Coaches & Staff

TECHNICAL STAFF

Tommy Wilson – Philadelphia Union Academy Director
Coaching Qualifications:

• • UEFA Pro License Diploma
• • UEFA Advanced License Diploma
• • UEFA Basic License Diploma
• • Scottish FA Youth Director’s Award
• • Scottish FA Advanced Youth License
• • Scottish FA Advanced Children’s License

Coaching Experience:

• • Academy Technical Director and Reserve Team Manager for Rangers FC (Scotland) (2006 – 2013)
• • Head of Coaching and Education for the Scottish Football Association (2004 – 2006)
• • Scottish National Team Coach (2004 – 2007)
• • Head of SFA’s Youth Development (2000 – 2004)
• • Led the U19 National Team to the European Championship Finals in Poland, 2006 (losing to Spain 2-1 in the final)
• • Led the U20 National Team to the FIFA World Cup Finals in Canada, 2007
• • Developed and implemented the much acclaimed Scottish FA UEFA Pro License Diploma

Chris Brewer – Philadelphia Union Academy U18 Head Coach
Coaching Qualifications:

• • USSF A License
• • National Youth License
• • FIFA Futuro III

Coaching Experience:

• • U18 MNT Assistant Coach  (2012 – present)
• • U14 MNT Assistant Coach (2010 – 2011)
• • US Soccer Technical Advisor (2009 – 2013)

Jeff Cook – Philadelphia Union Academy U16 Head Coach
Coaching Qualifications:

• • UEFA Pro License
• • UEFA Advanced Coaching Diploma – SFA “A” License
• • US Soccer Federation “A” License
• • National Soccer Coaches Association of America

Coaching Experience:

• • Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Dartmouth College (2001 – 2013)
• • Head Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Cincinnati (1996 – 2001)
• • Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, Dartmouth College (1994 – 1996)
• • Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Wheaton College (MA) (1991 – 1994)
• • Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Massachusetts (1990 – 1991)

Gary Lewis – Philadelphia Union Academy U14 Head Coach
Coaching Qualifications:

• • UEFA A License
• • FA Academy Managers License
• • FA Psychology for Soccer Level 3
• • FA Youth Module 3

Coaching Experience:

• • National Director of Coaching, FCUSA (2014-2015)
• • Head of Youth Development, Liverpool FC (2008-2014)
• • Lead Academy Coach, Everton FC (2005-2008)
• • Lead Academy Coach, Derby County FC (2001-2005)

Iain Munro – Union / YSC Youth Director
Coaching Qualifications:

• • UEFA Pro License
• • Scottish FA “A” License

Coaching Experience:

• • Ayr United F.C. Assistant Manager / Team Coach, Scottish First Division (1997 – 2001)
• • Manager / Team Coach, Raith Rovers F.C., Scottish Premier League (1996 – 1997)
• • Manager / Team Coach, Hamilton Academical F.C., Scottish First Division (1992 – 1996)
• • Manager / Team Coach, Dundee F.C., Scottish First Division (1991 – 1992)
• • Assistant Manager / Manager / Team Coach, Dunfermline A.F.C., Scottish First Division/ Scottish Premier (1987 – 1991)

Phil Karn –  Philadelphia Union Academy U13, U15 Head Coach
Coaching Qualifications:

• • USSF National “A” License
• • USSF National Youth License

Coaching Experience:

• • YSC Staff Coach (2006 – 2015)
• • Philadelphia Union U16 Academy Head Coach (2011)
• • Philadelphia University Assistant Soccer Coach (2004 – 2006)
• • Abington High School Assistant (1999 – 2003)

Jay Cooney –  Union / YSC Youth Goalkeeping Coach
Coaching Qualifications:

• • USSF National ‘C’ License

Coaching Experience:

• • Assistant Coach, Stanford University (2003 – 2014)
• • Director of Goalkeeping USSF IMT – Northern California (2011 – 2014)
• • Director of Goalkeeping MVLA (2010 – 2014)
• • Assistant Coach, WPS (FC Gold Pride) (2009 – 2010)
• • Assistant Coach, WUSA (San Jose CyberRays) (2001 – 2003)
• • Assistant Coach, William & Mary (2000 – 2001)
• • Assistant Coach, Providence College (1999 – 2000)
• • Head Coach, Wellesley (1995 – 1999)

Kevin Coleman – Philadelphia Union Academy U12 Head Coach:
Coaching Qualifications:

• • USSF National “B” License
• • NSCAA Advanced Regional Coaching License

Coaching Experience:

• • FC Delco Academy (2008 – 2013)
• • Villanova University (2010 – 2011)
• • LaSalle University (2007 – 2010)

Mark Prizant – Director of Talent ID:
Coaching Qualifications:

• • USSF “A” Coaching License
• • USSF National Youth License
• • NSCAA Premier Diploma

Coaching Experience:

• • USSF Development Academy Scout (2013)
• • Head Coach, Chicago Fire U23 PDL (2013)
• • Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, Florida Gulf Coast University (2011 – 2013)
• • Executive Director, Chicago Fire Juniors (2010 – 2011)
• • Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Evansville (2009 – 2010)
• • Associate Director of Coaching, Alabama Youth Soccer (2005 – 2009)
• • Executive Director, Soccer Operations, Cape Coral Soccer Assoc. (2006 – 2007)
• • Head Coach, Men’s Soccer, State University of New York College (2001 – 2004)

SPORT SCIENCE STAFF:

Finn Gundersen– Director of Sport Education

Finn is the former Director of Sport Education at the United States Ski and Snowboard Association and co-founder of Burke Mountain Academy, the first sports academy in the country.  Gundersen has over 40 years of youth development and coaching experience, including coaching at the Olympic and Alpine FIS World Cup levels.  He has worked with athletes from youth grassroots to the elite Olympic level.

Dr. Cristina Fink –  Director of Sport Psychology

Cristina Fink, PhD is a highly experienced sport psychologist with over 18 years of experience in teaching, counseling and sport administration, counseling clients include Olympic Medalists and World Champions as well as professional and national soccer teams.  Cristina competed in two Olympic Games (Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992) and held the Mexican High Jump Record with a 6’4” jump for 22 years.  She has a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Family and Consumer Resources from the University of Arizona, Tucson.  She has a Masters Degree and PhD in Sport Psychology from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) in Madrid, Spain.  Cristina is the author of a number of published papers and books, and a keynote speaker in many national and international conferences.  She is the Director of Sport Psychology for YSC / Union Youth Development and is responsible for helping implement its core-values and behavioral learning into its soccer education curriculum.  Cristina also supports the Philadelphia Union working directly with first team athletes as directed by Philadelphia Union Technical Staff.  She is the first non-European to be invited to the International Network of Football Psychologists where her peer group includes sport psychologists from top professional European clubs (including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid).

Garrison Draper, M.Sc., CSCS – Sport Scientist

Garrison is an up and coming sport scientist with experience throughout Major League Soccer (MLS). Before coming to Philadelphia, he worked with the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders. Garrison has implemented an athlete monitoring system which follows players through physical testing, GPS and Accelerometry, heart rate monitoring, and non-contact injuries. This data is used to better understand response to training and player growth and development. Garrison supports Philadelphia Union Academy, YSC Academy, and Philadelphia Union First Team Players and Staff.

Bill Knowles, ATC, CSCS – Director of Athletic Development

Bill Knowles is world-renown in the field of sports reconditioning and athletic development.   He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with 24 years of experience at the Professional, Olympic, and Elite Junior levels of sport.  He specializes in developing Planned Performance Reconditioning strategies for elite athletes following injury.  These same concepts are also designed for athletes and teams to improve performance and reduce the incidence of injury.

Bill has lectured and trained staff around the world on his concepts of managing joint compromised athletes in their quest for a return to competition following injury.  He has been invited to work with staff and athletes at such Clubs as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, The FA, and England Rugby.  His work has brought him high profile athletes such as Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Peyton Manning, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen, Mario Ballotelli, and swimming legend, Dara Torres.

David Peck –  Athletic Development Training

David Peck holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach.

Matt Siniscalchi  –  Athletic Development Training

Matt holds a Bachelors Degree in Health & Exercise Science from Rowan University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  Matt works closely with professional and world-class athletes, the Philadelphia Union Academy, and YSC Academy, implementing reconditioning and performance programs.  With a strong-multi-sport background, Matt guides all of our athletes toward becoming better “soccer-playing-athletes”.  This is achieved through the development of a robust foundation that tolerates the physical journey of our athletes.

Eric Gorman – Athletic Development Training

Eric has a Masters Degree in Exercise, Science & Wellness and a BS in Sports Management.  He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  Eric implements the day-to-day Athletic Development programs for all 6 of the Philadelphia Union Academy teams and is instrumental in daily training for all YSC Academy Student-Athletes.  With a background playing collegiate soccer, Eric works closely with the Academy Technical Coaching Staff and the Philadelphia Union First Team Performance Director to ensure the highest level of performance and injury prevention.

OPERATIONS STAFF

Maura Ryan– Head of Union Academy Operations

Maura is a graduate of Penn State University where she played on the Varsity Women’s Soccer Team for four years. Maura has been active in the NSCAA locally and coaches various local girls soccer teams. She also played professional Soccer in Iceland for one year.