COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
The Sonoma Valley United competitive soccer program offers teams for every age group, from U8 through U19. Competitive soccer is for those who are interested in increasing their level of play through furthering the development of skills and knowledge at a higher level of play.
These teams are led by highly qualified coaches that train players with a focus on skill development in the early years, and tactical abilities in the later years. While winning is our coaches’ game objective, ensuring player improvement is the primary focus.
OUR COMPETITIVE STAFF & COACHES
Paul Mead | Director of Coaching
Licenses: USSF'C' License; NSCAA High School Diploma; Hans Hoek Dutch Training Course Level 1; NorCal Level Training Course; PCA Charter Member
Years Coaching: 2 Years Rec SVYSA; 6 Years Comp SVYSA; 2 Years Premiere Marin FC; 8 Years High School (2 years SVHS; 6 years Justin Siena, 2 years Soccer Program Director)
Years Playing: 8 Years grade shool and High School; 4 years College; 1 year Portland, Oregon Men's League "The Rats"
Levels Played: High School - Varsity; College - D3 (All League MVP)
Alma Mater(s): Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management; Lawrence University; Menlo College
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: The love of the game!
GIRLS COACHES
Jason Sutter | U14 (2007) Girls Coach
Licenses: Nation E, NSCAA Level 6
Years Coaching: 7 years competitive coaching, 8 years recreational coaching
Years Playing: 4 years youth, 5 years adult
Levels Played: Adult Recreational
Alma Mater(s): Sonoma State University
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: We play to have fun and compete.
Joe Diggins | U13 (2008) Girls Coach
Licenses: National F license and Grassroots Course Licenses, United Soccer Coaches 7v7/9v9 diploma, LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 3 Course
Years Coaching: 6 years (3 rec and 3 comp)
Years Playing: 8 years
Levels Played: High School and Club
Alma Mater(s): Blair High School and Blair FC
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Kids to have fun and improve their game.
Nick Bell | U12 (2009) Girls Coach
Licenses: NorCal level 1
Years Coaching: Comp - 3 years, Rec - 2 years
Years Playing: 20+ years
Levels Played: Competitive
Alma Mater(s): CSU Monterey Bay
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Building the person above building the player. Making each kid a better person overall.
Jason White | U10 (2011) Girls Co-Coach
Licenses: National F and Grassroots 7v7
Years Coaching: U6-U12 (6 years)
Years Playing: 6 years
Levels Played: U8-U14
Alma Mater(s): UC Davis
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Community
Kristen Schantz | U10 (2011) Girls Co-Coach
Licenses: D (2000) Grassroots (2020)
Years Coaching: 8 years (2001 High School Varsity (Head Coach), Ursuline High School, Santa Rosa/2002-2004 U 18 Arnhem, Netherlands (Assistant)/2016 U6 Girls/2017 U8 Girls/2018 U8 Girls/2019 U8 Boys (Sonoma)
Years Playing: 14 years -1992-1995 High School/1996-1999 Division 1 College Soccer/2000-2002 Womens Club Soccer/2002-2004 Womens Semi Pro (internationally)
Levels Played: High School 4 years/ Division 1 College 4 years/Womens Club Soccer, Sonoma County 2 years/Womens Semi Pro International, Netherlands
Alma Mater(s): Fresno State University
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: I believe in coaching players to play with their hearts as well as their feet.
BOYS COACHES
Laura Contreras Cole | U16 (2005) Boys Coach
Licenses: USSF ‘D’
Years Coaching: 5 years, Recreational & Competitive
Years Playing: 6 years
Levels Played: Youth
Alma Mater(s): U.S. Marine Corps
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Character Development
Tim Brophy | U16 (2005) Boys Coach
Licenses: USSF E
Years Coaching: 7 years of recreational from U6-U10 Boys and girls, 5 years competitive boys U9-U15 (bronze to gold)
Years Playing: 2 years
Levels Played: Youth
Alma Mater(s): San Jose State University
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Growing up playing American football and basketball my coaching style is focused on teamwork. There is a famous soccer quote that I usually tell my teams at some point in the season that states, “if you play for the name on the front of the jersey, then everyone will remember the name on the back.” It is an amazing feeling when you see young players come to that realization on their own through play. It is a work ethic that they can take with them for the rest of their life.
Seamus Canning | U15 (2006) Boys Coach
Licenses: Level 1
Years Coaching: 5 soccer, 12 Gaelic
Years Playing: 10 years Gaelic
Levels Played: Club
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Discipline
Alejandro Hernandez | U14 (2007) Boys Coach
Licenses: NorCal Level 1
Years Coaching: 3 years
Years Playing: 18 years
Levels Played: Silver
Alma Mater(s): Sonoma Valley High School
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Making sure kids improve all their skills and as well as enjoy the game.
Yair Alvarez | U12 (2009) Boys Coach
Licenses: USSF "E"
Years Coaching: 5 Years of Coaching experience (Sonoma SC, SVU, Futsal)
Years Playing: 15 years (Grade school, high school, College)
Levels Played: Santa Rosa United- 5 years Sonoma Valley High School- 3 years Varsity, Napa Valley College 1 year
Alma Mater(s): Sonoma State Seawolves
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: I see these kids that I coach and that was me fifteen years ago. I like to give back what I learned playing this beautiful game.
Daniel Kempthorne | U11 (2010) Boys Coach
Licenses: US Soccer Grassroots 9v9, 7v7, 4v4, US Soccer F License, USC Goalkeeping Level 1, 7v7 and NorCal Level 1
Years Coaching: 4 years Coaching Boys Competitive Soccer and Futsal U8-U11
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: Cruyff said it well, about Soccer and Life: "You need to look, you need to think, you need to move, you need to find space, you need to help others. It's very simple in the end."
Jay Tierney | U10 (2011) Boys Coach
Licenses: NorCal Level 1 training course
Years Coaching: 5
Years Playing: 20+ years
Levels Played: High School & Adult Rec
Alma Mater(s): UC Berkeley
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: For the kids to have fun but also understand the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.
Scott Shapiro | U9 (2012) Boys Coach
Licenses: In Progress
Years Coaching: 2.5 years (U8 Boys & Futsal)
Years Playing: 15 years
Levels Played: High School & Club
Alma Mater(s): Cardinal Newman HS & Boston College
One Thing About Coaching that is Important to Me: My goal is for the kids is to continue to learn both skills & teamwork while furthering their passion for the game.
