Meet Our Coaches!

  • Owner/Head Coach

    Coach Leanne is a mom of 2 boys, and a sometimes-foster mom to many more.

    She created Soccer Skills Academy in 2020 to meet needs she saw in the community. She played soccer for 10 years and has been coaching since 2013.

    Leanne loves that soccer is a catalyst for so many great life lessons and is passionate about finding fun ways to challenge and excite the kids through this sport. She has coached hundreds of kids and looks forward to welcoming back returning athletes as well as meeting new players!

  • “Coach Leanne, thank you for your encouragement and working with Erik to make soccer fun for him. He has really come out of his shell while playing this year. He looks forward to practice and has enjoyed the scrimmages.

    Erik would like to say thank you for being kind and funny and keeping it fun. “

    -Cyndi and Erik

    Coach Leanne - thank you for coaching us for the last part of our season! I had so much fun playing and running around! “

    -Greyson Wolff

  • Coach Anthony was born and raised here in Richland. He has one daughter named Madison, and a golden retriever named Lucy.

    Coach Anthony has been playing soccer since he was a toddler! He has also been snowboarding since he was 10 years old, and has taught countless peers how to snowboard. He really loves all types of outdoor sports, and is very excited to give back to the community and to help teach the youth.

    Coach Anthony believes that it is not just about learning how to play soccer, but also about teaching friendship, social skills, and learning how to be a team player.

    Coach Anthony’s daughter has been in soccer for the past two years, and says that he has nothing but great things to say about Soccer Skills Academy.

    A couple fun facts about Coach Anthony is that he likes to hike big mountains, and he is part of a national disaster response team that helps communities after natural disasters!

  • Bri has been playing soccer in the Tri-Cities since she was four years old. Her experience includes playing for Kamiakin High School, CBCC, and local adult leagues.

    She lives in the Tri-Cities with her awesome husband and very energetic 2-year-old daughter.

    She loves the lessons and opportunities that soccer provides to youth. Working with others, dealing with adversity, how to be humble, as well as passion, sense of belonging and the life long friendships that shape amazing humans. She is excited to start her coaching career and show the youth here in the Tri-Cities why soccer is called “The Beautiful Game”.

  • “Thank you coach Bri! Emeric’s first experience of being on a team couldn’t have been better. He is loving soccer and the games. This may be the beginning of an interest for him that may last for years! Here’s to many weekends of future soccer games! Thank you for your energy and patience with working with the little ones! “

    -Dawin Strelow

    “Bri, thank you so much for being so great with the kids this season. This is Brinlee’s first time with a coach of any kind and you have made her so comfortable and excited for each practice. She is a very shy girl and I was nervous she wouldn’t participate but each week when I ask her if she’s excited for practice she says “yes and I’m going to listen to coach Bri”. She is eager to learn and you have made it such a great first sports experience for her. Thank you for all your time and patience this season. “

    -Courtney Perry

    “Thanks Coach Bri for helping Roman out with soccer this year! He looks up to you and appreciated you! You’re his favorite coach! Thanks again!!”

    -Enriquez family

    “Coach Bri,

    We appreciate you for being so patient with our son. You're always so positive and understanding with all the kiddos. Thank you for being so awesome!”

    -Luca’s Family

    “Coach Bri,

    Thanks you for giving Philip and Joanna a wonderful introduction to soccer. We were a little worried Joanna wouldn’t enjoy or be interested in soccer, but decided a low key practice/game option rather than a strict team setup would be a good way to test the waters. She ended up really enjoying her time and is already talking about doing soccer again.

    We assumed Philip would love his soccer practices, so he was just excited to have more soccer to play. While he was bummed he didn’t get to do games, he was sooooooo pumped when you let him play in one of Joanna’s games. Honestly, we were a little surprised at how well he understood the task since we haven’t watched any soccer games before.

    All this to say, thank you for teaching our kids basic soccer skills and instilling in them a love for the game. We appreciate you!”

    -Amie and Stephen Kim

    “Bri, thank you for being so kind and patient with Cole! We appreciate all you did this season!”

    -Cole’s parents

  • Riley grew up on the west side of Washington, near Olympia and moved to the Tri-Cities when he was 10 years old.

    Riley started playing soccer at 6 years old and then played through Three Rivers and other select soccer leagues.

    His favorite thing about working with the kiddos in soccer is watching them all have fun working through drills, learning new skills, and then applying their new techniques on the field - he loves seeing kids crush their goals and seeing them smile when they learn something new.

    When he’s not coaching soccer, Riley works as a Paraeducator in kindergarten at a local elementary school. He’s currently enrolled in college to earn a degree in Elementary Education to become a kindergarten teacher.

  • “Coach Riley: Your encouragement and happy attitude has really gone a long way in helping Ivy feel confident to continue to play and learn the game. Thank you! “

    -Leanna Lam

    “Coach Riley! Thankyou for always having fun with the kids at practice!”

    -Jessica Ramos

    “Riley is great coach, my kid really loves him, he makes soccer play so happy and funny.”

    -Emma Wu

  • Coach Ksenija moved to the states when she was 5 years old. Since then, she has resided in the Tri-Cities and the surrounding areas. Her husband and herself think it’s the perfect place to raise their children, Sofija, Ripp & Maja.

    Coach Ksenija started playing soccer for T-CYSA, moved on to play competitively for Three Rivers and ended up playing for Southridge High School. She began coaching soccer before she could even operate a motor vehicle. Her mom would drive her to the TRAC so she could assist with the Center of Excellence program. Throughout high school, she coached for the City of Kennewick.

    Coach Ksenija loves sharing her passion for the sport with the next generation and now that she has 3 wild kids of my own, it has brought a whole new meaning to the sport. She is so excited to start coaching for Soccer Skills Academy! She is looking forward to creating an uplifting environment while helping kids learn fundamental skills both on and off of the field!

  • Alexie grew up in Everett, and moved to the Tri-Cities after college where her boyfriend has been working as a firefighter for a couple years now.

    She loves working with kids because she's played soccer her whole life and wants to help kids enjoy the game as much as she has! She likes working with Soccer Skills Academy because everyone is so friendly and willing to help each other.

    Alexie has a dog that she adores, and spends a lot of her free time going on walks and playing with her. Alexie has played soccer since elementary school, and went to Kamiakan High School on the west side and played there, as well as played for the club team Rush. She went to Western Oregon University and played there for four years too!

  • Coach Catherine grew up in Pasco. She started playing rec soccer when she was about 9 or 10, and then moved onto premier. She played for one of the inaugural Three Rivers SC teams, and also played for Pasco High School and Walla Walla Community College.

    She, her husband and their 2 1/2 year old son recently moved back to Pasco from Monroe, WA. They lived in that area for a little over 10 years. While there, she spent a lot of time hiking, driving around the mountains and taking pictures. Nature photography, she says, is her favorite hobby. Their family also includes two cats, Selina Kyle and Oliver, and a dog named Sophie.

    For the last 8 years, Catherine has worked as a hairstylist. She is currently taking a break from that as she has become her dad’s primary caregiver while he battles Parkinsons.

    She’s been away from the game and fields for about a decade and has deeply missed it. Coach Catherine is looking forward to coaching and watching kids fall in love with such an amazing game!

  • “Cat, thank you for your patience and creativity to explain things to our son. He loved all the encouragement he received from you. You’re an amazing coach and the kids love you for it! “

    -Saida

    “Coach Cat is super patient with all on her team. My son is 3, this is his first year playing! So his attention span isn’t very good. She is great with the kiddos, helps them to get back on track and have a great time learning soccer skills. Grateful my son on her team! Keep up the great work with kiddos! “

    -Megan C

    “Cat, thank you for making our Tuesday nights fun, exciting, and challenging! I watch you coach my three-year-old with patience, humor, and encouragement. Then I watch you coach my eight-year-old with joy and humor, while also teaching discipline, skills, and good sportsmanship. Lizzie’s first soccer experience has been so positive. Abi has grown in confidence, strategy, and skill, and it has been fun to see you meet her where she is and stretch her beyond what she thinks she can do. Thank you for your time and dedication!”

    -Daid and Rebekah Picker

    “Thank you Cat! Thank you for your patience and skills. Cruz has loved his first season of soccer. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to the lightning cheetahs. “

    -Rachelle Barron

    “Cat - My child loved showing up to play we are going on a bear hunt. I did that with my 1st grade class but never thought she would love that. She now does her own course at home and has little brother tag along. Thank you for showing up to match all the young ones energy and leaving a positive atmosphere for them. “

    -Kinleigh’s Mom

    “My son greatly enjoyed learning under Coach Cat this fall. I know there were times when the team had more energy or their focus was elsewhere, but she did a good job of handling those times. I appreciate Coach Cat's introducing new skills and concepts to the team. I enjoyed watching my son apply what he was learning in practice and the games. Thank you Coach Cat for getting him ready for the next level. “

    -Kelli Turner

  • Coach Dori is originally from the Seattle area, a UW alumni (Go Dawgs!), and also spent 12 years in Texas. She’s been living in the Tri Cities for 10 years with her husband and two kids (who both love playing soccer)!

    Growing up, Coach Dori played on competitive soccer team for 9 years where competed at the State level, and also played for Newport High School. As an adult in Dallas, she participated in adult recreational leagues. In addition to playing, Coach Dori also refereed during her early teens. It’s been fun for her to extend her love for soccer first by coaching her son for 2 seasons and now by coaching her daughter. What she loves most about coaching is seeing the kids grow in their understanding of the game beyond being just a “herd of turtles” around a ball to finally grasping how the game really works, and also loves to watch them get exposed to what it means to be a “team player.” At this phase/ age, learning and developing basic soccer skills -while having a FUN TIME playing- is of key importance to Dori. She tries to keep the kids moving around as well as contacting the ball a lot during practice.

    While Coach Dori had previously coached with Three Rivers Soccer Club, this will be her first season coaching with Soccer Skills Academy. Her kids participated in this league last spring and were really happy to be a part of the community. She’s excited to continue as a coach with Soccer Skills Academy this season!

    Outside of coaching, Dori has a work background in executive management, business, sales, engineering and real estate. Fun fact - she’s a former talk radio host in both the Dallas and Seattle markets!

  • “Thank you very much for your hard work teaching our kids! You're doing such a great job, we are happy!”

    -Avi’s mom

  • Coach Kylie has been playing soccer for 8 years now. For 5 years, she played on different teams in California, and then moved to Tri Cities and played for TCYSA, Three Rivers Indoor, and now as a Sophomore at Kamiakin High School. She lives with her 4 siblings, and her parents.

    She loves coaching because she gets to help kids learn new skills, and she loves being around kids because of how funny they are. When she is not coaching, she’s running track at Kamiakin, or playing soccer. Coach Kylie enjoys coaching for Soccer Skills Academy because of the amazing staff and the willingness they all have to help these kids get better at soccer!

  • “Kylie - thank you for your time and energy coaching our kids! Luke had a great time!”

    -Lisa Edler

    “Coach Kylie has been such an incredible coach. She has such a great energy for the kids and has taught jackson and the team so many useful skills. “

    -Leanne Purcell

  • Coach Isaiah is a freshman in High school. He lives with his parents and 5 siblings in Pasco. He and his family have lived in the Tri-Cities for the past 2 1/2 years and before that they lived in Oregon. Coach Isaiah enjoys being outside and active; hiking, camping, playing soccer, and he has a passion for videography.

    He has been playing soccer since he was 5 years old. Soccer Skills Academy was the first and only soccer league that he played in since moving to the Tri-Cities and he has loved every minute of it. All of the wonderful coaches with Soccer Skills Academy have been so helpful showing him the ropes.

    Coach Isaiah is passionate about coaching. He enjoys seeing the kids light up when they learn new skills for the first time, as well as the energy and joy that the kids bring to practices and games.

  • Coach Jade grew up in Eastern Washington (Walla Walla and Kennewick). He is currently an electrician for Energy Northwest. He and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 23 years and they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

    Coach Jade played soccer growing up and has coached his children’s soccer teams as they were growing up. He has experience with U5 to U13. He coached with the YMCA, Tri City Youth Soccer Association and Three Rivers Soccer Club.

    Seeing kids have fun, teaching them the game of soccer and helping them develop their skills is something Coach Jade enjoys.

    Some hobbies of Coach Jade include playing golf and spending time at their cabin in the Blue Mountains.

  • Coach Alyssa is a 24 year old mom of a sweet crazy girl name Amalia. Amalia just turned 2 in late January. She has been obsessed with kicking the ball around ever since she could walk and that’s how they knew they would be a soccer family forever. Coach Alyssa is from the Tri-Cities, but spent a lot of time traveling around with her family for her dad’s job. She played soccer in high school, up until she was unfortunately injured. She has had a strong passion for soccer for many years, and being given the opportunity to coach is such an amazing feeling for her.

    Coach Alyssa thinks that kids are so amazing! She believes that teaching them, and shaping their little minds is such a blessing. She says that having her own has been the best part of her life.

    Coach Alyssa is very excited to start coaching with Soccer Skills Academy! She is most excited about being part of a program that wants to see children strive, not only with their soccer skills, but with team building and communication skills.

    A fun fact about Coach Alyssa is that she loves reading, and last year alone she read 217 books!

  • Coach Amber grew up in Kennewick attending Park Middle School and Kennewick High School. Though she has lived in places such as Western, WA and Los Angeles, she always finds her way back to the Tri-Cities. She is married to her husband who she has known since 7th grade; and they’ve been married for 10 years. She has a bonus son who is 26 and a bonus daughter who is 24. In her free time, Coach Amber and her family do a lot of hiking/camping. They have hiked in many states and plan on hiking somewhere, in all 50 states.

    Coach Amber played soccer for over 20 years. She played in school and then in women’s and co-ed soccer leagues. She has been coaching soccer since 2018 with the Upward Soccer League program. Coach Amber loves teaching kids the fundamentals of soccer, sharing her passion for the game, and teaching the kids to play with kindness, grace and humility. She plans on coaching until she physically can no longer do it. She loves coaching because it gives her purpose and a way to give back to her community.

  • “Thanks Coach Amber! Tommy’s been having a lot of fun this season and we appreciate all your efforts and determination!”

    -Karyn Mendel

    “Coach Amber, Thank you so much for your patience and guidance with Sam this soccer season. He felt confident going to soccer knowing that if he was going to have big feelings you would help him, which made the season go much smoother. He learned a lot this season and is looking forward to continuing soccer in the future. He has gained a lot of confidence throughout this season as he is learning more about himself and his diagnosis. Thank you so much for partnering with us thru that!! We appreciate you so much!!!”

    - Sam and the Gatewood Family

    “Amber, who stepped in as the head coach late in the season for the Leslie grove U7 Tigers was PHENOMENAL! Her energy and enthusiasm was contagious and she did great at keeping the kids focused and motivated. When there were practices without equipment or games with no head coach, she was dedicated to making sure the kids still had a successful practice or game. So thankful for her!”

    -Michelle Jones

  • Coach Brooke grew up in Wenatchee, Wa. She met her husband Trent at college at Eastern Oregon University, and has been married for almost 8 years. They have 3 daughters, Oaklee 6, McKinlee 5, and Jaxee 2. As well as 3 dogs at home!

    Coach Brooke played soccer throughout high school and was the Varsity goalie all 4 years where she earned 1st team all conference honors 3/4 years. She was an all American basketball player in college and also placed 3rd at nationals for the Javelin in track at the collegiate level. She has been coaching High school basketball for the past 9 years and has loved helping kids gain skills and confidence who are aiming to get better everyday. Coach Brooke is very excited to be a part of her daughter’s youth soccer experience and your child’s as well.

    She believes learning the fundamentals while having FUN, is the baseline in youth sports! Her goal is to have kids excited to play soccer for years to come as they grow with the game!

    A fun fact about Coach Brooke is that the High school football coach recruited her every year to be the kicker for the football team, because she could kick the soccer ball from one goal to the other!

  • Chris is originally from Ogden, Utah. He and his wife Daisy have been married almost 11 years and have 4 kids. Derek is 7, Jared is 5, Colin is 3 and Roslyn is 18 months.

    His favorite sport has always been soccer and he is a huge fan of Real. Salt Lake (the professional team in Utah) and the US national team. He has been playing soccer since he was 5 years old and played 7 years with a competitive Rec team and three years for his high school team.

    He is a physical therapist for the Kennewick School District working with students with special needs and helping them with their fine and gross motor skills. One of the reasons he was interested in physical therapy was that he was born with a club foot, which is a genetic birth defect that runs in his family. Through therapy and staying active he enjoys helping people feel better and can relate to their chronic pain.

    He loves to stay active and especially loves hiking and climbing mountains. He has coached for his kids soccer teams for 2 1/2 years now and looks forward to continuing to coach and share his love of soccer with his teams.

  • “Chris,

    Thank you for taking on the challenge of coaching so many energetic, spunky, and interesting boys this year! You are so good at reading the team, knowing their limits, and pushing them to exactly what is best for them that day. The soccer skills Josh has learned have been great, and it has been such a blessing for him to have a coach that sees him, challenges him, and has positive expectations of him. Thank you for your time and dedication!”

    -David and Rebekah Picker

    “Chris: You were a wonderful coach to Samuel. He had such a fun time and learned a lot during this soccer season. Your creativity and ability to always keep the kids engaged was so fun and amazing to watch every week. Samuel really enjoyed your skills you shared with him, as well as your always positivity attitude! Thanks for a great season!”

    -Stephanie and Samuel

  • Coach Elliot is a proud dad to his awesome son, Monty. For over 15 years, he has volunteered to coach youth sports and being able to finally coach his son is a dream come true for him! He really appreciates how coaching lets him unleash his inner child– goofing around and having a blast!

    In Coach Elliot’s free time you can find him either on the golf course or spending time with his family.

    He is very excited and looking forward to a great season with Soccer Skills Academy!

  • “Dear Elliot, I am happy you’re my coach and I can’t wait to see you at soccer! I hope you will be my coach again. From Kiara

    Elliot, thank you for being such a great coach to the kids and actively teaching them the game of soccer. This has been one of our favorite programs and a lot of that comes down to coaches! “

    -Kiara’s mom

  • Coach Ronald was born and raised in San Jose Costa Rica where he has lived for most of his life. He has been playing soccer since he could walk.

    His experience playing soccer growing up allowed him to represent the Costa Rican U17 national team. He earned the opportunity to come to the United States to play D1 soccer at Cal Poly on a soccer scholarship. He stayed in California for four years then moved back to Costa Rica to play one season of professional soccer before retiring to pursue his career. He then moved to Tennessee to go to law school and lived in Tennessee for around seven years. He recently moved to Washington to practice Immigration law for a non for profit organization.

    Coach Ronald loves teaching kids the game of soccer in the most fundamental and fun way as possible. He thinks soccer is a game that is meant to be played with joy and kids should know that at the end of the day the game of soccer is fun. Coach Ronald is excited for the amazing opportunity and experience to be able to work and teach kids the fundamentals of soccer.

    A fun fact about Coach Ronald is that he does competitive powerlifting in his free time!

  • “Dear Ronald, thanks so much for the patience and energy you show in practice and during the game. My kid is funny and crazy at times and you handle the situation like a pro. I appreciate you for providing a positive experience to the team. Keep up the good work! Blessings.”

    -Susana

    “Coach Ron,

    Thanks so much for helping Hannah and her teammates learn new soccer skills. The kids were always laughing and having a great time during practice.....Hannah says you have a great sense of humor! We appreciate the time you put in to pass along your soccer knowledge to our kids!”

    -The Krautscheid family

    “Coach Ron, thank you so much for making Lillie’s first soccer team experience an amazing one. She learned a lot about teamwork and the basics of soccer always with a smile on her face. We really appreciate everything you did as her coach this season. “

    -The Gatewood Family

    “Coach Ron,

    Thank you so much for all you did for the Lady Cheetahs this season. You were so patient with those girls while teaching them so much. We've seen Elliott grow in her abilities and in her confidence so much this season. She has turned into a goal scoring machine. We hope that you continue to coach these littles because you have such a kind and caring heart for them. We can see it on and off the field. We truly appreciate all you've done this season.

    Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

    -Amy and Kyle Stewart

    “Coach Ron, thank you so much for your fun and positive attitude this season. Our girls have learned so much from you and we already looked forward to going to soccer practice every Thursday. Winnie says she likes Coach Ron because he’s the best and says sit on your butt! Lauriel likes Coach Ron because he’s funny! Can’t wait for next season. “

    -Shewell Family

  • Coach Rachel grew up in Kennewick. She works part time as a nurse and full time as a mom of 3 awesome boys!

    Soccer has always been her favorite sport. She played year round while growing up, primarily rec soccer and then at Kennewick High School. Beyond that, she played intramurals in college and pick up games with friends and her kids.

    Coach Rachel loves encouraging kids to have fun and become great teammates as they grow in their abilities on the soccer field. She thinks there are so many great life lessons that come from the field!

    This is Coach Rachel’s first season coaching with Soccer Skills Academy, but her kids have been apart of the program and they love the positive, fun, and skilled group that it is. It has been about 10 years since she has coached youth soccer and she is excited for the season ahead!

  • Coach Zach grew up in Kennewick and played soccer from the age of 5 through high school. He and his wife Danielle have two kids, Cooper who is 6 and Olivia who is 2. They love doing anything out doors and active. They love hiking, biking and camping in the summers, as well as skiing and traveling.

    Growing up playing soccer, Coach Zach always saw how impactful a coach could be on kids, and now having kids of his own he wants to be able to have that positive impact on them and their teammates.

    This will be Coach Zach’s first year coaching and he is excited to get started and watch as everyone grows and learns together.

  • Coach Brandon was born and raised in Michigan. He has a son, a daughter and a dog named Shadow. He is a lifelong sports fan, a former hockey player and is a home renovation enthusiast!

    He coached soccer for 3 years at the YMCA indoor and outdoor programs. Coach Brandon loves seeing kids learn and respond to challenges, both identified by themselves and others.

  • “Coach Brandon, thank you for creating a space where Ayaan feels motivated and valued. Because he has a stutter, he is quiet, but he ENJOYED every practice and game. He will be back to your team in Spring!”

    -Ako Khan

  • Coach Cora is a Soccer Skills Academy staff coach and has coached hundreds of kids between ages 3-13 during her 6 seasons with us.

    She will be a sophomore at Kamiakin High School and has participated in youth sports since she could walk, including soccer, basketball, softball, dance, and cheer.

    Cora is a gifted leader and has a knack for creating her own super-fun and imaginative drills. We love how she balances her competitive and strategic side with teaching our core values for all ages! She is passionate about equipping middle schoolers with the skills they need to enjoy soccer and compete at whatever level they choose.

  • “Coach Cora, you were absolutely amazing with all the kids! Thanks for being such a positive adult for the kids and especially, Max. Being on your team allowed him to grow and build confidence. Thanks for your hard work and dedication! “

    -Max Xayvong

  • Coach Raul was born and raised in Othello, WA and has remained close to the Columbia Basin his entire life. He lives in the Tri-Cities where he and his wife raise their two beautiful daughters. He has been playing soccer since he was a teenager, having played in high school and in college through intramural leagues throughout the school years. He continues to play to this day in various adult leagues within the Tri-Cities, participating in Co-Ed leagues and mens divisions. For Raul, soccer has always been a part of his life, even if now it’s just playing for fun and having a good time.

    Raul loves staying active through hiking, kayaking, running, and playing all kinds of sports! He thinks soccer is an excellent sport to play at any age or skill level, he believes playing soccer at a young age can help kids develop a lifelong interest in sports and encourages an active lifestyle. Raul began coaching his daughters U4 soccer team in 2023, and has loved every minute of it since. He enjoys the practices with the kids as they do drills; seeing them get better each week while having fun playing soccer makes for a really rewarding experience.

    Raul is a Biomedical Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he gets to travel and share knowledge about chemistry and biology to audiences all around the world. His favorite part about his job is learning each and everyday something new about the world of science. He enjoys connecting with HS and college students to talk about careers and opportunities in STEM, and of course promoting a positive and encouraging environment for students to explore their passions in any field, especially when its young kids playing on the soccer field!

  • Coach Melanie has played soccer ever since she was a child. She grew up in Spain where it was a “must” to play soccer and it was played on the streets. She now lives in the Tri-Cities with her wonderful husband and younger son Xavier (named after the Barca Spanish soccer coach). She is a pediatrician and the proud mother of three, now ages 25, 20 and 10. She loves to promote healthy activities for children and soccer is her favorite one.

    Coach Melanie is looking forward to creating a recreational and positive environment for children to grow and succeed. She has coached divisions U5-U15 for 10 years at Say of Chicago soccer club. She loves that Soccer Skills Academy works around the player and for the player!

  • Although college took Ryan to Arizona, his heart remained in the Northwest, which he always considered his true home. After graduating, he returned to settle in the vibrant Seattle-metro area, launching his career there. In 2007, a desire to be closer to family brought Coach Ryan to the Tri-Cities. It was there that he encountered the love of his life, Mary, whom he married and together they have three sons and one daughter.

    Coach Ryan's passion for sports began in Ellensburg, where he embraced every athletic opportunity from the moment he learned to walk. Soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, gymnastics, basketball – you name it, Coach Ryan played it. Not just limiting himself to organized sports, he also relished recreational pursuits like paintball, snowboarding, and photography.

    When it comes to coaching, Coach Ryan finds immense joy in teaching the fundamentals of soccer while ensuring that the lessons are engaging and enjoyable for the kids. Having been fortunate to have had outstanding coaches during his own formative years, he sees coaching as an opportunity to pay it forward and share his passion for one of his favorite sports.

  • “This season has been absolutely fantastic thanks to coach Ryan! Much like teachers at school, coaches make such an impact on our children. They teach team building, hard work pays off, and to push yourself to be something even better. They accept our children for all their quirks and at the end of the season, I know my son will walk away with so much more than just soccer experience. Thank you to all coaches and assistants! You guys are truly doing a labor of love and giving back to the community by nurturing these kids in more ways than just sports. These experiences stick with kids for a life time. “

    -Holly, Jonah’s mom

    “Coach Bird has been such a fun, kind, and patient coach for Violet and Kayde! Thanks for your help working on their soccer skills!”

    -Laura and Ashley

    “Thank you coach Bird! This was Nolan’s first time on a soccer team and you made it fun and encouraging. Nolan now loves soccer and he can’t wait to play game.”

    -Allison & Chris Breitkreitz

  • Coach Bryan grew up in Selah WA. He currently lives in Richland with his wife, 2 kids and 4 dogs. Coach Bryan has played a variety of sports including wrestling, soccer, baseball, and football.

    This is his second season coaching with Soccer Skills Academy, he enjoys watching kids learn and grow with their skills throughout the season.

    In his free time you can find him spending time with his family, dogs or fishing.

  • Coach Courtney was born and raised in the Tri Cities. As a kid she played soccer for as long as she could remember. She played for T-CYSA, Three Rivers SC, WA state ODP, Southridge High School, and Walla Walla community college. After college, her husband and her lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for a few years. While living there she had the opportunity to assistant coach a girls team and became the clubs head goalkeeper coach. Once they moved back to the Tri Cities, she was the assistant/goalkeeper coach for the Hanford High girls soccer team.

    Now that Coach Courtney is a mama of two awesome kids, Audrey and Cooper, she has had so much fun watching her daughter start to fall in love with soccer! Coach Courtney is looking forward to coaching and watching other kids fall in love with “the beautiful game”!

  • Coach Rick grew up all over the US, moving around with his parents. He was born in Everett, WA and did most of grade school in Basin City, WA. Currently, he lives in the Tri Cities and has two kids, Audrey who is nearly 7, and his son Rick the 3rd who is almost 4.

    Coach Rick has been playing sports his entire life. He played soccer in grade school, which was club-based, he then played in college, and he played some in the service when he was on Active Duty. He also played football and baseball when he was younger.

    Coach Rick has always loved leading people to success. Sports were always something he wanted to become a leader in. He has always like how much kids can learn from their coaches, and wants to be that leader and inspiration for them as they grow into the athletes they want to be.

    Coaching is something that Coach Rick has wanted to do for a very long time, and he is excited to be the best coach he can be for his team.

  • Coach Trae grew up in Iowa, and moved to San Diego for school. He now lives in the Tri-Cities and has an incredible 3 1/2 year old son named Elijah.

    A fun fact about Coach Trae, he loves shoes! Collecting, re-selling and re-storing retro and vintage sneakers is a huge passion of his. He also loves the beach. Living in San Diego made him realize the beach is his happy place. He serves at a restaurant and his favorite customers are families. He’s loves putting a smile on their faces and seeing them leave happy.

    Trae played sports growing up and loves to be outside. Though Coach Trae has never played soccer, or been with a soccer program, he loves working with kids and is really good at it! He has younger sisters so he is used to being a role model for them. Coach Trae is joining Soccer Skills Academy because he wants to get involved with the community, especially kids in the community!

  • “Coach Trae has been very encouraging and Evelyn loves it when he gives her high fives! He’s great with the kids and making sure they have fun. “

    -Evelyn’s Mom

    “Coach Trae - he coached both of our boys, one that was 3, and one that was 5. Great coach - kids absolutely loved him! Very fun and good demeanor with the kids. Saw tremendous growth with the kids!”

    -Nicole Shtayyeh

  • Coach Ellie is from Kennewick and she is a senior at Kamiakin High School. She currently lives with her parents and younger brother. She will be attending WSU in the fall with plans to become an elementary teacher!

    Coach Ellie played soccer for ten years in different programs. Once she was in middle school, she fell in love with running, which began her cross country career. She loves helping kids find a passion for sports and enjoy themselves. She also loves how Soccer Skills Academy favors the learning and growth in soccer skills.

    A fun fact about Coach Ellie is that she loves outdoor activities, such as backpacking, camping, and traveling!

  • Coach Zac was born and raised in the Tri-Cities. His two kids both play for Soccer Skills Academy. Coach Zac has played sports his entire life and loves the team feeling that sports can bring.

    Coach Zac remembers the impact that his coaches had on him as he grew up and is looking forward to passing that feeling on to more kids. He believes that sports can be one of the best teachers. Coach Zac strives to make the game fun and engaging for each kid on his team with a focus on fundamentals.

    Coach Zac’s daughter has played with Soccer Skills Academy for the last two seasons and knows it is one of the best programs out there!

    In addition to coaching with Soccer Skills Academy, Coach Zac is a current captain of the Tri-Cities Ultimate Frisbee competitive team!