We are in the process of building a stellar staff for 2014. In the meantime, meet our amazing coaches from 2013.
Our dedicated Soccer Staff, consisting of 3-4 Master Coaches and 12-14 Assistant Coaches, come to the Academy from across the nation to coach in our unique environment. Our Master Coaches are licensed professionals who have dedicated their careers to youth soccer instruction. Our Assistant Coaches are former and current NCAA soccer players who are pursuing a career in coaching, teaching, sports psychology or sports administration. Every coach is committed to teaching and serving as a role model to our athletes.
Becca is currently the graduate-assistant for the Smith College Women’s Soccer Team, where she is also earning her Masters of Science. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sport Management at Ohio Wesleyan University in 2012 where she was a three time All-Conference player for the Battling Bishops, and was named Team MVP in 2009 and 2010. Madison also helped coach the Delaware Lady Knights Soccer team and the varsity program at Charlevoix High School.
Diane Drake 2013 marked Diane’s 10th season as the head coach of the George Mason University women’s soccer team. Before that, she coached at Georgetown University and UNC Greensboro (where Liza Wittenberg played). Diane played at the University of Dayton in Ohio where she studied psychology, and then earned a masters in kinesiology from Louisiana State University. Diane holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” license, and an NSCAA Premiere Badge. She currently lives in Virginia with her son and daughter. |
Sarah Strickland Sarah is the Head Women’s Coach at Appalachian State in Boone, NC. To date, she has amassed over fourteen years of coaching experience at the club, collegiate and national levels. She is a United States Soccer Federation “B” licensed coach. She played Division I soccer at George Mason University, graduating with a B.A. in psychology. |
Sarah Chapman Sarah was a Gator for four years, playing Division I soccer at the University of Florida. Majoring in Criminology, she graduated in the spring of 2012. While in Florida, she served as the Assistant Director at the UF soccer camps, and was the head coach of a U-15 girls club team in Gainesville. She now coaches at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, MN. |
Erica Lippett Erica played Division I soccer at Drexel University for 2 years, before finishing her education and college soccer career at the University of Northern Florida. She holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology from Georgia Southern University, where she also works as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Women’s Soccer Team. She also has her USSF “C” license, and NSCAA Level III Goalkeeper Diploma. |
Marcia Silva Marcia is the Women’s Soccer Graduate Assistant at Southwest Baptist University. She played at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee, and was a two-time All-American. Marcia led her team to three NAIA national semifinals, including the NAIA national championship in 2007. A native of Valinhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva played three years on the Sao Paulo state team, and saw action with the youth teams of Corinthians FC and Portoguesa de Desporto. |
Kate Incerto Originally from Houston, Kate began her career at St. Edwards University, but graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Sport Management in May 2011. She played midfield for the Longhorns, and went on to play for the Boston Breakers in 2012. |
Katie Crump Katie is currently a freshman at the University of Indianapolis in Indiana, majoring in Spanish Teaching with a minor in Special Education. She was a three-time All-Conference player at Yorktown High School in Muncie, Indiana, and holds numerous other school records in soccer and track. |
Katherine Knapp Katie is a Secondary Education major at SUNY New Paltz in New York. Currently a sophomore, she hopes to be a Math teacher at the middle school or high school level. She is a midfielder for the Hawks, and is originally from Bayport, NY where she was named All-League in 2010 at Bayport-Blue Point High School. |
Leslie Oskey Leslie is currently a Masters student at Smith College in Massachusetts completing a graduate degree in Exercise Science and Sport Studies. Originally from Wisconsin, she finished her under-graduate degree there, then went on to Mount Holyoke College where she served as the Assistant Soccer Coach and Goalkeeper Coach for the Lyons. She has earned her NSCAA Level 6 Diploma. |
Amelia Johnson Emmy is a senior at Northern Michigan University where she is a Biology major. She earned the GLIAC Women’s Soccer “Athlete of the Week” in 2010. Originally from St. Michael, Minnesota Emmy holds her National “E” Coaching License. An avid runner, she will complete her first marathon in June. |
Kiva Gresham Originally from Albuquerque, NM where she played club soccer for RVFC and was named All-State and All-District four straight years at Highland High School; she graduated in 2011 from Louisiana Tech University with a B.S. in Kinesiology. As a Techster, she earned numerous accolades including Academic All-WAC honors, was named first-team all-Louisiana in 2009 and 2010. She has since returned to Louisiana Tech as the Assistant Soccer Coach. |
Erica Taylor Erica received her Master’s degree in Sports Medicine from Georgia State University in 2010. During her time at GSU, Taylor was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at The Westminster Schools, as well as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in GSU’s Kinesiology and Health Department. Taylor received her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Michigan State University in 2008. Erica has worked numerous camps, special events and NCAA tournaments. She has also had the opportunity to travel with teams from the United States Soccer Federation on training trips in the US and abroad. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. |