Meet The Coaches

Coach Ollie has played soccer (football) ever since he was born.  He played all the way up to college and then went and played at a semi -professional level.  Currently, he is still playing, has his US soccer D license, and coaches club soccer in the Cincinnati area.  Coach Ollie also has a bachelor’s degree in sports coaching and development.

Coach Ollie is originally from England and has been living in Cincinnati for around 5 years on and off. Since being over in the US, Coach Ollie has worked at full time summer camps before joining Soccer Shots.  He is very excited to share his passion for the game and show the enjoyment soccer can bring to all the children in soccer shots.

Coach Lily has been working with Soccer Shots since the Fall of 2022. She started playing soccer at the age of 5 and played all through high school. She loves spending time with kids and helping them learn more about soccer.

Coach Lily graduated from Ohio State University in May 2022 with her bachelor’s degree in biology. She is from the Cincinnati area.

Coach Allison has been with Soccer Shots for a year and has loved getting to know all of the kids she has been coaching.  She has played soccer since she was 6 years old and has loved every minute of it! Before Soccer Shots she worked as a summer camp counselor and a teacher’s assistant.

Coach Allison is currently studying Middle Childhood Education at Xavier University and is ecstatic to begin her teaching career after graduation.   Allison is excited to be coaching soccer with the kids and to see their improvement over the course of the season! She promises to always bring positive energy and encourage everyone to have fun!

Coach Amy has been with Soccer Shots since 2014, and the Program Director since 2017.  She lives in West Chester with her husband Cory and 3 children, Sydney (23), Caleigh (21) and Brady (18).  Prior to joining Soccer Shots, Coach Amy was a stay-at-home mom and provided childcare in her home for 13 years. She enjoys camping, boating, fishing and watching her kids play sports.

Coach Amy’s favorite part of teaching young children is seeing their faces light up when they get a move right on their own or score a goal. She believes “We don’t just teach kids how to play soccer, we teach them patience, discipline, sharing, balance, gross motor skills, sportsmanship, etc…. but most importantly how to have fun!”

Coach Cameron joined Soccer Shots in November of 2022. He started playing soccer at a very young age. He played all throughout high school and continued playing club soccer when he attended Butler University. Coach Cameron has also coached many age levels, most recently high school soccer in Indianapolis.

Coach Cameron is originally from Indiana and just recently moved to Cincinnati with his family, including two little ones aged 3 years and 7 months.  He is looking forward to bringing his experience with the world’s beautiful game and translating that into a fun, rewarding, and overall positive soccer experience for the children of Cincinnati.

Coach Tom joined Soccer Shots in the winter of 2023.  He has over 31 years of  experience coaching soccer from the ages of 3-19 for both girls and boys teams (which he is still currently doing). His passion for soccer started in 1992 when  he volunteered to coach his daughter’s soccer team at West Chester Soccer Club. Eight games later, he was hooked!

Coach Tom loves to have fun with the game of soccer, whether he is coaching kids indoor or outdoor. The one thing that resonated with the players he coached (past and present) is the fact that they talked about how much fun they had playing on his teams.

In addition to having fun within the game of soccer, Coach Tom loves witnessing the players progression through out the season. He enjoys watching them  learn the game of soccer,  applying all the skills they have practiced (making a great pass, taking a shot, scoring goals, etc.), learning how to play as an individual, and more importantly, as a team. When he sees this progression happen, the season was successful.

Coach Tom retired in May 2022 after a 40-year career. When he is not coaching soccer, you can find him playing a lot of golf, working out at a local gym, playing pickle ball, bowling, attending  FC Cincinnati matches, traveling to various places,  and watching his three grandsons play football, baseball, and soccer.

Coach Tom is  looking forward to teaching even more kids how to play the beautiful game of soccer!

Coach Taylor was born and raised a Westsider, surviving on Skyline Chili and Who-Deys! She spent most of her childhood playing soccer and remains friends with past teammates. “The first thing that comes to mind about my childhood is soccer. I loved playing and the friends I made over the years. There were some indoor seasons when I played for three teams because I enjoyed the game so much. As a mom, it’s a privilege to share the sport so close to my heart with the upcoming generations.” – Coach Taylor.

When Coach Taylor is not coaching, she’s focusing on Faith and Family. She is always on the go with her son and Chocolate Lab, where you’ll find her running on coffee and KLOVE. Her days are long and busy being a mom but full of love and adventure.

Coach Tyree just graduated from Miami University studying kinesiology and nutrition. While in college she participated in division 1 track and field throwing javelin. Coach Tyree aspires to be the coach that shows children how exciting and fun sports can be. Her favorite thing to accomplish in coaching is teaching the athletes they can do anything they set their minds to with hard work and determination. She looks forward to showing them the stepping- stones of the sport and quality of teamwork to positively help shape children’s lives on and off the field.   Coach Tyree is ecstatic to have fun during the season with the athletes!

Coach Jon is new to the Cincinnati area, having spent the last 5 years in the Army at different bases around the world. While in the Army, he played soccer in base leagues. He especially enjoyed the opportunity to play in South Korea where the locals have such passion and skill for the game. Currently he is studying history at Xavier University and hopes to become a high school teacher and soccer coach. He hopes to help instill the love and excitement for soccer for all kids in Soccer Shots.

Coach Steve is from the Cincinnati area and attended Ohio State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Sociology. He’s been playing soccer since the age of 5 and all the way up through High School. He is excited to join Soccer Shots and have an impact on children’s lives and see the joy on children’s faces when the Coaches enter the room.

Coach Caleigh was born in Fairfield, Ohio. She moved to West Chester, Ohio when she was 4 and has lived there since. She graduated from Lakota East High School and is attending UC Blue Ash. She has been playing soccer for 13 years and was Captain of the high school bowling team. She loves playing soccer and coaching.  Caleigh is so excited to be able to teach the sport she loves!

Coach Rachel has been with Soccer Shots for 3 years.  She always had a love for soccer and knows the game well. She has played soccer since she was kid, including recreation, club, high school, and intramural soccer.  She was a certified USSF referee for 6 years and currently has been coaching Varsity soccer for the past 3 years.

When Coach Rachel is not on the soccer field coaching, she is a full-time school counselor at an elementary school and loves working with children in general.  She also loves playing with her dogs, Eevee and Stella, and spending time with family. Coach Rachel is excited to meet her new “Soccer Friends” and instill in them some core character development skills, as well as a love for soccer.

Coach Gina was born and raised in the Cincinnati area, has played soccer since the age of 5 and has been a coach with Soccer Shots since 2017. Her favorite part of coaching for Soccer Shots is the excitement that the children have when they know it’s time for soccer, along with watching them learn the concepts and character words and continue to grow and improve. She aspires to have a positive impact on each child she meets and is inspired to continue to learn and grow herself as a coach.

Coach Natalie is a sophomore at Thomas Moore College in Crestview KY. She is majoring in middle school education and special education. She’s on the women’s golf team there as well. She has been playing soccer since she was five years old and really enjoys the sport. Natalie loves coaching such a fun age group of children. She is super excited to be working with Soccer Shots and is looking forward to meeting your child!

Coach Anant grew up playing every sport under the sun however his passion has always been soccer from his early days growing up in Kenya, East Africa. He played in high school, college club soccer, to various leagues over the years. In addition to his career as a computer engineer, Anant has coached his two daughters’ youth sports teams for over 12 years, including soccer, track & field, and volleyball. The joy he receives from educating, inspiring, motivating, and mentoring kids in youth sports while seeing them progress and have fun is indescribable. He is excited to continue his passion for coaching with Soccer Shots.

Coach Brandon grew up in the Cincinnati area and started playing soccer at 3 years old. He played soccer through the Lakota Sports Organization rec teams and eventually played on a competitive level with the Cincinnati United Premier teams along with the Lakota East ThunderHawks. Outside of soccer he loves hanging out with friends and getting outside for some exercise or fun! Even though he stopped playing soccer competitively, he never stopped having fun with the sport and hopes to share that through Soccer Shots!

         Coach Bryce is originally from Centerville and has been playing soccer as far back as he can remember. He has developed a love for soccer that is not soon to end. He played both recreationally and competitively throughout the years as a goalie and a midfielder.   He began coaching youth in high school, taking part in large-scale practices and training camps. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati he was seeking a part-time job in soccer to go along with his full-time engineering role. He is thrilled to be able to introduce kids to the sport he has always enjoyed and help them sharpen their soccer skills.

Coach Derek is originally from Hocking Hills Ohio where he grew up playing soccer! He played goalie in college for Ohio Christian University. He coached Varsity Soccer for Logan High School in Hocking Hills and is very excited to challenge the young Soccer Shots players on Soccer Island. He enjoys spending time with his wife and their fur family (dog and cat). His favorite part about coaching at Soccer Shots is “the joy you see in children’s faces when they are having fun!”

Coach Grace is currently a nursing student at Christ College of Nursing and graduated from Saint Ursula Academy in 2020. She has played soccer for many years including through high school. She has also had the opportunity to work with kids as a camp counselor all throughout high school. Coach Grace is looking forward to coaching and bringing Soccer Shots to the kids in Cincinnati.

Coach Joy grew up and currently lives on the west side of Cincinnati. She graduated with an early childhood degree from the University of Cincinnati. Coach Joy was a preschool teacher before having 5 children. She was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years. Coach Joy is happy to be back working with young children! She adores their enthusiasm, loves seeing the excitement on the children’s faces at soccer and the progress they make through each season. 

Coach Kristin has worked with soccer shots since the Spring of 2021. She is from the Cincinnati area and played high school and collegiate soccer. Before Soccer Shots she coached swimming and was also a coach for the Rio Soccer Academy in Gallipolis, OH. She is working at the Campus at kids first as a teacher’s assistant. She enjoys time with kids and helping them have a fun time while learning new skills about soccer!

Coach Makenzie has been playing soccer since she was five and grew to love all sports and teaching children. Makenzie is currently studying Early Childhood Education at the University of Cincinnati. She joined Soccer Shots in 2020 and believes that Soccer Shots not only gives the opportunity to teach children soccer, but also to build character and confidence within themselves. She hopes that all children walk away with soccer skills and remember to always believe in themselves and try their best! 

Coach Matthew has lived in Cincinnati his whole life and has played soccer for most of his life! He graduated from Xavier University, studying History and Education. He loves working with kids of all ages and has taught middle school and high school. He is currently coaching the club soccer team, Impact, and has been with Soccer Shots for many seasons!

Coach Shannon has been coaching with Soccer Shots since August of 2012. She played soccer growing up and coached numerous other sports to young children prior to joining Soccer Shots. Before becoming the Director of Coaching, she taught in the classroom for many years (mostly Pre-K) and did some work in the accounting department in a local company.

Coach Shannon is a Cincinnati native. She received her Master’s degree in early childhood education from Xavier University.   She has a teenage daughter who plays competitive soccer and two pets (dog and a cat). When Coach Shannon is not coaching or attending her daughter’s soccer games, you can usually find her at a sporting event (huge Bengals and Reds fan), at a concert or where there is live music, and outside. She likes to travel and loves going to the beach or Nashville.

Coach Mike has been with Soccer Shots since May of 2021. When a coaching position opened at Soccer Shots, it was a no-brainer!  Coach Mike enjoys seeing the children develop and learn new skills. The smiles on their faces are extremely rewarding!  He has been involved in the programs for youth soccer within the community for 13 years. He currently is the coordinator for the Oak Hills Premier soccer club and also coaches his two sons’ club soccer teams (14u & 12u).

Coach Mike lives on the Westside of Cincinnati with his spouse and kids. In his free time, he enjoys sports, camping, and vacationing at the beach!

Coach Kaitlin is in her 3rd year at the University of Cincinnati studying allied health with hopes of a career in the field of physical therapy. She began playing soccer competitively at a young age with the Internationals Soccer Club out of Medina, OH. Competing in the Elite Clubs National League, Coach Kaitlin has experience playing at the highest level of youth soccer across the nation. Today, she is a member of the UC Women’s Club Soccer team. When not on the field, Coach Kaitlin can be found running on the track or the trails of her hometown in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. She even recently completed her first half marathon! Coach Kaitlin is very excited to be able to share her love of soccer with the next generations of the game!

Emilson hails from Honduras in Central America and has had a deep love of soccer since he was 5 years old when he first started kicking a soccer ball.

Emilson is passionate about the history of futbol, and has continued to play and coach both children and teens. He currently lives in southern Ohio with his wife and infant daughter. He wishes to share his love of soccer with his family and yours!

Coach Tom has been with Soccer Shots since the summer of 2022. He played soccer growing up and through high school. Coach Tom has enjoyed getting to know the Soccer Shots staff and working with the kids on the pitch. He is originally from the Boston area so you may detect a slight accent when you hear him talk.

When Coach Tom is not coaching, he is using his over 22 years of experience in the classroom teaching Math and Science to his 5th graders at Terrace Park Elementary.    Tom lives in Miami Township with his wife, Vicki, and their two daughters, Olivia and Lucy.

Coach Emily has been with Soccer Shots since the summer of 2022. She is a lifetime fan and participant of soccer with experience as a player and as a coach. Her experience includes playing for Cincinnati elite soccer clubs and the University of Cincinnati Soccer Club and coaching various age groups and skill levels in the Cincinnati region.

When Coach Emily is not playing or coaching soccer, she is singing in her college choir or practicing her martial arts.  She is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati studying Anthropology. Coach Emily is hopeful to apply her love of soccer and children to coach the game that inspires her!