FULL-TIME COACHING STAFF:

DAVID PARKER - PRESIDENT/CEO      

• NSCAA Premier Diploma
• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
• NSCAA National Diploma
• NSCAA Associate Staff Instructor
• English FA Prelim License
• Assistant Women’s Coach, Lewis University, IL
• Head Coach, Strikers FV SC, IL
• Technical Director, OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• B.A. (Honors) in Sports Management

SIMON BRINKLOW - DIRECTOR OF COACHING

• NSCAA Premier Diploma
• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
• NSCAA National Diploma
• USSF B License
• USSF National Youth License
• NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma I & II
• UEFA B Pt 2
• Head Women’s Coach, Elgin Community College, IL
• Director of Coaching , Bartlett Travel SC, IL
• Illinois State ODP Coach
• B.A. (Honors) in Sports Studies 

MURRAY FINDLAY - COACHING DIRECTOR 

• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma 
• NSCAA National Diploma 
• SFA ’C’ License
• NSCAA National Youth Diploma 
• Director of Coaching, OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Scottish U-18 National Team Player
• Professional Player at East Fife & Berwick Rangers
• BSc Applied Sports Science

MIKE COCKROFT - COACHING DIRECTOR 

• NSCAA National Diploma
• FA Coaching Certificate (UEFA B Pt2)  
• Director of Coaching, Panther SC, IL
• Staff Coach, Noga Soccer, NY
• Former ENYSA ODP Coach, NY
• College Player at Leeds Metroploitan University
• BA in Sports & Leisure Management

STEVE WHITEHOUSE - STAFF COACH 

• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
• NSCAA National Diploma 
• FA Coaching Certificate (UEFA B Pt2)
• Asst Women’s Caoch, Elgin Community College, IL 
• Junior Hawks Director, Bartlett Travel SC, IL
• Pro-contract with Blackburn Rovers FC, UK
• University of Leeds, Leeds, UK 
• Selected to represent British Universities, UK
• B.A. (Honors) in Sports Science and Media

ELLIOT GRAY – STAFF COACH

• FA Level 2 certificate
• 8 years coaching experience
• Club Coach, OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Former coach, Arsenal Soccer Schools
• Semi-pro player, Woodford United FC
• Pro Player, Northampton Town, Tranmere Rovers
• Bsc (Honors) Coaching Science

BEN ANGEL – STAFF COACH

• USSF National ’C’ License
• NSCAA Member
• Former Director of Coaching, SIYSA, IL
• Soccer Director, Sports Blast LLC, IL
• Director of SoccerTots Program, IL
• Team Coach, SI Sting, IL
• Team Coach, Bartlett Travel SC, IL
• Former Player, Chicago Magic SC, IL
• College Palyer at Southern Illinois University, IL
• BA in Secondary Education
• MS in Recreation and Administration

STAFF COACHES:

DEAN SMITH - COACHING DIRECTOR

• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma 
• USSF B License  
• UEFA B License, Level 2
• NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma I & II
• Head Men’s Coach, Elgin Community College, IL
• Illinois State ODP Coach 
• Director of Coaching, ALITHSA, IL
• Professional Player, Shrewsbury Town F.C. UK
• B.A. Honors in Leisure & Tourism

DAN CROSS - STAFF COACH

• NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
• NSCAA National Diploma
• English FA Coaching License
• Director of Acorn, OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Aresnal FC Community Program, UK
• Former Professional Player

 MARK BICOCCHI - STAFF COACH

• Scottish FA ’C’ License
• Assistant Varsity Coach, OPRF High School, IL
• Head Coach, OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Scottish Universities (1998 - 2002)
• B.Ed. in Physical Education

ROB FOX - STAFF COACH

• USSF ‘C’ License
• NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I & II
• Iowa ODP Coach
• Former Professional with Des Moines Menace
• College Player with University of Illinois, Springfield, IL
• B.A. in Management

DINA CASTILLO - STAFF COACH

• USSF ‘D’ License
• Head Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Team Coach Bartlett Hawks SC, IL
• College player at University of Wisconsin La Crosse
• BSc. Fitness & Sports Management

JOSH GOLDKAMP - STAFF COACH

• USSF ’E’ License
• Head Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Assistant Varsity Coach at McClure North High School
• Former Director of Youth Soccer at Sports Made Personal
• College Player at University of Missouri-Columbia
• BA in Human Geography

MELISSA DONILE - STAFF COACH

• USSF ’E’ License
• Head Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Assistant Coach at Galena Junior High School
• Former College Player at Loras College, IA
• Former player with Cosmos FC
• BA in Education & Spanish

RENEE VAI - STAFF COACH

• USSF ’E’ License
• Head Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Assistant Women’s Coach at Dominican University, IL
• Former College Player at Dominican University, IL
• Minnesota ODP Player/Regional Select Team
• BA in Communications

NICKY MILLER - STAFF COACH

• USSF ’E’ License
• 4-year 1st team all-conf., Dominican Univ. 2001-05
• Team MVP, senior year
• Missouri H.S. 1st team all-state 2000
• Currently plays on Vectors Soccer Team
• BA in Communications

KIM GOTTSACKER - STAFF COACH

 

• USSF ’E’ License
• 4 yr. player, Concordia University, IL
• Team Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Started 57 straight games (2 in goal, rest outfield)
• Phys. Education major

 

MICK O’MALLEY- STAFF COACH

• UEFA ‘B’ License
• Head Coach OPRF Strikers SC, IL
• Head Coach at Euro Soccer Club
• Sheffield United FC Academy, UK