Meet The Coaches

Laura’s love of soccer ignited in Virginia during middle and high school. She captained her school teams five of six years while playing forward or outside defender before settling in at center midfielder.  She continued on to play intramural in college and still plays weekly in the Austin Women’s Soccer League.

Called to impact youth, Coach Laura earned degrees from the University of Virginia and North Carolina Central University. She then taught kindergarten through fifth grades in North Carolina and Texas.  She also brings experience as a curriculum developer and educational consultant.  She began coaching soccer and swimming during college and has coached Austin youth for over ten years. She enjoys mentoring fellow coaches and thrives through the smiles shared with children as they build confidence, friendships and fun!

Arianne has over 20 years of soccer experience! Hailing from the DFW area, she started playing select for FC Dallas Youth, then IM while in college, and in Paris, France for the SciencesPo women’s team when she studied abroad. Her favorite position is forward because she loves the challenge of scoring goals.

She received her degree in International Relations and French from UT and fell in love with the city as a Longhorn. She started coaching kids while in high school through tennis clinics and as a volunteer coach for rec soccer. Arianne also served as a camp counselor, childcare supervisor, and AmeriCorps literacy instructor for AISD. Her favorite part about working with children is their unfailing ability to find fun and joy in the smallest things. Arianne loves the vibrancy and culture of Austin. In addition to playing soccer, you can find her playing tennis, paddle boarding, reading, and volunteering.

Fun Facts: Coach Arianne checked off an item on her bucket list by attending a European soccer match for PSG and seeing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action! And her best friend is her pup, Eleanor Rigby.

Kait brings to our team years of childcare experience, account management and is a customer service guru! She works behind the scenes to ensure that every family, player and partner have an exceptional experience with our program. She grew up playing a variety of sports including soccer, softball, dance and ran track. She came to Austin 12 years ago from Abilene, TX, and is here to stay! Kait was a professional nanny, camp counselor, coach and makes a positive impact on everyone she meets. In addition to her passion for teaching children, she also loves music, walking her dog, Vincey, and is on a mission to find the best Italian sub sandwich in the city. If you have any suggestions – let her know!

Fun Fact: Coach Kait plays 2nd base on her community softball team, is earning her certificate in professional organizing and is unbeatable in ping pong!

Serafina grew up playing soccer in Dallas, TX. She played left wing throughout high school and intramurally at Texas State University where she studied Exercise & Sport Science. Her teaching experience comes from coaching Middle School Athletics and Elementary Physical Education. She has always had a passion for soccer and shares that her favorite parts about coaching are providing a fun learning environment and being a positive influence.

Fun Facts: Coach Sera has been attending Dallas Burn/FC Dallas matches since she was a child. She has also become a huge Austin FC supporter because of their growing impact on the community and strong focus on youth development!

Jeremy joins our Soccer Shots Austin team with over 25 years in soccer experience and transitioning from a 20+ year career in restaurant management. His soccer career started from humble beginnings at his YMCA in Midland, TX, and then progressing to his high school team and later Midland College. Jeremy played as a keeper and full-back until a knee injury took him from the field and to the office. Now, he enjoys disc golfing, snowboarding, and cycling to stay active and outside. He loves living in Austin, with its laid-back vibe, vibrant music scene, and appreciation and stewardship of the environment.

Fun Fact: Jeremy is also an avid “maker” and was previously in the craft show and Etsy scene!

Kristine comes to Austin from Connecticut, living there her whole life until she decided that she was ready for a change! We’re lucky that she chose Austin because she brings years of early childhood and soccer experience with her (plus, she’s a ton of fun!). She started playing soccer when she was 11 years old as a midfielder, playing with different rec teams. Now, she loves playing pick-up with friends and also adds hiking, swimming, and paddleboarding, to her ways to staying active and healthy.
Kristine also served as a teacher’s aid for preschoolers, volunteered as a young women’s mentor, and babysat for 10 years. Her favorite part about working with kids is watching them grow and develop so quickly and listening to their crazy stories! She is also a proficient Spanish-speaker and loves Austin’s music scene and sense of community.

Fun Fact: Kristine has two rescues: a puppy named Charlie and a cat named Simone (they’re the best of friends)!

Coach Joe comes to us from California playing soccer since he was 8 years old! He’s really excited to start coaching and bring the excitement and love of the game to our Central Texas families. While Coach Joe played competitively throughout middle and high school, he now just likes to play for fun. His favorite positions are right and left wing and supports FC Barcelona!

Fun Fact: Coach Joe loves to go backpacking through the backcountry!

Coming all the way from Ogden, Utah – Coach Niki is joining our coaching staff with over 20 years of experience playing soccer! Coach Niki has so much experience playing AND coaching and cannot wait to make an impact in her community by getting out on Soccer Island. “I love coaching kids because I love watching the players learn; when the light bulb turns on and the passion is brought out!”

Coach Niki still plays soccer for fun around Austin, but also loves to do yoga and go on outdoor adventures in her free time, and is enjoying Austin for its diversity!

Fun fact: Coach Niki has played in all kinds of team settings. She was once the only girl on her indoor league, co-ed team. She has played every position, but enjoys midfield the most (and we know that she excelled!). Way to go get ‘em Coach Niki!

Coach Isaac may be a recent Austin transplant but he’s been around soccer his whole life. Originally from New York, Coach Isaac has experience playing competitively for his college team and has two years of coaching children to draw from as well. In addition to coaching, you can find him playing pick-up soccer with friends, honing his skills at disc golf, and at the Q2 stadium supporting Austin FC. As a Soccer Shots coach, he strives to share the happiness that soccer brings to the kids he works with!

Fun Facts: Coach Isaac has a collection of seashells from around the world and his favorite soccer team is Arsenal FC.

Coach Mya is a native Texan born and raised in Houston, Texas, but new to Austin. She loves the outdoors and being active in her free time— you can probably find her doing gymnastics, running, or playing soccer with her friends at Pease Park. Coach Mya is so excited to join the team and positively impact the Austin youth soccer community. She is currently working on her Spanish speaking skills and hopes to be more fluent by the end of the year. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to impart a fun and engaging experience for every child she works with and to improve on her soccer skills!  

Fun Facts: Coach Mya has two cats that she loves very dearly and is the second oldest of six kids! She is very family-orientated and loves spending as much time with them as she can.

Native Austinite Coach Abby started playing soccer here in her hometown at just 5 years old! She’s able to step into any position she’s needed but favors right wing or center-mid. In addition to soccer, she is an avid runner and used to run cross country through her high school. Coach Abby also babysits and is going on her 3rd year coaching! Her favorite part about working with kids is their humor: she loves their jokes and making them laugh!

Fun Facts: Coach Abby has held a shark (!) and loves live music.

Coach Alex is native Austinite who started his soccer journey here in the city playing varsity for his local high school. He now plays pick-up from time to time and loves to run to stay active. Like many locals, he spends plenty of time outdoors and is all about the Austin music scene. Coach Alex loves to teach his favorite sport to kids and sharing the game with others.

Fun Facts: Coach Alex is colorblind and makes beats for fun!

Coach Bailey is a native Texan! Born in Palacios, Texas, she enjoys Austin for its urbanized areas and improved quality of life. She has been playing soccer for about 3 years now and also enjoys cycling and running in her free time. Coach Bailey previously coached a youth basketball team, swim, and STEAM team. She is so excited to expand this experience to Soccer Shots.

Fun Facts: Coach Bailey is BLS, CPR, & AED certified.

Coach Cecile grew up Shanghai, China and comes to the Austin team with a ton of experience working with children! She has worked with all ages, from infants to adolescents, as a teacher and private tutor over the past ten years. She loves when she sees the progression in a child when they grow stronger and healthier physically, mentally, and even spiritually. As a Soccer Shots coach, Coach Cecile aims to help them build their character and soccer knowledge to last them a lifetime, and hopefully, they can look back and remember all the fun they had! Her passion for soccer started when she was in college and now continues to play recreationally. Forward or midfield are her preferred positions. Coach Cecile is also fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and is TBRI-trained. You can find her working out around the city, volunteering with local youth programs, or polishing up on her French!

Fun Facts: Coach Cecile is not a fan of cilantro, recognizing it’s a key ingredient in many Asian cuisines, and working hard to improve her sewing skills. Let her know if you’ve got an 1800s Singer machine lying around that she can try her hand at!

Coach Daniella is one of our proud Austin-area natives who loves that there is always something to do here (like Soccer Shots)! She started playing soccer through school, eventually joining a club team and later joining an IM team in college. Coach Daniella prefers playing up the field as left forward and continues to stay active through pick up games with friends. As a former dance instructor and babysitter, her favorite part about working with children is seeing their excitement when they learn a new skill and being a part of that process. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to learn how to better adapt her teaching style to each individual child’s needs and learning processes.

Fun Facts: Coach Daniella is very close with her family and her nephew, and loves spending time with them. She also has 3 pet turtles!

Coach Delaney is fairly new to Austin, moving here from San Antonio. She started playing soccer at a young 4 years of age and continued to play competitively and on her high school team until 18 years of age. She now plays IM at UT and prefers the defensive midfield position. To stay active, she also likes to cycle and play volleyball in addition to soccer. Her favorite parts about both Austin and San Antonio are the vibrant food scenes and how friendly the people are. Coach Delaney used to work with children while as a student and loves seeing them learn new things and take pride in themselves. She hopes to engender fun and confidence in them as a Soccer Shots coach and to develop their soccer skills.

Fun Facts: Coach Delaney is a big volleyball fan and doesn’t know how to ride a bike.

Coach Dylan was born here in Austin, TX and grew up just down the road in Round Rock. He has been playing soccer his whole life, starting at just 4 years old and continuing through middle and high school and on various clubs, as an attacking mid. Coach Dylan has been a part of our summer camp team for a couple years now and has really made an impact! As a Soccer Shots coach, he hopes to gain more experience working with children and to help them experience the all of the fun soccer brings. In addition to soccer, Coach Dylan enjoys basketball and running to stay active. 

Fun Facts: Coach Dylan has 2 sisters who also play soccer and he loves to travel!

Coach Ella is a Washington native and kicked off her soccer career at the young age of 4! She started on the local rec team and worked her way up to premier club teams, travel teams, and her high school team. Nowadays, you can catch her tearing up midfield for the Southwestern University women’s team. Coach Ella formerly served as a camp and soccer coach for a couple summers and is so excited to bring her impact to the Soccer Shots team. She loves children’s excitement and curiosity and is grateful for the opportunity to connect with them and teach them something new. As a coach, she hopes to share her knowledge and love of soccer in a way that leaves a lasting, positive impact. 

Fun Facts: Coach Ella lived in England for two years and has visited 14 different countries!

Coach Ellie is an Austin native who got her soccer start in grade school and loved playing midfield because she could run her heart out! She eventually switched to cross and county and track after realizing she could compete to run in circles. In addition to running and coaching, Coach Ellie enjoys playing ultimate frisbee.  

With her former experience in babysitting and tutoring, she hopes to grow in keeping children engaged and having fun and be the best instructor she can be. Coach Ellie has a passion for ecology and art too; she often shares fun facts about animals and nature with the children she coaches to spark their curious minds and encourage creativity.

Fun Facts: Coach Ellie is learning to ride a unicycle and she likes art!

Coach Izzy is a Central Texas native with a passion for both sports and art! They have 10 years of soccer experience, continuing up through high school on their varsity team. Their position of choice was right wing or right back. To stay active, they love lifting at the gym and is on the hunt for another sport to add to their repertoire. Coach Izzy previously worked a summer job as a children’s art teacher and assisted at an elementary school soccer camp. They are excited to be a part of the Soccer Shots team and to continue to make a positive impact on kids’ lives.

Fun Facts: Coach Izzy is also a ceramics artist and owns a small business and they have a black cat named Spoon!

Coach Jack joins the Austin team originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, getting his soccer start at age 8! He started off at center back and later transitioned to goalie, and is now one of the top-ranked goalkeepers in the state. Coach Jack continues his studies here in Austin and loves having a professional soccer team to support here. As a Soccer Shots coach, he hopes to share his immense passion for soccer with the world and to inspire kids to play the sport he loves so much.

Fun Fact: Coach Jack also plays the guitar and was the No. 1 D3 goalkeeper in the U.S. last season!

Coach Jacob was born and raised in Dallas, and loves the diversity that Austin has to offer. Coach Jacob played soccer as a kid and is excited to jump back into it as a coach. He currently plays basketball to stay active and used to work as a basketball coach. Prior childcare experience also includes volunteering as a daycare teacher at his church. As a Soccer Shots Coach, he hopes to gain more leadership experience and positively impact the Austin youth community!

Fun Facts: Coach Jacob is a student at UT Austin–Hook ‘em Horns! He is also in the 99.999th height percentile and is our tallest coach!

Coach Jake is an outdoor enthusiast originally from Midland, TX but loving the greenery here in the city. He’s been playing soccer for a total of 19 years (!), beginning back in his hometown as a midfielder and defender on his varsity high school team and local club team. Now, here in the Austin, he still likes to play with a rec league. Coach Jake previously coached children through his club team, loving to see how engaged kids become in different activities and how they can find fun in anything. He hopes to bring the fun and love of soccer to the kids he coaches!

Fun Facts: Coach Jake can play the trombone and spends the rest of his free time kayaking and hiking. See if you can spot him out on Lady Bird Lake!

Coach Jazz is from Wichita Falls, TX and played soccer for 16 years! She opted to play defensive or attacking mid through her club and high school days, later switching to more recreational play in college. She still loves to play pick-up with friends and even with the kids she babysits. You can find her reading, volunteering, or exercising when not coaching soccer, and she enjoys Austin’s abundance of opportunities and unique people to meet.

Coach Jazz has several years of childcare experience, formerly through babysitting, serving as a church volunteer, and through various jobs and internships. Her favorite part is making personal connections and watching them grow and succeed. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to further her childhood development experience, help them grow and love the game, and learn from the kids, too!

Fun Facts: Coach Jazz has two cats that she adores like they’re her own children and she is a big Dallas Cowboys fan (“every year is our year, even though it’s not”)!

Coach JT is a proud Austinite who has been playing soccer ever since he could walk. He has played all over the city (Dove Springs, CAYSA, Millienium) and throughout high school where they won state his senior year. In college, he did rec soccer both indoor and outdoor as either a forward or defender. To stay active, he continues to play soccer in his free time, work out, and weight training, as well as play online FIFA 22.

Coach JT has been working with children his entire life: through teaching them how to code, coaching soccer, and leading arts and crafts. He loves getting to inspire the next generation and leaving a positive impact. As a Soccer Shots Coach, he hopes to introduce his young athletes to the beautiful and most popular sport in the world!

Fun Facts: Coach JT is an enthusiastic, new dad and when he’s not teaching or playing soccer, he helps to run a STEM non-profit!

Coach Kevin is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and is a recent Austin transplant. He started his soccer career through a select team until he was 18, playing as a goalie and midfielder. In addition to his Soccer Shots coaching, he also serves as a select coach for Pflugerville FC and previously coached competitive diving for two years! He holds a US Soccer E License and hopes to continue his coaching development through Soccer Shots.

Fun Facts: Coach Kevin is an ex pro-gamer and a big FC Cincinnati supporter!

Coach Kevin hails from San Diego, CA and has been playing soccer ever since he could walk. In addition to playing on a club team through high school and then for his college’s club team, he also started refereeing when he was in middle school. Now, he continues to get on the field through men’s rec leagues. You can find him out on the wings and in midfield! When Coach Kevin is not playing soccer he’s probably swimming, biking, running, or playing his bass.

Coach Kevin brings years of childhood education and experience to our team. He formerly served as a referee and worked as a middle school teacher and coach after college. His favorite part about working with students is watching their hard work and progress pay off, and helping them develop social and emotional skills…all while having fun doing it! As a Soccer Shots Coach, he hopes to bring joy and coaching to children and gain rewarding and meaningful experiences.

Fun Facts: Coach Kevin raced in sprint and Olympic-length triathlons across Texas and played in a band that opened for Common!

Coach Kyle was born and raised in Austin, TX and has been immersed in soccer for years as a player, coach, and referee! He started playing when he was just 4 years old and continued on to coaching a U-10 soccer team, and then also added referee to his resume–a position he’s held for the past 27 years! Coach Kyle truly enjoys teaching children and helping them to better their skills to be the best they can be!

Fun Facts: Coach Kyle was also a fire fighter and professional Santa Claus!

Coach Elsa is a Dallas native who, like many others, has fallen in love with Austin’s music and hiking scene! She has played soccer for more than 15 years on a variety of teams (recreationally, high school co-ed, select, and women’s indoor league), and prefers to protect the goal as a defensive mid and sweeper. She continues to play on intramural and pick-up teams as well as on an indoor team back when she visits Dallas.

Coach Elsa is excited to join the Soccer Shots team and make an impact! Her favorite part about working with children is helping them cultivate good sportsmanship skills and a healthy relationship with sports and the outdoors. (Also, that kids are really funny sometimes.) As a coach, she strives to further develop her leadership skills.

Fun Facts: Coach Elsa plays the electric guitar and has rode an elephant!

Coach Heidi is an Austin local and loves everything about her city. She stared playing soccer at just 5 years old with a local rec team, and later transitioned to more competitive play through the River City Rangers club as a center defender. While she is not currently playing, Coach Heidi still enjoys playing for fun with her family and friends. 

Coach Heidi gained childcare experience as a babysitter of children spanning all ages, and she recently has been working as a PALS mentor for elementary-aged children through school. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing their joy and excitement shine through when they’re doing something they love. She hopes to continue to nurture their passions and looks forward to making a positive difference in the lives of the young athletes she coaches.

Fun Facts: Coach Heidi comes from a huge family and loves animals!

Coach Laura is originally from Dallas and played soccer for about six years as a defensive mid and outside wing. While she no longer plays, she loves to catch soccer and football games on TV and support her favorite teams. Previously she coached soccer and basketball and loves watching the kids progress and develop their communication and interpersonal skills and build on their athletic abilities! As a Soccer Shots coach, Coach Laura hopes to enhance her own teaching and communication skills to make the most positive impact she can.

Fun Facts: Coach Laura enjoys running cross country and has a passion for sports journalism!

Coach Leon is a native Iowan who moved to Austin at a young age. He played tennis throughout High School and still plays for fun! He worked at with children at Mt. Playmore, his favorite part was making any kids day! Coach Leon is currently at university studying mechanical engineering.

Fun Fact: Coach Leon speaks Vietnamese fluently and his favorite Soccer team is Manchester United.

Coach Luba was born in Bangladesh but moved to Austin when she was just 3 years old so she is an Austinite at heart! She started playing soccer in middle school and continued through high school. In addition to soccer, you can find Coach Luba at the gym powerlifting! Coach Luba has prior experience as a daycare teacher and is so excited to start this new journey with Soccer Shots and share her love for soccer with every child she works with.  As a Coach, she hopes to positively impact every child she meets.

Fun Facts: Coach Luba speaks 5 different languages: English, Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, and Pashto!

Coach Graham hails from Chelsea, Michigan and started playing soccer at just 3 years old! He continued through high school, playing with a competitive travel team and various pick-up teams. Now, he still gets out on the field with friends and adds basketball, hiking, camping, skiing, and snowboarding as other hobbies to be outside and healthy. His favorite part about working with children is how funny they are and the silly jokes they make, and the unique perspective they bring to life each day. He’s excited to join the Soccer Shots team and as a Coach, he hopes to gain a feeling of purpose within the Austin community and for the children. 

Fun Facts: Coach Graham loves to travel: He has been to more than seven different countries and lived the van life up and down the West Coast!

Coach Megan is a native Austinite who loves the city for its “small-town, big city” feel. She is new to the Soccer Shots team but is excited to bring her energy and enthusiasm to working with young athletes and making an impact. She hopes to develop her skills and experience as a Coach in order to one day become a teacher.

Fun Facts: Coach Megan is an avid cross country runner (4 years and counting!) and is always up to trying new things!

Coach Mia is a versatile athlete who has 8 years of competitive soccer experience. She played all over the field as a midfielder, outside back, and even goalie. In addition to her time playing on the field she also has experience being both a coach and a referee for youth soccer. She loves teaching children to have confidence in themselves by improving their soccer skills and having a ton of fun while doing it. Coach Mia is also known to frequent weights training and run half marathons to stay in shape. She is also a student, currently studying at UT, she works hard on the field and in the classroom. She looks forward to making a bright and positive impact on all the children she coaches and hopes to share her love of soccer with them!

Fun Facts: Coach Mia can play guitar and loves to eat Goldfish!

Coach Mo joins us from the Soccer Shots Houston team and is excited to continue to  impact Central Texas players. She has more than 20 years of soccer experience from all over the world: she played in college at Oral Roberts University, on a travel team in Thailand, and on a number of sports ministry teams in Brazil, South Africa, and South Korea. If she’s not playing or coaching soccer, you can find her on the pickleball court, doing yoga in the studio, or curling up with a good book. As a Soccer Shots Coach, she hopes to positively impact children’s lives just as her previous coaches impacted her life.

Fun Fact: Coach Mo is a big fan of sour gummy worms and Asian cuisine!

Originally from just outside of DFW, Coach Modi is making herself right at home here in Austin and loves visiting all the food trucks! With over 20 years of soccer playing experience, she was a part of school and club teams, indoor and outdoor leagues. Not only that she has even spent some time as a soccer referee too! Nowadays, you can find her playing with her classmates through Austin Sports and Social Club, as well as taking dancing lessons and challenging friends to a game of table tennis.

Coach Modi has served as a social worker for the past six years, working with children and families. Her favorite part about working with children is helping them learn new things and seeing their progress along the way. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to inspire a love of the game and make a difference through her favorite sport. Needless to say, she knows her way around a soccer field and how to build up the next generation of soccer players!

Fun Facts: Coach Modi plays the trumpet and has climbed part of The Great Wall of China!

Originally from College Station, Coach Mycah has been playing for the better part of 14 years, on club, school, and college teams. Her favorite position is striker and racking up those goals!

In addition to her extensive time on the field, she also brings 5 years of coaching experience and 3 years as a nanny. While injuries eventually took her off the field, she never lost the love of the game and now shares that love of soccer with her students. Coach Mycah has been enjoying her time in Austin with its excellent balance of city life and nature and the never-ending list of things to do. As a Soccer Shots coach, she loves the challenge of figuring out how to make a child smile and looks forward to helping children grow in their athletic abilities and confidence and to spread her love for the game to the next generation.

Fun Facts: Coach Mycah is working towards a Master’s Degree in counseling and is ambidextrous!

Coach Nikki started playing soccer at the age of 4 in Ontario, Canada, her hometown. She continued through high school, opting to play offense as a midfielder or forward. While she does not currently play, she still loves to catch her favorite teams on TV, and focuses on volleyball to stay active. Coach Nikki formerly assisted as a sports performance facility that worked with children aged 8-15 in soccer and swimming. Her favorite part about working with kids is that they have endless energy and inspire her to not take life so seriously. As a Soccer Shots Coach, she hopes to build connections with fellow coaches and families, and to make a positive impact on the young athletes she works with.

Fun Facts: Coach Nikki is studying to become a physical therapist and is also a big fan of hockey and baseball!

Originally from La Porte, TX, Coach Peyton joins our squad full of soccer and coaching experience! Beginning at the age of 3, she played for 10 years with the Challenge Soccer Club as a goalkeeper and continued on her varsity team all 4 years. She’s served as a volunteer for the past 5 years as a coaching youth instructor for soccer camps in her hometown and earned a coaching minor from Texas State where she’s also currently studying for her nursing degree. Coach Peyton loves to watch children grow and progress in a skill and to see how willing they are to learn. When she’s not playing soccer, she loves exploring Austin and checking out the scenery and hiking trails.

Fun Fact: Coach Peyton has 4 pet glowfish!

Coach Sam B. hails from Midland, TX and played as both goalie and forward during his soccer career. Moving through rec leagues in middle school and then up to travel teams, he loves playing the game and making an impact. He has previous experience as a camp counselor and has been a part of the Soccer Shots team for a few seasons now. He hopes to gain a solid coaching foundation and build up his experience!

Fun Facts: Coach Sam plays the guitar, loves Sour Patch Kids, and has been to Guatemala!

Coach V is an avid soccer, Austin, and LEGO fan! She was born and raised here in the city and started her soccer journey at just a wee three years old. Her family was actively involved in her youth development as she progressed through rec and club leagues and later onto her high school team as a midfielder and defender. In addition to soccer, you can find her playing both sand and indoor volleyball.

Coach V has been around children her whole life and involved in coaching youth sports for over 8 years. She also babysits and was part of the PALS program while at school. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to build upon important life skills like patience, responsibility, and having a strong work ethic, and to add to her experience in coaching and impacting young athletes.

Fun Facts: Coach V loves to bake, cook, and build LEGO sets!

Coach Tez is someone you’d want on your soccer team, with his skillful moves and quick feet. He was born and raised here in Austin and and loves all that the city has to offer, from its food, music, and of course, soccer fandom. He played as the attacking midfield on his high school team and later played semi-professionally, too. He currently still gets on the field and has more than 15 years of experience. Coach Tez is excited to pass on his knowledge and expertise to our young athletes!

Coach Tez used to help tutor children and he is having a great time growing in experience and learning new things.

Fun Facts: Coach Tez is fluent in Spanish and Yoruba and his favorite snack is Pop-Tarts!

Coach Emma (aka “Coach V”) is from Dallas and has played soccer for 19 years now. She started playing competitive club soccer and then at 15 began training with the Women’s Costa Rican National Team! She continued her soccer career throughout high school and played all 4 years, then got recruited to play soccer for St. Edwards University as center mid. Her dream goal is to make it as a pro– Go Coach V! In addition to soccer, Coach V has been coaching children for 4 years and is excited to bring her experience and excitement to Soccer Shots! She loves coaching because it reminds her why she started and why she continues to play: to have fun. Coach V also speaks Spanish and limited French.

Fun Facts: Coach V’s favorite food is sushi and she has a younger sister!

Coach Zach’s passion for soccer started at the young age of four years old up in his hometown just outside of Washington, D.C. He later progressed to the club level, continuing through high school, and later found himself on the Indiana University Men’s club team. He was partial to orchestrating the plays as a center mid or back wing. Currently, Coach Zach continues to stay active in a variety of sports from soccer, skiing, and snowboarding, to running and kickball as well. There probably isn’t a sport Coach Zach hasn’t already tried!

He has previous experience as a summer camp counselor where his mom worked as a montessori teacher and camp director. It was at these camps that he discovered his love for working with kids, and what eventually led him to Soccer Shots. His favorite part about working with youth is building relationships and helping them learn the foundations of emotional intelligence, all while working on it himself in the process. He hopes to bring the same impact as a coach as his own coaches had on him.

Fun Facts: Coach Zach used to have a hamster named Paco, who he thought was male, but one day Paco had 8 baby hamsters! Unfortunately, he wasn’t allowed to raise the babies but was proud to be a hamster grandparent.

Originally from Dallas, Coach Z is a new Austin transplant. She has so far enjoyed the plethora of fun outdoors activities in the area. She has been playing soccer for more than 16 years, serving for both her club and high school varsity teams. Although she no longer plays competitively, she still enjoys kicking the ball around with friends, as well as hiking and running to stay healthy. You can often find her exploring all the hiking and outdoor spots Austin has to offer.

Coach Z got her experience working with children through babysitting and even aided in coaching her little nephew’s soccer team. Since joining the Soccer Shots team, Coach Z has been working hard at being an exceptional role model for the students she coaches and ensuring all of her students have a ton of fun!

Fun Facts: Coach Z is the youngest out of 4 siblings, her favorite team is FC Barcelona, and she also speaks Spanish!