Our Staff and the Learning Environment They Create is What Sets Us Apart
We believe that young players deserve access to instruction from professionals possessing years of coaching experience in developing youth soccer players of all ages. Our staff consists of national licensed coaches who have coaching experience at the youth, high school, college and professional level. For players ages 4-8, there is absolutely no other program in the Metro East with such an extensive number of experienced coaches from which players can learn the world's most popular game.
The Metro East K1 Youth Academy Staff includes:
Dale Schilly, USSF "A" License and Program Director for SLSG Metro. As a head coach of the Region II ODP program for 14 years, Dale worked with current national team players like Landon Donovan and Demarcus Beasly as well as current professionals like Luke Kreamelmeyer when they were young players.
Jeremy Alumbaugh, USSF "C" License and Director of Coaching for SLSG Metro. Jeremy is well known for developing quality youth players with over 20 years of youth coaching experience and has played an integral part in the development of nationally recognized programs like the Chicago Magic.
Zach Evans, National Youth License and Director of Youth for SLSG Metro. Zach is a specialist in developing technical and thoughtful young players. He currently oversees all players ages U8-U10 at SLSG Metro and, as a former pre-school teacher, has years of experience and a proven track record of success in working with children from ages 5-10.
Mitch Bohnak, USSF "C" License. Mitch is one of the most well respected coaches in the girls game in Southern Illinois. He has experience in working with players of all ages over his 20+ year career coaching soccer in Southern Illinois.
Justin Bernaix, USSF "C" License. Justin is better known as JB and is another long-time fixture in the Southern Illinois soccer landscape; first as a player and now as a coach and educator.
John Van Buskirk, UEFA "B" License and Director of HS Boys for SLSG Metro. John grew up playing soccer in Granite City, played collegiately at Indiana University and then spent 12 years playing professionally in Germany. His vast knowledge of the game and understanding of what players need to be successful is instrumental in the development of the players with which he works.
Blake Decker, USSF "B" License and Director of Player Development for SLSG Metro. Decker has over 12 years experience working with young adults having taught at the high school level as well as coached at the youth, high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Shawn Hewitt, USSF "B" License and National Youth License. Hewitt has over 14 years of youth coaching experience. He runs his own club Midwest Fury in Columbia, Illinois as well as serving as the Head Coach of Columbia HS Boys Soccer who he lead to a 3rd place finish in the state tournament during the 2010 season.
