Dale holds a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma and UEFA B license. For his day job, Dale is an Associate Professor of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University.



  RYAN HARTZELL - Head coach for our girls Under 19 A team and boys Under 17 B team

Ryan previously served as the head coach for the Rosemont College women's team. Ryan played at the college level at Rosemont where he finished his career in the top five of most of Rosemont College's Men's Program career scoring records. Before being named head coach, Ryan served as assistant coach for several years at Rosemont.



  ART HERNANDEZ -Director of the LMSC Developmental Academy, Director of Summer Camps and and Little-All Stars (2 and 3 yar olds) Program. Head coach for our boys Under 9 C travel team and boys Under 13 A travel team

Art is LMSC's Director of the club's Developmental Academy and runs our summer camps and winter training programs. He is also head coach for the LMSC Mayhem, our Under 17 boys team. He founded and runs our "Little All-Stars" program for 2 and 3 year olds. Coach Art has coached and trained teams that have won State Cups, along with National and Regional competitions and tournaments. Coach Art is very vested in his coaching education and, in addition to holding an USSF A-License, he has over 20 coaching diplomas, certification and licenses. He is also a mentor and sports-lifestyle coach. In addition to coaching, he currently volunteers his time to collaborate and network with various soccer coaching groups (locally and nationally) to produce and host podcasts, content and coaching material.



  JAMES HUTH - Head coach for our boys Under 11 D team

James has been a long-time member of LMSC, going back to the Club's origins when he played for Gladwyne Soccer Club in the early 1980s. In addition to playing with LMSC in his youth, he also played on various select teams, and in Europe. Due to an injury in his senior year at Harriton High School, he did not play in college, but later played with various club teams including with the Ukranian National Club in Philadelphia. More recently, he spent five years coaching in LMSC's intramurals program, and during the past two years, James has been coaching in the Girls Travel Program. James is currently in the process of acquiring his US Soccer Federation D Coaching License and the NSCAA Goalkeeper Level 1 License. James resides in Bryn Mawr with this family. His daughter Elizabeth currently plays in the LMSC Girls Travel Program.



  PAN KARALIS - Head coach for our boys Under 10 C team

Pan has been coaching since 2016, and has experience with some of the top programs in the Philadelphia area, including the Philadelphia Union academy and youth programs. Aside from LMSC, Pan coaches with Eastern Pennsylvania ODP, and trains goalkeepers with an organization out of Bucks County called Between the Posts. He's also a player-coach with the PSC Coppa men's team, which competes in the semi-professional EPSL. Pan has his USC Goalkeeper Coaching Diploma levels I, II & III, and 'grassroots' and 11v11 licenses through US Soccer.



  SAM LANE - Head coach for our boys U-10 A travel team and Boys Travel Team Director of Coaching

Sam is the Boy's Travel Team Director for LMSC and is responsible for working with and helping train the LMSC Coaching Staff as well as both LMSC Social Media and College Placement Director. Sam currently holds a USSF C License and a UEFA C License. At the moment, coaches the U10 Wolves Navy, the 2011 Sporting PA Premier and is an assistant for the Sporting AC 2010 and 2008 age groups.

In 2022, his U9 Wolves Navy were crowned State Champions. In 2021, he led the LMSC Invictus 04 group to the Boys U17 State Championship and to the USYS Regional Semi Final. Previously, Sam coached at Drexel University (D1) and Sewanee: The University of the South (D3), where he was responsible for recruiting, scouting, video analysis, social media coordination and planning training sessions. Sam previously was a soccer standout at Franklin and Marshall College, leading the Diplomats to a 55-15-5 record over his four-year career, including winning the Centennial Conference for the first time in program history and advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in the same year. In the following year, Sam helped lead the Diplomats to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Sam was named 1st Team All Centennial and 1st Team Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star as a senior, and named 2nd Team All Centennial Conference as a sophomore. Sam was former LMSC player, playing for the LMSC Roadkill.



  JENNA LEONZI - Head coach for our U-9 C girls, assistant coach for our girls Under 11 B team

Jenna started playing club soccer for Lehigh Valley United. She was co-captain helping lead them to the number 3 ranking in the state, 10th in the region and 20th nationally. In her junior year of high school, she started playing for Penn Fusion soccer club. She played four years of varsity soccer at Parkland High School in Allentown. She was team captain and is ranked fifth all-time in assists. Jenna graduated from Saint Joseph's University in 2022 and played division one soccer for the Hawks all four years. She helped lead the Hawks to three A10 tournament appearances. In the fall of 2023, Jenna was honored by LMSC as being the club's "Assistant Travel Team Coach Of The Year."



  REGINALD LLOYD - Head coach for our boys Under 2016 birth C and D team

Reginald played in Lower Merion Soccer Club for many years. Reginald played for both 1995's boys travel A team, Lower Merion Lightning and for 1997's boys travel A team, Lower Merion Magic. Reginald contributed to both teams, helping them win multiple state championships at both ages. Reginald was an All-Catholic athlete for Archbishop John Carroll his high school, and later played soccer at Virginia Wesleyan University and Eastern University. Since graduating high school, Reginald has been coaching at the club level for Lower Merion Soccer Club and Palumbo SC.



  GABY MAZZONI - Assistan coach for our girls Developmental Academy

Gaby has been with LMSC for over 14 years, starting out as a player in the intramural program and the U8 Developmental Academy. She then became one of the original eight players from the DA to play for the LMSC Storm their entire club careers. Under Coach Pete Gangl, the LMSC Storm was consistently a top-ranked team in the region and on the national level. The Storm won a total of four state championships (U-16 through U-19). As a mid-fielder for the Storm, Gaby was a key member in the success of the team in the highly competitive National League and top-tier tournaments. As a four-year varsity player and two-year captain at Harriton High School, Gaby lead the girls' soccer team to record performances, earning playoff spots four consecutive years. Gaby continued her soccer career at West Chester University, a top-ten DII school, but had to retire early due to recurrent injuries. She is currently a junior at WCU studying sports medicine on her way to becoming a certified athletic trainer. Gaby has coached in the LMSC intramural program for several years, earning the Intramural Coach of the Year Award in Fall 2020. Her long-term goal is to develop into a career soccer coach and continue to help develop the next generation of soccer players.



  BRIAN McDAID - Head coach for our boys Under 2014 birth D team

Brian McDaid is a qualified coach who has worked at The Shipley School's Varsity team as an assistant coach. He also has coached in Ireland with Tolka Rovers youth team. He has coached individual/group sessions at all levels, from youth players to NCAA D1 to professionals. Brian has worked with them all through his private coaching business, Tek Soccer Training. Brian has played for many teams growing up. Starting from first team to most recent: Haverford Soccer Club, Lower Merion, FCUSA, FC Delco MLS Next (was named FC Continental DA for all but one year he played) and Penn Fusion ECNL. He played College at Dublin City University in Ireland where he won the Farquhar Cup in his third year. He now plays with West Chester Predators NPSL squad.



  RORY McDERMOTT - Head coach for our U-13 B girls travel team

Rory is in his fourth year with LMSC, having been an assistant coach under Dan Remmes with the girls 2011 Sol team. Rory comes from the Reading area, having played for Exeter Township Senior High school and in 2008 was an integral part in Exeter's first ever District III championship. Rory played club soccer at Temple University and was also part of Philadelphia Fury's Inaugural season in 2012. Rory is also an assistant coach and JV Coach and Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Lower Gwynedd. Rory is a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and a PE teacher at Haverford Middle School. Rory is currently pursuing coaching certificates, earning his first one in 2021 with the US Soccer Grassroots 11v11 certificate.



  MIKE McGEE - Head coach for our boys Under 16 A team

Mike grew up playing soccer in Reading, PA and went on to play at Bloomsburg University. After college, Mike worked at Rage Soccer Club in Reading when he was in charge of the development program for players U-10 and younger. He also coached their U-18 boys team which qualified for the Super Y League finals in 2013. He was the tournament director for the club's Flash Tournament for two years along with doing other administrative work for the club. He holds a National "D" License. Mike left Rage to go back to school to become a teacher and is currently an elementary school teacher in North Philadelphia.



  GRANT MYERS - Head coach for our Under 9 A boys team, Under 11 A boys team and our Under 9 A & B girls teams and Girls Technical Director. Head of our LMSC Summer Camps

Brings over 20 years of coaching premier level club and high school soccer, college soccer, as well as coaching in the former US Soccer Developmental Academy. Over the years, his teams have participated in some of the most prestigious tournaments, including the Dallas Cup, throughout the country. Teams have won numerous State Cup titles, played in the Regional Championships, and has helped produce many student-athletes who have moved on to some of the top programs and institutions around the country. Two notable and local players that Grant had the opportunity to coach in their youth days … Matthew Real (Wake Forest Commit / Philadelphia Union) and Zack Steffen (University of Maryland / Manchester City and USA Men's National Team). Grant's Motto: Try your best, work hard and smart, and most importantly, have FUN!



  SILVINA OCAMPO - Head coach for our Under 10 girls C team and our Under 12 girls C team

Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Silvina was part of San Carlos soccer club first as a player and later as a coach for their youth teams. In 2009, after moving to USA, she started playing soccer with the Philadelphia Eagles soccer club where she currently plays. A very experienced referee, she has officiated college games and matches in MLS Next, the WPSL Summer League , EDP, etc. While developing as a referee, she started coaching club soccer. Silvina hold a USSF D License and the 4v4, 9v9 and 11v11 grassroots coaching licenses from US soccer. Currently, she is taking the license C, which she will finish in May. Soccer is her real passion. She has been involved in soccer for more than 45 years. As a player, referee or a coach, she always finds the perfect reason to be on the field. Passion, Dedication, Success!



  SAM OLYAEI - Head Coach for our boys Under 12 B team

Sam has been the head coach of LMSC Rovers Red, our Under 11 Travel Team for the last three years. This team, part of an expanded "A" group (with Rovers Navy) have won multiple fall/spring EDP league championships. In addition, the team is the current State Cup champions (2022) under EPYSA, after being finalists in the previous two years. Previously, Sam was with Beachside Soccer Club and Westport Soccer Association as a head coach for their U13, U14, and U15 premier and travel teams. Prior to his coaching career, Sam was a D1/club soccer player at Fairfield University where he graduated with an MBA and BA in Economics and International Studies. Additionally he played for semi-pro clubs at the U19 and U23 level before spending a stint as a technical assistant responsible for scouting and performance tracking. Sam currently holds a UEFA C License, USSF D license, AFC Grassroots License and various other grassroots certifications at the Youth Level.



  SINA OLYAEI - Head Coach for our boys Under 12 C team

Sina is currently the Head Coach of the U11 Victory team. He grew up playing internationally at semi-pro academies in Dubai, UAE. His coaching qualification and experience includes: UEFA 'B' License Candidate, Tactical/Performance Analysis Certified, UEFA C License and USSF License. His coaching experience includes: Lower Merion SC- PA: U11 Head Coach (2022- Present), Lower Merion SC- PA: U15 Head Coach (2020-2022), Lower Merion SC- PA: U9 Head Coach (2020-2021).



  MELTEM OZDEMIR - Head Coach for our girls Under 9 C team

Meltem, a native of South Jersey, played club soccer in the Penns Grove Soccer League. In high school, she was a 4-year varsity member on the Saint Mark's High School women's soccer team in Wilmington, Delaware. Following the completion of high school, she continued her collegiate soccer career at Penn State Brandywine. Her freshman year she started 11 games and helped the team reach the USCAA National Championship. In 2018 and 2019, she won two back-to-back PSUAC championships. During her collegiate career, she was two-time team captain and two-time First Team All-PSUAC player. Also, she earned the PSUAC All-Academic team, received the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award and all-American honorable mention. She graduated from Brandywine in May 2022 with a degree in biology. Upon graduation, she was an assistant coach for Penn State Brandywine's women's soccer team in Fall 2022. She is currently pursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree at Temple University.



  JULIAN REY - Head coach for our boys Under 12 Dominators team and Battle Cattle team

Julián grew up playing in Bogotá, Colombia, until moving to Lower Merion at the age of 10. Julián stayed active playing in the area until a back injury freshman year at Harriton High School, where he had to stop playing for through High School. Julián decided to go to Temple University and study Sport and Recreation management. Through those years he was active in youth soccer earning a USSF Grade 7 Referee Certificate. For his senior internship at Temple he earned a role at Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, working in their administrative and events side. Being able to work first hand on Indoor Cup, Outdoor Cups, and getting to travel to Presidents Cup Regional championships in 2018. Julián has coached for Lower Merion SC in Intramural and Travel for the past five years, earning a USSF D license during that time.



  KEVIN RHOADES - Assistant coach for our boys Developmental Academy Program

Kevin ws head coach for the LMSC Fever for many years. In 2016, Kevin led the LMSC Fire to the EPYSA Indoor State Championship. Kevin is also very active in LMSC as a staff coach, coaching in our Developmental Academy as well as our many training programs. Kevin earned his 'D' level coaching license from U.S. Soccer. Kevin played four years for the Division One men's team at St. Joseph's University. After graduating, Kevin coached the Rosemont College women's team for two years, leading them to the CSAC conference championship. In 2015, Kevin's LMSC Herricanes team won the Under 13 Girls Indoor State championship. Kevin coached youth soccer for the Ukrainian Nationals club before coming to LMSC where he is a senior staff coach, running numerous training sessions throughout the year. As a youth player, Kevin played in the EPYSA Olympic Development Program. He played club soccer for Super Nova FC under Yugoslavian national player Niki Nikolic.



  OSNI ROCHA - Level 3 goalkeeper instructor

Osni is the assistant Men's head coach at Chestnut Hill College. Before that, he was the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Rosemont College for five years. He was also the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Archbishop Ryan for two seasons. Osni has been coaching goalkeepers in the club system for seven years now. Osni played goalie from 2008-2012 at Holy Family University where the team was nationally ranked at the Division 2 level.



  JESENIA ROMERO-ROSE - Head coach for our girls Under 11 C team

Jesenia began her coaching career with LMSC Intramural in Fall 2021 and quickly felt at home back on the pitch. In Summer 2022 she began coaching girls U10 C & D teams. She played youth soccer, starting at the age of 9, fell in love with the sport and the camaraderie with her teammates! She was a versatile player, playing from right winger to sweeper and backup goalie. She continued to play club and travel, including a NJ state team. She also played for Holy Cross High School in NJ from Freshman year to Junior year, including being the captain her Sophomore year. Unfortunately, she had a knee injury during her high school career which didn't allow her to continue playing any further. Her coaching philosophy is to nurture the player as a whole which includes individual ball skills, soccer IQ, emotional stamina and most importantly building trust with themselves and their teammates which translates on the field as a team moving together and building a rhythm.



  ANTHONY SCIOTTO - Head coach for our boys Under 12 F team

Anthony has played soccer for 14 years total. He played youth soccer for Washington United, winning the New Jersey President's Cup in 2019. He was then a two year varsity starter for Washington Township High School before graduating in 2022. Anthony now plays for the Neumann University Men's Soccer team as a sophomore, majoring in sport management.



  NICO SEVERINI - Head coach for our girls Under 16 A team

Nico has been the head head coach for the LMSC Furia, our Under 16 A girls travel team, for seven years. In 2017, Nico led the Furia to the EPYSA Indoor State Cup championship. In 2015 and 2013, Nico led the LMSC Fenix to the EPYSA State Championship. Nico is the head coach for Lower Merion High School boys varsity. In 2019, Nico led the team to an undefeated regular season (17 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie) and was named Central League Coach Of The Year. He was also voted Coach Of The Year in 2016. His team advanced to the state quarterfinals. In 2010, Nico led Lower Merion to 2010 District One Championshhip. In 2013, Nico led the Lower Merion boys to a 16-0-0 record during the regular season with the team recording 15 shutouts. Before coaching at LMHS, Nico was head coach for the Plymouth-Whitemarsh Boys Varsity. Nico was voted LMSC Travel Team Coach Of The Year in 2012. As a youth, Nico was on the Region One USA team and in the National team pool. In high school, Nick was voted the Central League Player Of The Year and was a high school regional All-American and All-State selection. Nick has trained internationally in Sevilla (Spain) and Independiente and Liniers (Argentina). As a youth player, his FC Delco club team qualified for nationals three times. He was a four year player at the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League champions). Nico is also a head coach for the EPYSA Olympic Development Program as well as the Region One USA Olympic Development Program (ODP). Nico has a US soccer National Coaching License and a National Argentine Soccer Coaching Diploma. Nico has coached many players on the Division I, II, and III collegiate level.



  KOSTAS SLIKAS - Head coach for our boys Under 10 E team

Kostas played for four years at Cabrini University. Before that, Kostas played at Marple Newtown High School in the highly competitive Central League. Kostas served as captain of the team in his senior year. Kostas began playing soccer at age five where he played for both Rose Tree Soccer Club and FC Continental. He is an experienced referee as has coached at LMSC as an assistant coach.



  ALEX SROLIS - LMSC Director of Goalkeepers (D.O.G.)

Alex is the head coach for the girls LMSC Heart Navy and Red teams, (Under 10 A and B travel teams). Alex led the Heart Navy team to the 2023 Indoor State Championship. She currently holds a NSCAA National C coaching license. Alex is also the club's Director of Goalkeepers, responsible for organizing and coordinating our goalkeeper training. Alex was a four-year goalkeeper starter for West Chester University 2013-2017 where she set school records for games played (81), wins (61), minutes played (7019) and career shutouts (36). Alex earned PSAC women's conference records for shutouts and was awarded first-team ECAC goalkeeper, second team all mid-Atlantic region goalkeeper, and first team all-region mid-Atlantic scholar goalkeeper. Alex was assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for several years for the Harriton High School boys varsity. During that time, one of the goalies she worked with earned first team All-Central League honors. Alex was also the goalkeeper for the original LMSC Heart, leading the Heart to the EPYSA state championship in 2008 and 2009.



  DAN STOUT - Assistant coach for our boys Under 11 A team, boys Under 9 A & B teams, and our girls Under 9 A & B teams

A long-time Lower Merion Soccer Club member, Dan officially joined the Lower Merion Staff in 2022 with over 40 years of soccer experience. Originally from the State of Delaware, Dan played Division I College Soccer at LaSalle University. He was a four-year starter, an All-Conference performer, and currently ranks fourth in all-time games played for the program. After college, Dan played in the USISL Professional League with the Delaware Wizards. At Lower Merion, Dan works closely with Grant Myers as the assistant coach for our boys Under 11 A team, boys Under 9 A & B teams, girls Under 9 A & B teams, and often works with other teams throughout the club. With a "this is a marathon…not a sprint" approach to coaching and teaching, Dan believes strongly in developing the technical ability, playing habits, and inner confidence required to propel players to higher levels of soccer. Dan resides in Havertown with his wife (Nicole) and three daughters (Gabriella, Olivia, and Mia).



  BIFF STURLA - LMSC President, head coach for our Under 12 girls B travel team and our Under 13 girls B team

Biff has been the President of LMSC since 1999. This is his 42nd year coaching in LMSC. His teams have won 27 State Championships (13 outdoor and 14 indoor), three Region One USA Championships and one second place finish at Nationals. His teams won 18 Delco League Division One championships. In 2010, Biff's U-9 boys and his U-15 boys were both crowned state champions. In 2022, Biff was inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall Of Fame. Biff coached for eight years in the Delco League Select program and also coached many years in the EPYSA Olympic Development Program. Biff was also an EPYSA staff coach, runnning many coaching courses throughout the state. Biff was honored by EPYSA, our State Association, as the 2017 recipient of their Service To Youth Award. In 2006, Biff was voted the EPYSA Coach Of The Year, NSCAA Regional Coach Of The Year and was a finalist for the NSCAA National Coach Of The Year. Biff was the head coach for the Harriton High School Boys Varsity from 2002 to 2023. He led Harriton to the District Championship in 2006 and the District Finals in 2017. As a high school coach, Biff was voted the 1999 Philadelphia Inquirer Coach Of The Year, 2018, 2012 and 1997 Central League Coach Of The Year, 2004 Del-Val League Coach Of The Year, 1999 and 2002 Main Line Life Coach Of The Year. He recorded 250 career wins at Harriton High School and over 320 wins as a head coach at the high school level.



  TORIN VANIN - Head coach for our boys Under 11 D team

Torin grew up playing youth soccer for Southern Lehigh and Lehigh Valley United as a goalkeeper. He played at the collegiate club level for Drexel University before moving on to play in the local CASA Soccer League. In addition to LMSC, he is currently the Sporting Director and head coach of amateur men's soccer club Vidas United FC. He is currently working towards his US Soccer D Coaching License.



  KENDALL WALKES - Head coach for our boys Under 15 A team and boys Under 19 A team

Kendall played soccer in his native Trinidad & Tobago 'from the cradle to the yard'! A former National player at youth and senior level, Kendall was signed as a teenager to a professional contract with the Denver Dynamos of the North American Soccer League (NASL). Then his career travelled through the hills of West Virginia to Davis & Elkins College on his way to West Chester University. Kendall was the head coach for the West Chester University Men's team for 24 years (1990 through 2013). In 2003 - 04 Kendall was Conference (PSAC) Coach of the year, as well as SEPSCA, Regional and National Boys' Coach of the Year. He is today the winningest men's soccer coach in the program's history. He then served as Technical Director for the Trinidad & Tobago Men's national soccer program. Included were 11 teams U-11 through U-23, as well as their Women's National Team. During that time, Kendall was responsible for Player Development from grassroots to senior levels, Coaching Education, supervising National team programs, Researching current World football trends and revenue streaming. Kendall has a USSF 'A' coaching license: UEFA 'B' license: FIFA Youth Academy; FIFA Technical Director Diploma; as well as a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Kendall was a State coaching course 'D' license instructor (EPYSA) from 1985-2012. He later spent 11 years as a youth instructor for the Philadelphia Union.



  ALEC WEISS - Head coach for our boys Under 8 Pre-Travel Team program

Alec was a head coach in the LMSC Travel Team Program for several years and was an assistant coach for many years before that. He played four years for Division One Villanova University. Before that, he was a four year starter and team captain for Harriton High School where he was the team MVP and a first team All-Central League selection. Alec participated in and won a gold medal representing the USA in the Open Men's Maccabi Soccer tournament in 2017. Alec played for the LMSC Hammerheads, starting at the Under 8 age group and continuing with the Hammerheads through Under 19. During that time, his team twice took second place in the nation (U-15 and U-19). They won the Region One USA championship five times and were state champions eight times.



  JEBLEH WILSON - Assistant coach for our girls Under 14 team

Jehbleh brings a unique perspective molded by his upbringing in West Africa, specifically Liberia. Despite facing challenges, his passion for soccer propelled him to play using makeshift objects and learn from skilled players in his community and through television. In 2013, he relocated to the United States and pursued NAIA/USCAA D1 soccer at Manor College in Jenkintown, where he refined his skills. Additionally, he joined the Philadelphia Lonestar club team and competed in a semiprofessional league. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short by an injury. However, this setback only intensified his desire to stay involved with soccer. He transitioned into coaching and has been working with Street Soccer USA while coaching the Kensington Club for over five years. This has allowed him to share his passion for the sport and make a positive impact on young players.





  HANNI ZUMOFF - Senior staff coach, coaches our 4 and 5 year old intramural programs.

Hanni has been a senior staff coach at LMSC for 11 years. She was assistant coach for the LMSC Megalodons, leading the team to the state championship in 2017 and the state semifinals in 2018. The Megalodons were also indoor state cup champions in 2019 and indoor state cup finalists in 2020 and 2018. Hanni served as a coach for our Boys Developmental Academy for six years. Hanni served for many years as co-director of our Summer Camps as well as co-director of our Winter Training Programs. Hanni was a standout player for the LMSC Stingrays girls 'A' travel team, where she played for legendary LMSC coach Pete Gangl. Hanni won the LMSC Coach Of The Year Award in 2014.




Web Page Designed And Maintained By: Biff Sturla