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Sporting Arkansas Staff

TECHNICAL STAFF

Scott Marksberry

Director of Coaching

Chase Gipson

Youth Academy Director

OPERATIONS STAFF

Jennifer Marksberry

Registrar

Sporting Operations

Operations Manager

COACHING STAFF

SCOTT MARKSBERRY

Director of Coaching
2008 Boys Head Coach

 

Years coaching: 19+

Levels coached: college, semi-professional, high school, youth club, academy

Schools coached: John Brown University (men's and women's programs), Union University (TN), Wheaton Academy (IL)

Coaching certifications:
USC Premier Diploma
USC Advanced National Diploma
USC National Diploma
USC Level 1 Goalkeeping Certificate

Special Topics Diplomas:
Sports Psychology and Individual Mental Skills
Soccer Mindset Academy: Developing the  Cs
Key Moments in the Game
Developing a Team Philosophy and Purpose
Creating Talent: Get the Best from Training Sessions
Advanced Technical Training: Passing Patterns and Functional Training
11v11 Formations and Systems of Play

Head Coach- Ozark FC (NPSL)
Director of Coaching at Emerald Force Soccer Club (TN)
NAIA Tournament appearance and Top 15 Finish (JBU 2016)
NCSAA National Coach of the Year (2009)
Repeat speaking engagements in special topics: Value-Driven Leadership; Defining and Developing Team Culture; Practical Pathways to Culture Change

International Experience: Playing or coaching experience in Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia

Favorite team: Any team managed by Pep Guardiola, Brendan Rogers, Marco Bielsa, or Jurgen Klopp.

CHASE GIPSON

Academy & Pre-Academy Director

2014 Girls Barcelona and Valencia 
 

Years coaching: 25+

Levels coached: college, club soccer, high school, ODP, recreation league coordinator,  YMCA league coordinator

Schools coached: Lyon College, Batesville High School, Springdale High School

Playing experience: Lyon College, Arkansas A's, Mobile Revelers (USL), Tulsa Roughnecks (USL)

Credentials: USSF National C License, Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP),  YMCA National Leadership Certification

Favorite team: USMNT

Coaching philosophy: Try stuff

KERRY CASTILLO

2015 Lead Coach

Years coaching: 13+

Levels coached: club soccer, high school, ODP

Schools coached: Sheridan High School, Greenbrier High School, Cabot High School, Siloam Springs High School, Bentonville West High School

Arkansas ODP staff coach 2004-2008

State championships won at club soccer: 2

Credentials: USSF National D, USC Advanced National Diploma, USC National Diploma, NFHS Southwest US Coach of the Year, NFHS State Coach of the Year, United Soccer Coaches Coach of the Year, AHSCA Coach of the Year

Favorite team: FC Barcelona

RYAN WILLIAMS

2010 Boys Head Coach (Spring)

Ryan Williams just retired from his professional playing career after playing with New Mexico United of the USL Championship. Ryan is originally from Hawaii and played in the US Development Academy in Colorado before becoming an NAIA All-American at John Brown University. He was the MVP of the PDL National Championship match after scoring the game-winner for the Charlotte Eagles in the final.

NICHOLAS SMALLRIDGE

2007/2008 Girls Head Coach

Years coaching: 15

Levels coached: Academy club soccer, high school, college

Schools coached: Bentonville High School Girls JV, Socorro High School (NM) Boys Assistant Coach, NMT Women's Club, Qiziltepa Mahalla Boys (UZ)

Playing history: FC Haka B1/B2 (FI), Drury University (MO)

Credentials: USSF D License

Favorite team: Everton

Coaching philosophy in one quote: "If you focus on what you lack, you lose what you have. But if you focus on what you have, you gain what you lack." - Gregory McKeown

Social media: Twitter @nasthe3rd

STEVEN PORTER

2009 Boys Liverpool Head Coach

Years coaching: 13+

Levels coached: club soccer, high school, college, ODP

Schools coached: Bentonville High School, Cabot High School, North Little Rock High School, University of Central Arkansas

ODP/PDP experience: 10 years

State championships won with club soccer: 6

Playing history: Welsh National U18 Schoolboy team, Welsh Universities National Team, Cardiff City AFC U16 (team captain), Arkansas As.

Credentials: USSF C badge, USSF National Youth License, NSCAA National Diploma

Favorite team: Liverpool

TARYN KETTER

2009 Girls Head Coach

Years coaching: 5

Levels coached: club soccer, recreational soccer

State championships won at club soccer: 1

Playing history: University of South Dakota, Nebraska Women’s Amateur Soccer team

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation

JULIO MORENO

2006 Boys Premier Head Coach
2011 Boys Atletico Head Coach

Years coaching: 7

Levels coached: club soccer, college

Schools coached: Ecclesia College

State championships won at club soccer: 2

Favorite team: Atlético de Madrid

LUCAS ALMEIDA MORIAS

2005 Boys Head Coach

2006B Premier Assistant Coach

Years coaching: 3

Levels coached: club soccer

State championships won at club soccer: 1

Playing experience: São Paulo FC, Putnok VSE, Oeiras, Consulat Marseilleise, Santo Andre EC, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Sacred Heart University, Ozark FC

Favorite team: São Paulo

FREDY DIAZ

2006 Boys Premier Assistant Coach   

2011 Boys Atletico Assistant Coach                

Years coaching: 6

Levels coached: club soccer

Schools coached: Arkansas Arts Academy

State championships won with club soccer: 2

Favorite team: Barcelona FC

DANTE PARDETTI

2004 Boys Assistant Coach

Academy & Pre-Academy Coach

Years coaching: 2

Levels coached: club soccer

State championships won at club soccer: 2

Referee experience: 5 years

Former Sporting Arkansas player - captained the team to the Region III Presidents Cup Tournament Championship

Favorite team: Manchester United

JAKE WATTS

2009 Boys Boca Juniors Head Coach 

Years coaching: 2

Credentials: NFHS Accredited Interscholastic Coach, USSF 9v9 and 11v11 Grassroots

Schools coached: Rogers Heritage High School

Favorite team: Liverpool

CARLOS DE LA MADRID
2011 GIRLS HEAD COACH
2007 BOYS HEAD COACH

 

Years coaching: 5

Levels coached: club soccer

Playing history:  Lightning SC

Credentials: USSF Grassroots 7v7 and 11v11 licenses

Favorite team: Real Madrid 

My overly simplified coaching philosophy one quote: 

“Football is played with the head. Your legs are just the tools.” – Andrea Pirlo

KAYCE BROWN

2006 Boys Verona Head Coach
2009 Boys Villarreal Head Coach

Years coaching: 17+

Playing experience: Williams Baptist University, Arkansas ODP, selected Arkansas All-State High School team, 4-year letterman at Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro Tornado Classic

Levels coached: college, club soccer, adult leagues

Coaching certification: National D Coaching License

Interim head coach for Williams Baptist University in 2004 & 2005

2006-2010 ran the Craighead County Soccer Association (Jonesboro Tornado)

Created and ran the Jonesboro Adult League from 2011-2014

Favorite team: the underdog

LESLIE PLATZ

2013 Girls Arsenal & Ajax

Years coaching: 4+

Levels coached: club, recreational, camps

Coaching certifications: USSF Grassroots 7v7 and 11v11 licenses

Playing experience: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), NTX Soccer

Favorite team: USWNT

Coaching philosophy: Develop the whole player by instilling a culture of heart, hustle, and high integrity + provide consistent opportunities to develop technical and decision making skills.

JEFF POWERS

2012 Girls Lyon Head Coach 

Years coaching: 7

Levels coached: club soccer, recreational soccer

State championships won at club soccer: 1

Favorite team: Sporting Kansas City

TAYLOR MAHLER

2013 Girls Arsenal and Ajax

Years coaching: 2

Coaching certifications: Grassroots 7v7 and 11v11 licenses

Playing experience: FC United>Lightning Soccer Club (now known as Sporting Arkansas), 4 years varsity Bentonville High School, 2 high school state championship titles

Favorite team: Arsenal and USWNT

WILLIAM PATTENGILL

2012 Boys Atlas Head Coach


Years coaching: 13+

Coaching experience: Sporting Arkansas, NWA Lightning Bentonville Parks & Recreation

Coaching Philosophy: To instill problem solving skills encountered in soccer for players to use their entire life.

CHAD SMITH

2012 Girls Lyon Assistant Coach

Years coaching: 4

Coaching certifications: Grassroots 9v9 and 11v11 licenses

Levels coached: club, recreational

Favorite team: USMNT

K.C. Dietz

2011 Boys Chelsea Head Coach

 

CARLOS JIMENEZ

2011 Boys Chelsea

 

JORGE ZAMARRON SR.

2008 Boys Palmeiras Head Coach

 

JAY DUNKS

2011 Girls Assistant Coach
 

 

Quentin Berner

2014 Girls Barcelona and Valencia

 

NESTOR ORTEGA

2014 Boys Juventus
 

 

MITCHELL ROSS

2015 Boys Manchester United

CHRISTOPHE BOUTEILLE

2013 Boys Head Coach

Years coaching: 2+

Credentials: 7v7 license

Special topics diplomas: Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments, SafeSport trained

Playing experience:  Drury University Division II (MO), Chicago Wind Soccer Club (IL); played in Barcelona Cup (Spain), Nomads Showcase (CA), Schwan’s Cup (MN - 3rd Place), Disney Cup (FL)

Favorite team:  France International - Allez Les Bleu

Coaching philosophy: Work smarter not harder and make the ball do the work!

Languages: English/French (fluent), Spanish (beginner)

KATIE PUGMIRE

2012 Girls Hearts Assistant Coach
 

 

HECTOR HERRERA

2012 Boys Tigres Head Coach
 

 

KONG LEE

2014 Boys Tokyo FC
 

 

CHRISTHIAN SAAVEDRA

9 v 9 Lead Coach

CASEY RIVARD

2015 Girls A.S. Roma

MILES BOYER

2015 Boys Tottenham Hotspurs

JULIAN SCHELL

2010 Girls Head Coach
 

JORGE ZAMARRON JR.

2010 Boys Tigres Head Coach (Fall)

2008B Palmeiras Assistant Coach

BRANDON GARDNER

2013 Girls Arsenal and Ajax Assistant Coach

Years coaching: 4+

Levels coached: club, recreational

Playing experience: Lawton United Soccer Club, high school, Oklahoma State University Soccer Club

Favorite team: USWNT, Sporting KC, Manchester United

Coaching philosophy: Focus on the basics of soccer: passing, dribbling and getting into open passing lanes. Kids learn best when they play hard, take risks and have fun.

SASHA VIATROV

2004 Boys Head Coach
Academy Coach

JASON CHARLESWORTH

2014 Boys Dortmund
 

 

ROB MAHLER

2014 Boys Juventus

RICHARD HOULIHAN

2015 Girls Sydney FC

WESLEY HARRIS

2015 Boys Leeds