VYS Travel Program: Professional Coaching Staff
VYS Travel Program:
Professional Coaching Staff
At VYS, we take immense pride in our coaching staff and in the culture of growth that drives them. Their expertise and dedication play a pivotal role in shaping every player's soccer journey, and their commitment to ongoing education means our players are always in great hands.
Our coaching staff follows the structured pathway outlined by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), progressing from Grassroots certifications through advanced licenses (D through A). Many of our coaches also hold international licenses from organizations like UEFA and CONMEBOL, bringing a global perspective to the training field.
Ten VYS coaches have completed new licenses in the past year alone.
Our coaches' continuous pursuit of learning reflects our commitment to providing the highest quality soccer education and support to every player in our program. We are serious about our commitment to investing in a coaching staff with a strong foundation in growth and education.
Read more to hear directly from the ten coaches who most recently completed new licenses.
Licensing Pathway
USSF License Pathway:
This pathway ensures that our coaches undergo rigorous training and certification, starting from grassroots levels and progressing to advanced licenses (D-A).
International Licensing:
In addition to USSF licenses, many of our coaches hold international coaching licenses from organizations such as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL).
Additional Credentials:
The club's professional coaching staff also includes licensed academy directors, scouting experts, & US Soccer educators. In the past year, Stephen Bird gained his USSF Coach Educator License for D License credentials.
Vienna offers courses to any coaches looking to complete their Grassroots and D Licenses. This additional expertise on staff ensures consistent and progressive coaching, talent identification, continuous learning, and strategic development across all age groups.
USSF Coaching Pathway
Dive into the world of coaching and learn all about the USSF Coaching Pathway.
Congratulations to Stephen Lehany and Austin Roser for completing their USSF A License
"'Growth does not happen in comfort.' Personal, professional, and emotional development requires stepping outside of one's comfort zone to face challenges and uncertainties." -Stephen Lehany
Stephen Lehany
USSF A License
For Stephen, earning his A License was a chance to deepen his understanding of who he is as a coach. He came away with greater clarity on his values and the development philosophy he's built at VYS: knowing each player deeply, building on their individual strengths, and positioning them for success.
One of his biggest takeaways was embedding Individual Player Development Plans directly into the club's periodization and session structure. "I'm incredibly excited about where our club is headed," he says. "Our staff are committed to their own development first, and without that foundation, we lose connection to our real purpose: helping players grow into better versions of themselves."
Austin Roser
USSF A License
Austin pursued his A License to challenge himself and evolve as a coach at a professional level. The experience that stood out most? The collaborative learning with coaches from across the country and different levels of the game.
"Coaches from all different levels provided useful insight on how they would solve specific situations, manage environments, and structure sessions," he reflects.

It reinforced something he now carries into every season: the value of reflective practice, thinking not just about what he's delivering to his teams, but the how and the why behind every decision.
"Take one or two things from every class or course and add them to your toolbox; continuous learning is essential to growth." -Austin Roser
Congratulations to John Ciampa and Brady Knotts for completing their USSF B License
"The greatest skill you can develop is learning how to learn."
-John Ciampa
John Ciampa
USSF B License
For John, ongoing education isn't just a professional box to check, it's the foundation of everything he believes about coaching. "A coach who expects their players to learn must also challenge themselves to keep growing," he says, "and the most effective way to teach is by example." What makes John most proud isn't just the soccer at Vienna, it's the sense of family and community the program has built. "The way the players, coaches, and parents show up for one another, cheering and encouraging no matter the score, creates something lasting."
"Just like we ask our players to be open-minded, we as coaches must be as well. No coach is perfect, so there is always learning we can do; we just must be willing to go find it!" -Brady Knotts
Brady Knotts
USSF B License
Brady's favorite part of his B License course was the collaborative group work with coaches from Detroit, Brooklyn, and Honolulu. Working alongside coaches from completely different regions and backgrounds gave him new perspectives and ideas he'd never encountered before. His biggest belief? That coaching, like the game itself, will always have to evolve, and the best coaches are the ones who stay curious and keep showing up to learn.
Congratulations to Kate Morford and Kevin Nobles for completing their USSF C License
"The game of soccer has given me more than I can ever repay; by continuing my education, I'm focused on learning everything I can in order to give it back." -Kate Morford
Kate Morford
USSF C License
For Kate, the motivation behind her C License comes down to one thing: the players. "Everything should serve them and their growth," she says, "which means the better coach I can become, the better guidance and opportunity I can give." What she found most valuable was the collaborative experience of working alongside other coaches: different perspectives that sparked her own thinking and pushed her forward. One concept she's bringing to the field is creating sessions around the specific problem she wants players to solve, encouraging critical thinking. Kate is grateful to VYS for supporting her education every step of the way, and is excited for everything still to come.
"Coaches have a real influence on players, and learning helps us optimize their development." -Kevin Nobles
Kevin Nobles
USSF C License
Kevin pursued his C License out of a belief that coaches should be lifelong students of the game. His biggest takeaway was learning how intentional session design creates real game moments and meaningful coaching interactions. Going forward, he's focused on being more precise and clear when problem-solving with players, guiding them toward solutions rather than handing them answers. "I'm incredibly thankful to VYS for the support and mentorship," he adds. "This club and its coaches have shaped me, and it's an amazing environment to grow in."
Congratulations to Aidan Pond, Danny Navarro, and Connor Simon for completing their USSF D License
"Learning to focus on only one or two player actions when planning a session completely changed how I approach coaching." -Aidan Pond
Aidan Pond
USSF D License
Aidan came into the D License feeling prepared after completing his Grassroots courses, and he left with a sharper, more intentional coaching approach. The biggest shift? Being more deliberate with coaching points and choosing one or two focused actions per session rather than throwing out feedback in all directions. It's a simple change with a big impact on how clearly players can absorb and apply what they're learning.
"We always have to remind ourselves that we are students of the game, even in our leadership positions." -Danny Navarro
Danny Navarro
USSF D License
Danny pursued his D License after several years of successfully coaching youth boys teams, motivated by a desire to keep leveling up for the players he serves. He brings a unique perspective to the field as a Colombian-American coach, weaving in the cultural richness of the global game and teaching players not just how to play, but the many different ways futbol is played around the world. "I'm glad to be able to share my soccer cultural perspective through my coaching," he says warmly.
"As coaches, we often tell players there's always room for growth and improvement. If we don't hold ourselves to that same standard, we lose credibility." -Connor Simon
Connor Simon
USSF D License
Connor sees continuing his education as both a personal pursuit and a professional responsibility. His D License sharpened his ability to identify and extract player actions from training activities. He also came away energized by the idea of making every aspect of training competitive, creating environments where players stay engaged and development accelerates. Connor gives a heartfelt thanks to the many VYS staff members who supported him along the way: from Gwyn Jones and Steve Lehany who set him up from the start, to Oscar Leon, Stephen Bird, Kevin James, Rich Gunney, Adam Coolbaugh, and many others.
Congratulations to Stephen Bird for completing his USSF Coach Educator D License
Stephen Bird
USSF Coach Educator License
Stephen's achievement stands apart. He earned his USSF Coach Educator License for D License Courses, which means he's now equipped to teach and certify even more coaches within the community.
His motivation was straightforward: to give coaches at VYS a clear, supported pathway to earn their USSF National courses, right here in Vienna. "We now have a coaching pathway from Grassroots to D licenses right here in Vienna," he says, "and I'm excited to guide coaches along that pathway." For Stephen, being a Coach Educator isn't just a role, it's a calling. His learning is ultimately in service of everyone downstream: the coaches he trains, and the players those coaches will shape for years to come.
"The better coaches we provide, the better environments our players will have." -Stephen Bird
Coaching education isn't just about earning another license; it's about growing as a person. We are incredibly proud to support that growth because when we invest in our coaches, we're investing in people, and a club is only as strong as the people who lead it. The game never stops teaching and we want coaches who never stop learning; a true culture of lifelong learning in action.
Kevin James, Technical Director
Vienna Youth Soccer is committed to supporting our coaches at every stage of their professional journey.
