Meet The Coaches

Christine is the mother of two beautiful girls who always keep her on her toes! She has a bachelor’s degree at Saint Joseph’s University with a major in biology and a minor in healthcare and bio ethics. She received her masters in health administration with a concentration in education at the University of Phoenix. In her free time she enjoys running, crafting, home design and event planning! Along with coaching, Christine will be tasked with managing the operations process of Soccer Shots Southeast PA. She will lead the back office as it relates to overall administrative duties along with customer communication, marketing, while supporting the on-field team of full-time staff members and part-time coaches.

Coach Kelly is a recent graduate from West Chester University with a degree in marketing. While in college, she worked at a gym daycare and volunteered with multiple non-profits. Coach Kelly enjoys spending time with her family and friends down the shore in her free time. In addition to coaching, Kelly is our operations coordinator. She will assist our operations manager in overall administrative duties along with providing coaches the materials they need for a successful season.

James Gush of Southend, England, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Program Director position. As the Program Director for both Delaware and Montgomery County, PA James is involved in various capacities of the business. James leads the sales marketing of Soccer Shots throughout both counties, as well as coaching and managing various Soccer Shots school based locations. James has previously worked as an area manager of Marketing and Promotions Soccer company and a Director of a soccer and sports based organization. James has worked with an array of age groups from 18-months to 18-years and has worked closely with youth soccer players from clubs on the east coast. James also oversaw the development of a soccer club as the Director of Coaching. James is also the former Varsity Boys Head Coach at a Private High School In Philadelphia. James has worked within the soccer industry for a number of years obtaining licenses by the English FA and NSCAA.

Coach Jaimie is a native of Delaware County. Jaimie began playing soccer at the age of five and still continues to play now in many adult and coed leagues. She has a background in sports management and extensive coaching experience with children ages 2-18! Jaimie is also the former assistant coach of a private high school and former sports director of a summer camp in the Philadelphia area. Along with coaching future Soccer Shots participants, Jaimie will be mentoring new coaches and helping with the development of our staff. She also will be helping with marketing projects, sales and will be running our social media accounts.

Coach Rock is a recent graduate from Swarthmore College with degrees in Political Science and Education. While in college, he coached in Chester PA for Soccer for Success and Chester City United. He is a Coca-Cola National Scholar and Swarthmore Phillip Evan’s Scholar! Coach Rock enjoys traveling in his free time and has even lived in Brazil! In addition to coaching, Rock is our hiring manager who recruits our coaches and helps train them. He also will be helping with administrative duties, including scheduling, setting up future seasons and much more!

Coach Ashton is from Princeton, New Jersey and has played soccer her whole life. Coach Ashton played for numerous teams growing up, including indoor soccer and futsal teams. At The Hun School Of Princeton, she was captain of the varsity girls’ soccer team and went on to play for NCAA DIII Bryn Mawr College. Further, Coach Ashton had the pleasure of coaching girls’ soccer at Millburn High School. She adores educating youth as she was a Kindergarten Teacher prior to attending Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law where she will receive her J.D. in 2019. During each Soccer Shots’ session, Coach Ashton seeks to create a safe and nurturing environment where children can develop skills and become passionate about playing soccer. In addition to coaching, Ashton will be helping evaluate current coaches to make sure we’re delivering the best as well as helping train new coaches!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Center Midfielder

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Volcanoes

Fun Fact: Coach Ashton also played lacrosse and basketball for NCAA DIII Bryn Mawr College.

Coach Julia grew up in Walt Disney World’s backyard in Orlando, Florida. She was six when she began playing soccer and where she went on to play at North Greenville University. She studied English because she loves reading and writing stories. Lots of people ask her is she plays basketball because she’s so tall, but she likes soccer too much to play another sport. When she was 13, Julia started coaching with her dad, and she loves helping others learn the game. She loves telling stories, being outside and singing Disney songs at the top of her lungs! In addition to coaching, Julia will be helping evaluate current coaches to make sure we’re delivering the best as well as helping train new coaches!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite position: Defense

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Shooting Stars

Fun Fact: During hurricanes in Florida, Julia used to go outside and pretend she was talking about the weather on the news!

Coach Noah grew up in Stockton, New Jersey and fell in love with soccer at 5 years old. He played in middle school through high school and continued on to play club at Ithaca College. Noah has played competitively for many years and you can still find him playing in many adult leagues in the area.

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Midfield

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Dribble gates. It teaches honesty and improves their dribbling and change of direction skills.

Fun Fact: Noah has a twin sister!

Coach Michele has been playing soccer since the age of four, and was a captain of Abington High School’s varsity team. Her favorite team is ACF Fiorentina, from Florence, Italy. She has a background in psychology, and is a big fan of sports as a way to build life skills! When she’s not coaching, Michele writes and performs stand up comedy around Philadelphia.

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Right Midfield

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Volcanoes Game!

Fun Fact: Michele has played the viola at Carnegie Hall.

Coach Patricia is fondly known as “Coach P”. Her motto is “Kids MUST have fun”. When she is on the field with her soccer shots kids, one wonders who is having more fun- the kids or the coach! Coach P loves kids and loves soccer. “Coaching kids in soccer is the best of both worlds and the elixir of youth” she says. When Coach P is not on the field coaching soccer, she is at a soccer field somewhere cheering-on her children as they play soccer.

FUN FACT: Coach P loves music, dancing and good food!

Coach Liz started playing soccer at the age of 5 for Haverford Township. She also played field hockey, since field hockey and soccer are during the same season she picked to play field hockey competitively. From there, she played pick up soccer in college and then at YSC in the coed soccer league. When she is not busy playing soccer, softball, or field hockey, she is busy teaching in the classroom. Hopefully one day, she will be able to coach soccer as an after-school club at the elementary level.

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Defense

Fun Fact: Coach Liz loves Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Coach Olivia is currently a student at West Chester University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in African American Studies and Youth Empowerment/Urban Studies. Olivia fell in love with soccer at a very young age and her favorite National Teams to watch are Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. She always worked multiple jobs throughout high school and college, but never enjoyed any work as much as when her work got to focus on child care. When childcare can be combined with sports, she finds it even more rewarding! She enjoys running, doing yoga, weight lifting and following professional basketball and football in her free time. Traveling is a big passion of Coach Olivia’s. She’s been to many different countries – some even on her own!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Midfield

Fun Fact: Coach Olivia displaced the retina in her right eye on two separate occasions while playing soccer in high school! She also has a pit-bull named Lilo!

Coach Kayla who is originally from Allentown, has played soccer since she was 4 years old and has played in high school and in college. She was also invited to be on the D-3 USA Women’s team to play in Brazil! Coach Kayla studied criminal justice at Arcadia University and also spent a semester abroad in New Zealand.

FUN FACT:
Coach Kayla has bungee jumped from the highest place in the southern hemisphere!

Over the past decade, Coach Matt has prioritized two things: sports and working with children. Matt’s time as a Summer Camp Counselor with the YMCA has helped install a variety of characteristics that are essential for helping a child live a happy, healthy, and fun life! Playing soccer since he was a child, Matt’s adoration for the game has helped fielded his passion for pursuing a career at Soccer Shots. Coach Matt is currently a student at Temple University studying for a degree in Media Studies and Production.

FUN FACT: Coach Matt was just recently nominated for 3 colligate Emmy’s!

Coach Ashley grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and moved to PA when she was 10 years old. She is currently majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education at Bryn Athyn College. At the age of 7, Coach Ashley fell in love with soccer and continues to play for her college team. When she’s not coaching future soccer stars, she enjoys playing soccer and fishing!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: The Volcano Game

Favorite Position to Play: Midfield

Fun Fact: Coach Ashley has a YouTube channel and enjoys filming videos to make people smile and laugh!

Coach Darren grew up playing soccer in South Africa and has had a passion for it since he was a kid. When moving to America, soccer became the bridge of cultures for Darren as he played through high school on numerous teams. He now enjoys watching soccer, playing FIFA and of course coaching for soccer shots! If Coach Darren had to describe himself as a cereal box, it would be Cap’n Crunch because of his ultimate dream of owning a pirate ship and sailing across the ocean!

FUN FACT:
His favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip!

Coach Lauren has been playing soccer since the age of 5 for Harleysville and Towamencin soccer leagues. She would still love to play today but education is very important to me. She plans to go to West Chester University in the fall of 2017 to finish my degree in early education and get a minor is special needs as well. I love to teach children and watch them grow as an individual.

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Striker

Favorite Soccer Game: Treasure Hunt

Fun Fact: Coach Lauren enjoys baking and cooking in her spare time. She also enjoys going down to Wildwood NJ with her family.

Coach Jay has been playing soccer for 27 years. He also has been coaching and training soccer players for almost 13 years for several ages and all genders. His passion is to help athletes set goals and achieve them no matter what their experience may be. Although he doesn’t play soccer as much as he used to, Coach Jay spends his free time with his wife, three kids and a puppy named “Checkers”

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Center Midfielder

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: “Blob Tag”

Fun Fact: Coach Jay also has experience as a Chef,
Bon Appetite!!

Coach Isabel is a recent returning Soccer Shots coach and is very excited to be back! When not on the field, Coach Isabel is either at the Media Fellowship House where she serves as the Executive Director or at home with 10 (yikes!) teenagers in her role as the Resident Director of Radnor A Better Chance. Isabel loves sports — soccer, football, basketball, and tennis especially, all things science fiction, and also spends quite a bit of time walking her dog, Baku.

Coach Alexa has been playing soccer since the age of 5 for several different travel teams as well as school teams. At the age of 15, she was picked to play for St. Joseph’s University soccer in a ranking of only 10 girls out 500. Coach Alexa is currently continuing her education to get her degree online for graphic designs. In her spare time she enjoys surfing down at her beach house in Stone Harbor, Nj or just kicking back with some friends. Before becoming a soccer coach, she worked in photography for elementary school kids. Connecting with the kids has always brought a smile to her face with all their stories they have to share. She now enjoys teaching those kids the sport in which she came to love!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Defense

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: “What time is it, Mr. Fox?”

Fun Fact: Coach Alexa loves to surf!

Coach Caila grew up right outside the city, in Roxborough PA with a love for soccer! She is currently a student at Temple University studying Health Profession and Kinesiology. One day, she hopes to become a physical therapist for children! If she’s not on Soccer Island, you can catch her doing CrossFit or playing club soccer for her University!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Sleepy Lion

Favorite Position to Play: Forward

Fun Fact: Coach Caila is 100% Puerto Rican!

Coach Kristen grew up in Souderton PA where she enjoyed playing soccer and basketball. She then took her passion for soccer with her to college where she played at Moravian College for a year and a half until transferring to Temple University. She is currently a senior studying recreational therapy and plans to continue school for occupational therapy. In her free time, she enjoys going to Margate Beach!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Forward

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: “What Time is it Mr. Fox?!”

Fun Fact: Coach Kristen enjoys snowboarding!

Matt is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served 10 years in the service. A sports related injury took Matt out of the game he loved playing so Matt turned to coaching to ensure his passion for the game is passed on to other athletes. Matt recently completed his Master of Science degree in Recreation and Sports Science with a concentration in Soccer Coaching and has started his Doctoral of Education degree in Sports and Performance Psychology with a concentration Positive Leadership and Administration in January 2017. Matt has been coaching or teaching youth athletes for the past 6 years at many different ages. Matt always strives to put the person before the player and brings a scientific approach to player development. In addition to coaching, Matt will be helping evaluate current coaches to make sure we’re delivering the best as well as helping train new coaches!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Position: Right Fullback

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: “What Time is it Mr. Fox”

Fun Fact: Coach Matt sang in his high school choir!

Coach Nicole grew up in Norristown with a love for sports.  She played soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse and even was a cheerleader! Nicole is currently a student at Cabrini College studying for a degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to become a 1st grade teacher one day! In her free time, you can find Coach Nicole hanging out with her family and her pets – 2 dogs and a hamster! Nicole also enjoys making YouTube videos!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: “What Time is it Mr. Fox?”

Favorite Soccer Position: Midfield

Fun Fact: Coach Nicole has been playing soccer since she was 2 years old! Just like many of our Soccer Shots stars!

Coach Ben is from Harleysville where he was born and raised. He started playing soccer there when he was 6 years old. He has tried out many different sports including: Karate, baseball, track and field, and fencing. Ben is currently a student at Montgomery County Community College where he is studying psychology. When Coach Ben isn’t at school or coaching Soccer Shots stars, he enjoys playing the ukulele and guitar and also fences!

FUN FACTS:

Favorite Soccer Shots Game: Sleepy Animals

Fun Fact: Coach Ben played violin in his high schools ensemble!