Meet The Coaches

This apple didn’t fall far from his family tree; Joel’s mother was a teacher and his father a professor. As early as elementary school, Joel would work winter and spring breaks at his mother’s childcare center. In middle school, he worked a special needs winter break camp and that summer, became a counselor in training at a local day camp. He spent his next 4 summers at that camp, before getting a gig as the Nature Specialist at an overnight camp outside Cleveland in college. Although Joel had never coached children before starting Soccer Shots, he’s learned a lot in the 8+ years since; children are such amazing teachers. 

CREDENTIALS: US F License, US Soccer Grassroots, CPR/First Aid, Double Goal Certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance, BA in Religious Studies with a focus on Buddhism, Masters in Business with a focus on Marketing,  Former Chairman of the Board of Active Children Portland, a local 501 3c. Executive Function Skills: Foster with Play, Penn State Better Kid Care Program.

FUN FACTS: Joel’s kiddos are the light in his life, and he feels lucky to have a beautiful wife and family to snoop around Portland with or just hang in his backyard. He loves finding new coffee shops, experiencing art, reading, learning, discussing ideas, listening to all sorts of music, cheering on our Thorns and Timbers, and giving back to the community. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: “If good citizens are the riches of a city, then there is no better investment than young people. Investing in the youth in our community is an act of faith in the future, of commitment to the present and the sign of a supremely wise investor.” -Cary Clarke

FAVORITE JOKE: “I would tell you my lasagna joke but it’s too cheesy.” 

CaSaundra is passionate about all youth sports, whether it is coaching or helping organizations that support them. She has spent years volunteering as a youth baseball & softball coach and has loved learning more about the game of soccer since joining the Soccer Shots team. CaSaundra would love to connect with anyone that is curious about our program or has a similar passion for youth and coaching.

CREDENTIALS: Heads Up Concussion, Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, Professional Project Manager (PMP). Volunteer President of Gresham Barlow Youth Baseball/Softball, Volunteer Coordinator for Gresham Youth Basketball.

FUN FACTS: CaSaundra has jumped out of a perfectly fine plane, AKA she went skydiving! When she wasn’t playing softball growing up, she spent her weekends at a race car track (her dad was a driver) or on a sailboat.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Change is the law of life. And those who only look to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F Kennedy

FAVORITE JOKE: “What is a pirate’s favorite letter? Rrrrrrrrr!”

Ian loves movies, traveling, and anything that involves being outside and connecting with the environment. An avid runner, Ian has competed in 98 marathons!

CREDENTIALS: Bachelor of Arts in Economics

FUN FACTS: Ian has been a vegetarian for 30 years!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Life is like a box of chocolates.” -Forrest Gump

FAVORITE JOKE: “What did one eye say to the other eye? Between us, something smells!”

SEASONS WITH SS: 8 Seasons at PDX

FUN FACTS: Dan has also lived in New Zealand and Australia.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” -Dr Seuss

FAVORITE JOKE: “I’m so good at sleeping. I can do it with my eyes closed.”

SEASONS WITH SS: 13 Season at PDX

LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH: Spanish

FUN FACTS: Coach Ash can build a campfire in less than 3 minutes! She is also fluent in both Spanish and English.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Don’t take life too seriously…” -Elbert Hubbard

FAVORITE JOKE: “Have you heard about the latest broom craze? I hear it’s sweeping the nation!”

SEASON WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! September 2021

FAVORITE ANIMAL: My cat, Schrodinger. A fun fact is that I take him on hikes, which he loves! 

FAVORITE JOKES: What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm!

LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH: English, Spanish, Portuguese

SEASON WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX

Favorite Color: Orange      

Favorite Food: Lasagna      

Favorite Animal: White Tiger

Favorite joke: What do you use to count farm animals?   A COWculator. /// What do you call a large pile of cats?  A MEOWtain!

Fun Fact: I was born in Costa Rica, and I don’t get on Ferris Wheels because I don’t like heights.

SEASONS WITH SS: 11 Seasons at PDX

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! April 2021

FUN FACTS: Coach Chris has a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “”For every dark night there’s a brighter day” -Tupac Shakur

FAVORITE JOKE: “Knock, Knock! // Who’s there? // Gorilla! // Gorilla who? // Gorilla me a burger!”

SEASONS WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX

FAVORITE COLOR: Green, blue, and yellow (nature colors)

FUN FACT: Outside of Soccer Shots I’m an artist who paints portraits and creates the occasional mural in pdx.

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

FAVORITE FOOD: Potatoes

FUN FACT: I can sing Opera!

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

FAVORITE ANIMALS: dogs and snow leopards.

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

FAVORITE FOOD:  “prime rib. (Related fun fact: Actually steak/red meat was one of the first things I ate since my older sister table fed me as a baby…never really ate baby food then.)”

FUN FACT: “I’ve been to one of the highest points in the congenital US. As well as one of the lowest points in the U.S.”

SEASONS WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! August 2021

FAVORITE COLOR: Green

FUN FACT: “My cat has 6 extra toes”

SEASONS WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX 

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! July 2021

FAVORITE ANIMAL: “Elephant, I love how they are both strong and gentle.”

FUN FACT: “I have lived in Italy and Germany.”

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

FAVORITE FOOD: Grilled quesadilla

FAVORITE JOKE: I once knew a tiny, shy pebble who wished he was a little boulder

FUN FACT: “I work with eSports (video game) players”

SEASONS WITH SS: 9 Seasons at PDX

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! April 2021

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Elephant

FAVORITE COLOR: Coral

FAVORITE FOOD: Tamales

SEASONS WITH SS: 1 Season at PDX

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Sea Turtle

FUN FACT: “I love to read in my free time!”

SEASONS WITH SS: 2 Seasons at PDX

LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH: Greek

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! May 2021

FUN FACT: “I have dual citizenship in America & Greece”

FAVORITE JOKE: What is it called when a dinosaur gets a goal? A dino-score!

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”

–Louisa May Alcott

FAVORITE JOKE:

What kind of tree fits in your hand?

A palm tree.

FUN FACT: “No matter how uncomfortable it may be, I love to conquer my fears and challenge myself to do a bucket list, on my birthday. To name a few, I have  skydived, zip-lined, bungee jumped, and took a vacation by myself (to Kauai, Hawaii).”

SEASONS WITH SS: 3 Seasons at PDX 

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! March 2021

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Red Panda

FUN FACT: “I love coffee”

SEASONS WITH SS: 2 Seasons at PDX

COACH OF THE MONTH: Yes! June 2021

FUN FACT:  “My partner and I moved from Wisconsin in Spring 2021 to explore the Pacific Northwest. We love to camp and hike in our free time with our 2 year old Corgi named Bingo!”

FAVORITE KIDS SHOW: Bluey!!!

FAVORITE JOKE: What do you call a sleeping tractor? A bull dozer!

SEASONS WITH SS: This is their first!

LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH: Amharic & Tigrinya

FAVORITE THING TO DO: is to travel and experience beauty in nature.

FAVORITE JOKE: What award does the dentist of the year get? A little plaque

SEASONS WITH SS: 2 Seasons at PDX

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Giraffe

FUN FACT: I love to draw! 

FAVORITE JOKE: What is a dog’s favorite kind of pizza? A pupperoni pizza!

SEASONS WITH SS: 2 Seasons at PDX

FAVORITE COLOR: Green

FAVORITE JOKE: Do you know why cows have hooves instead of feet?…because they Lac-TOES.

FUN FACT: “My fingers are double jointed”