The Arizona Soccer Association is pleased to announce our Olympic Development Program (ODP) 2019-20 coaching staff.
This August 10th & 11th, the Arizona Soccer Association will be holding open ODP tryouts for all Boys and Girls players between the 03-09 age groups. Every single player in Arizona is eligible to tryout out.
Register for ODP Tryouts
The ODP serves as an additional identification opportunity for those looking for additional exposure to college coaches and U.S. Soccer Scouts. Five coaches on the Arizona ODP Staff are U.S. Soccer Scouts and a handful of coaches coach at the college level.
Pool training will be held in December and the 2020 ODP West Region Championships will be at Reach 11 from January 3rd-6th. It's at this event where players are identified and invited to the ODP West Region ID Camp and then to the Boys and Girls Interregional Events. This past week, the ODP West Region held their ID Camp and 82 Arizona players were invited.
Numerous professional players from Arizona competed in the ODP including two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz and MLS record holder for consecutive regular-season starts Luis Robles.
Registration is now open for ODP Tryouts
Boys
Joe Kiefer is the 2003 Boys Head Coach. He has his USSF National "A" License and is a U.S. Soccer Scout. His fondest soccer memory is playing in an international competition for the US armed Forces National Team in Morocco.
Jonathan Sang is the 2003 Boys Assistant Coach. At the 2019 ODP West Championships, Sang coached the 15U Boys to the 04 title. Sang grew up playing locally in Arizona and he played collegiality at California Lutheran University. His favorite player to watch was Eric Cantona.
Eddie Hertsenberg is the 2003 Boys Assistant Coach. Hertsenberg played professionally for the Dayton Dutch Lions and he holds his USSF National "B" License
Trey Thompson is the 2004 Boys Head Coach. Thompson has won titles at the ODP West Championships in 2018 with the 03 Boys and in 2019 with the 04 Boys. He holds his USSF National "A" License.
Mike Varela is the 2004 Boys Assistant Coach. He is currently earning his USSF National "B" License and one of his fondest soccer memories was playing on a traveling Army team.
Nik Chawla is the 2004 Boys Assistant Coach. On top of coaching on the club side, Chawla is a professor at Arizona State University. One of his fondest soccer memories was watching Brazil compete in the 1982 World Cup.
David Belfort is the 2005 Boys Head Coach. He is a U.S. Soccer Scout, holds his USSF "National" A License, and serves on the ODP West Region Staff. His fondest soccer memory is defeating Ohio State in his senior year of college as team captain.
Thomas Debant is the 2005 Boys Assistant Coach. He holds his UEFA "A" License and he played professionally for US Orleans and FC St Jean Blanc in France from 1986-2011.
Petru Floruta is the 2005 Boys Assistant Coach. He is currently the Women's Soccer Assistant Coach at Pima Community College.
Jake Zimmerman is the 2006 Boys Head Coach. Zimmerman won five State Cup titles as a youth player in Arizona and in 2015 he was the Arizona Soccer Association Boys Competitive Coach of the Year.
Derick Brownell is the 2006 Boys Assistant Coach. Brownell played professionally for USL's Charleston Battery and the Tucson Fireballs. His favorite player is Ruud Gullit.
Kyle Porter is the 2006 Boys Assistant Coach. At the 2019 ODP West Championships, Porter guided the 06 Boys to the 13U title. Porter is currently Strength and Conditioning Coach for Sporting AZ FC and he is currently pursuing a Master of Kinesiology degree with a dual track in corrective exercise and orthopedic rehabilitation and sports psychology.
Mark Biagi is the 2007 Boys Head Coach. He is a U.S. Soccer Scout and he holds his USSF "National" B License. He also serves on the ODP West Region Staff.
Danny Gonzalez is the 2007 Boys Assistant Coach. He is currently the Men's Soccer Assistant Coach at Mesa Community College and his favorite team is Real Madrid.
Asani Igulu is the 2007 Boys Assistant Coach. His favorite player is Zidane.
Steven Day is the 2008/09 Boys Head Coach. He holds his UEFA "B" License and he played professionally in England for Hayes F.C. and Witton Albion FC.
Brady Taylor is the 2008/09 Boys Assistant Coach. Taylor played collegiality at Stanislaus State and his fondest soccer memories were winning state cup titles in Arizona and California.
Mark Aros is the 2008/09 Boys Assistant Coach. He has been coaching for more than 15 years and his favorite player was Diego Maradona.
Girls
Roberto Garcia is the 2003 Girls Head Coach. He coached the 17U Girls to the 02 title at the 2019 ODP West Championships and he holds his USSF National "A" License. Garcia is also a U.S. Soccer Scout.
Jason Hammonds is the 2003 Girls Assistant Coach. He has coached for more than 13 years and he holds his United Soccer Coached Advanced National Diploma.
Chris Serafini is the 2003 Girls Assistant Coach. He holds his USSF National "B" License and one of his fondest soccer memories was going to Italy to watch the 2006 World Cup.
Lindsey Johnson is the 2004 Girls Head Coach. Johnson played professionally for Sky Blue F.C. and represented the U.S. National Team at numerous youth age groups. She holds her USSF National "B" License and coached the 05 girls to the 14U title at the 2019 ODP West Championships.
Mike Heintz is the 2004 Girls Assistant Coach. Heintz holds his USSF National "A" Licenses and last year at the 2019 ODP West Championships, Heintz guided the 17U Girls to the 02 title.
Raiff Gwinnet is the 2004 Girls Assistant Coach. Gwinnet played professionally in England for Torquay United and Wymouth United. Last year at the 2019 ODP West Championships, he coached the 05 Girls to the 14U title.
Tom Hurdle is the 2005 Girls Head Coach. He is currently the Men's and Women's Assistant Coach at Scottsdale Community College and he is the Head Coach of Team USA 6v6. At last year's ODP West Championships, Hurdle guided the 05 Girls to the 14U title. Garcia is also a U.S. Soccer Scout.
Erik Anderson is the 2005 Girls Assistant Coach. He holds his National Youth License. He played professionally and one of his fondest soccer memories was playing in college.
Dan Soutar is the 2005 Girls Assistant Coach. Previous coaching experiences for Soutar include stops at Southampton, Arsenal FC, and West Ham United in England.
Benny Sanchez is the 2006 Girls Head Coach. He holds his USSF National "B" License and his favorite team is Real Madrid.
Rene Yebra is the 2006 Girls Assistant Coach. He will be seeking his USSF "National" C License later this year and one of his favorite players is Abby Wambach.
Paul Barron is the 2006 Girls Assistant Coach. Barron has served as an assistant coach for both the Men's and Women's team at Grand Canyon University.
Cortney Kellenaers is the 2007 Girls Head Coach. He is currently the Women's Soccer Assistant Coach at Gateway Community College and he holds his USSF National "B" License.
Phil Reid is the 2007 Girls Assistant Coach. Last year at the 2019 ODP West Championships, Heintz guided the 17U Girls to the 02 title. Later this year, Reid will be earning his USSF National "B" License.
Ben Pada is the 2007 Girls Assistant Coach. He holds his USSF National "B" License and one of his fondest soccer memories was winning a national youth championship.
Chelsea Buckland is the 2008/09 Girls Head Coach. Buckland was capped internationally by Canada and made 13 appearances while scoring one goal from 2011-13. She holds the USSF National "C" License.
Brett Miller is the 2008/09 Girls Assistant Coach.
Jason Johnston is the 2008/09 Girls Assistant Coach. Johnston grew up playing locally in Arizona and has been coaching at various levels since 2008.
Goalkeeper Staff
Victor Verdugo is currently coaching at Arizona Western College and his favorite player is Keylor Navas
Mike Hewitt played professionally for Queen Park and Dundee Football Club in Scotland and the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies and San Jose Earthquakes. One of his fondest soccer memories was playing against the Pele led Cosmos where they won 2-0.
Kali Harmon holds her United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Goalkeeping License and she just completed her first coaching stint at Southern Utah University.
Carmen Esnal is currently an assistant coach at Phoenix College