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The Niskayuna Soccer Club promotes itself as a “town club where children can learn soccer tactics and techniques, within their community.” A large part of soccer instruction comes from our coaches and skill trainers. Coaches for 2009-2010 are as follows:

Steven Adams - Mohawk United Boys

Coach Adams has been involved with the “beautiful game” for the past 10 years, when his son Brandon started playing for NSC. He has served as coach and assistant coach for various age groups at NSC throughout that time period, primarily for his daughter Taylor’s team. Steven also served 4 years as 2 nd VP of the club, ran the indoor tournament for 2 years and assisted with planning and running 4 outdoor tournaments. Coach Adams is the Girls Varsity Head Coach for Notre-Dame Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, in his 3 rd year. For the past 5 years he also coached an indoor team during the off season for both the boy’s and girls varsity team members at ND-BG, running weekly practices in the gym and playing at Afrim’s for 2 or 3 sessions each winter. Coach Adams holds an F license and has supplemented that with coaching clinics at the Hall of Fame in Oneonta held by the NYS Public High School Athletic Association. He resides in Schenectady with his wife, Joni, and their 2 children.

Kristin Scharphorn Armstrong - U12A Girls

A Niskayuna native, Coach Scharphorn is a product of the Niskayuna soccer program having played with the Travel cub as well as the Girls Highschool Varsity program.  In Highschool, Scharphorn started playing for the Varsity team when she was in eighth grade.  She started every game for five years resulting in three state championships, becoming an NSCAA High School All-American, a NSCAA All-Region East and all-state honoree, the 1998 NYS Section II All-Capital Region Player of the Year, a NYS Section II Class A Goalkeeper of the Year, selected as the NYS Section II All-Capital Region Goalkeeper of the Year, and a NYS scholar-athlete.  Upon graduating Highschool, Scharphorn continued playing soccer in college at Duquesne University for four years under a full scholarship.  She was a two-year starter and team captain. She ranked second in the Atlatic-10 in saves and third in saves per game.  Scharphorn was nominated to the 2003 Atlantic 10 women's soccer Academic All-Conference team along with being an Atlantic-10 Player of the Week.  She has conducted foot skill and goalkeeper training sessions for the Club, and has Coached U10A and U12A girls.  Coach Scharphorn is an 8th grade Science teacher in Bethlehem, and plans to marry this summer.

Robby Buckmire - U10A Boys

Coach Buckmire played youth soccer in his native Grenada, where he played mid-field and defense, and was voted “Defensive Player of the Year” two years in a row. When he was 16, he moved to the USA where he played two years of high school ball and two years at Manhattan College. He has F license, and has been coaching with the Niskayuna Travel soccer Club for the past 6 year, as well as the Mohanasen Junior Varsity soccer team for 4 years. He resides in Schenectady, with his wife and 4 children.

Bryce Colby - U14 A & B Girls

In 14 years at Niskayuna Highschool, Bryce Colby’s teams have won or tied 80% of their games, with NY State Championships in 1995 and 1998. The Fall 2007 girls Varsity team was a Section 2 Finalist, and ranked #10 in the state among large school soccer. Coach Colby has been a staff coach with Eastern NY ODP, CDYSL ODP, Charbonneau Recreation, and holds a USSF A License. Bryce Colby is an art teacher at Iroquois Middle School in Niskayuna, where he resides with his wife and three children. Coach Colby currently coaches the U14 girls in the Niskayuna Soccer Club, runs the U14 and U10 Girls Soccer Academy, and serves on the Competition Committee.

George Dalakos - U10 Girls-Black (U12A Girls Assistant Coach)

George Dalakos’ soccer playing experience includes high school (CBA in Syracuse), college (intramural teams) and various adult leagues (still plays). He has coached over 10 sessions of recreational soccer from kindergarten to 8 th grade as well as head coach for the U10A girls’ team in the Niskayuna Soccer Club. He holds a USSF F coaching license. George is a staff scientist at the GE Global Research Center in Niskayuna. He lives in Niskayuna with his wife and three children.

Alex Finn - U12B Girls

Alex Finn has been a coach in the Niskayuna Soccer Club for the past 6 years and holds a USSF National D coaching license. Having both played soccer at a scholastic level as well as recreationally throughout his life Alex truly has a love for the game as both a spectator and a coach. Previously Alex has coached the U8, U10 and U12 boys and girls teams at the club. In addition to coaching, Alex is active in the management of the Niskayuna Soccer Club. Alex currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Competition Committee, Coaching and Training Co-Coordinator as well as being the webmaster for NSC’s website. Alex along with his wife Robynn and their three kids reside in the Town of Niskayuna.

Kimmie Hill - NSC Soccer Academy

Coach Kimmie is from Rochester and graduated from Churchville-Chili Highschool, earning her school a Section V title in soccer, basketball, and the pentathlon in 2002.  She continued playing soccer at Roberts Wesleyan College and led her team as a center mid-fielder.  As a four year starter and captain, Hill made the 1st team NCAA and NAIA honorable mention.  While receiving her masters in Literacy Education, she was the RWC women’s assistant soccer coach.  She has her NYS coaching certification and is a youth soccer coach and referee in the summer.  Currently, Kimmie is enjoying her teaching career as a sixth grade teacher at Schenectady Christian School and is looking forward to riding her bicycle across America in 2010.

Brittany Mangione - Mohawk United Girls

 Brittany has served as a skills coach for the Niskayuna Soccer Club the past 2 years. She played High School Soccer at Catholic Central where she was a Section II Class A All-Star for 2 years.  She was also Player of the year in the Big Ten.  Brittany was a member of the Clifton Park U-19 team that won the NY State Cup in 2003. She played college soccer at Division II Assumption College where they were ranked as high as 14 in the nation during her Sophomore Year. Brittany is still active in 3 co-ed adult soccer leagues.  She also has run the NYC marathon and Nike 26.2 marathon in San Francisco.  Brittany currently works at the Southern Saratoga YMCA as a Wellness Coach and has recently earned her national ACE certification in Personal Training .

Joe McDonald - U14 Girls Assistant Coach

Joe played 4 years of Highschool varsity soccer for Keveny Memorial Academy, where his team advanced to sectional play his Senior year. He played 10 plus seasons in the CDYSL Open division where his team captured division championships on two occasions. He currently plays Over 30 soccer for Latham United. Joe was a founding member and coached in the Cohoes travel Soccer program. He coached five seasons with Niskayuna Rec soccer, as well as the last six with Niskayuna Travel soccer. He was part of the U12 boy’s team that played in England in April 2009. Joe has served as Coaching Co-coordinator for the past 4 seasons, and on the Executive Committee the last 3. Joe is Vice President of Finance for Union Graduate College, and lives in Niskayuna with his wife Judy, and 3 children.

 Charlie Meacham - U12A Boys

Charlie grew up and played youth soccer in Watervliet as well as in the Oneonta Hall of Fame game as a 12 year old. He played 4 years on the varsity high school team where he set the school record with 49 saves in one game. He played college soccer for Hudson Valley Community College, trained with the NY Shockers, and played U23 soccer with Greenbush and Clifton Park. He currently plays for several indoor teams at Afrim’s. He became a licensed FIFA referee at age 13, and continues to officiate. He earned his national class D coaching license at age 17, and has coached Watervliet travel U8’s, U10’s and U12, as well as their youth program. He has also coached at Afrim’s and Greenbush. Charlie loves soccer and is committed to developing each player he coaches.

Tony Muller - U12A Boys

Tony has been coaching soccer for over 7 years. He began coaching Travel in the Long Island Junior Soccer League for the U13-U16 levels. Additionally, he was a coach in the Farmingdale Soccer Club intramural program for 5 years. For 2 seasons, he coached all three of his children at the same time. After moving to Niskayuna, Tony quickly got involved with the Niskayuna Soccer Club and is in his second year of coaching at the U10 Boys level. He holds the F license and has several years of experience playing soccer at the varsity level in high school. Tony has been an educator for the past 19 years. He was a teacher for 13 years and an administrator (Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Director) for the last 6 years.

 Javier Oballe - U14B Boys

Javier has played soccer since elementary. He played as main goalie in his elementary and middle school A teams, then in high school became the striker on his team. The team used to participate in the all Lima ( Peru) High School leagues and in the catholic tournament school leagues. He has followed world soccer since his youth years and understands the skills and drills needed for the game. He was the assistant coach for the Niskayuna Firebolts U-12 Boys on their 2007-2008 indoor and outdoor championships, and also in the U12Boys Black on their 2008-2009 tournaments. He is married and has two boys.

Mike Parzych - Mohawk United Assistant Coach

Mike enjoyed playing soccer from middle school, through High School and college at RPI where he played on the varsity team for 3 years. He has been involved with the Niskayuna Soccer Club since his two daughters joined the club five years ago and presently has three children playing in the club. He has coached in the club over that period on numerous different teams and hopes to see his two younger children play in the Club as they get older. When he has the time, Mike still enjoys playing competitively both outdoor and indoors during the winter months.

Brittaney Rosmarin - Mohawk United Girls

Brittaney Rosmarin is currently the Niskayuna Girls Freshman Soccer Coach and very much looking forward to beginning her first year coaching Mohawk United.  Brittaney played soccer at SUNY Oneonta, where her team made it to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA's and were SUNYAC champions in 2005.  Brittaney was a senior captain of her soccer team at Shenendehowa when her team won the Class AA New York State Championship in 2004.  In 2003 her team was the runner-up in the New York State Championships.  Brittaney has played for several premier soccer clubs in the Capital District including Clifton Park Premier, Blackwatch, and the Alleycats, and still enjoys playing soccer recreationally in adult co-ed leagues.  Brittaney is a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Niskayuna High School.

Jessica Stanton - U10A Girls

Having served as the Niskayuna High School Varsity Assistant coach in 2001, and Head Coach for the Junior Varsity the last six years, Coach Stanton is excited to be joining the Niskayuna Soccer Club as the Head Coach for the U10A girls. Her emphasis on teaching fundamental soccer technique and tactics makes her a great match for Nisky players who want to work hard and develop their game, while still enjoying the experience. Coach Stanton has also coached basketball, softball and lacrosse, and teaches physical education at the Highschool.

Alejandro Victoria - U14A Boys

Alejandro Victoria has been the U14 boys coach for the past three years. He played varsity and club soccer in New Rochelle, as well as some of the top teams in Westchester and Long Island. He attended Hartwick College, remains a fan of the team, and still plays soccer whenever he can. In addition to coaching the club team, he also coaches the Freshman team at Niskayuna high school when he is not helping out the varsity team. He holds an ‘E’ coaching license, is married with 2 children, and currently teaches physics at Niskayuna High School.

Donald Whisenhunt - U10A Girls Assistant

Don has played soccer his whole life including high school, college and adult teams. He continues to play on adult and co-ed leagues in the area, and coaches recreation soccer and baseball in Niskayuna. He holds an ‘F’ coaching license. He earned is Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC-Berkeley and now works as a chemist and manager at GE Global Research. He resides in Niskayuna with his wife Mindy, and three children. When not playing soccer, Donald and the family enjoy hiking the Adirondack high peaks ( 20 down and 26 to go).

 
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