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Alex Williams, President - Alex graduated from Holland Hall high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he played soccer and ran track. He then returned to his birthplace of Atlanta, Georgia and attended Morehouse College. During that time, he helped Morehouse start a NCAA Division II soccer program. Upon graduation, Alex moved to Tennessee and started coaching in 1999. Since that time, he has earned his USSF "C" License, won four state championships, and was selected the 2005-2006 Tennessee Boys Coach of the Year. He has also developed eight players for the TN State ODP team.
Contact: (901) 219-1121 ~ alex@tennesseerush.com
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Ross Paule, Technical Director - In 1997, after three successful years a Creighton University (MO), Ross Paule declared early for the MLS and was drafted by the Colorado Rapids. In his nine-year professional career he played for the Colorado Rapids, NY/NJ MetroStars, and ended his professional playing career with the Columbus Crew in 2005. Starting in 155 of his 192 professional games, he tallied 32 goals, 42 assists, and was named to the MLS All Star Team twice (1998, 1999). During his time in college, Paule was named to Soccer America's Freshman All-America team (1994), and led Creighton to the 1996 NCAA Men's College Cup, scoring its only goal in a 2-1 loss to eventual champion St. John's in the national semifinals. Prior to the MLS, Paule was a member of the U17 and U20 US National Teams (1991-1995), and later was a US Men’s Full National Team Pool Player (1998-2001). After leaving the MLS as a player, Paule was the Assistant Coach for the Columbus Crew. He holds his USSF Pro "B" Coaching License
Contact: (901) 596-7804 ~ ross@tennesseerush.com
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Bobby Fox Director of Coaching (Seniors)- Bobby grew up playing soccer in Mannheim, Germany. This is where Bobby cultivated a love of soccer that has seen him coach competitively for 25 years. During that time Bobby has coached at all different levels including college, (University of Memphis) and high school, (Harding Academy) and of course, club soccer. Bobby has won an amazing 17 division I state titles in Tennessee and Minnesota (where he coached for 5 years.) More recently, Bobby joined the Rush after 3 years as the Director of Coaching for the WTFC Kickers. As a player, Bobby was a member of the TN state ODP team and he won 5 state titles and was a four time 3rd place regional finalist . Bobby played for the first club soccer team in Memphis coached by Sepp Huber who is regarded as the father of soccer in West Tennessee. Bobby lives in Memphis and is married to Alison and has two daughters, Dallas and Katie.
Contact: (901) 258-4682 ~ bobby@tennesseerush.com
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Mark Forrest, Director of Coaching (Juniors) - Mark is from Scotland, where he played 2 years professionally and represented Scotland U16 and U18's. He also coached in his homeland for four years. Mark moved to the USA in 2002 to attend Union University and to play collegiate-level soccer. He also coached in Jackson for 4 years, developing many players for the state ODP team and leading a team to the DII state finals in 2006. Mark graduated with a 3.8 in Communications in 2007. He holds the NSCAA National License.
Contact: (731) 313-1139 ~ mforrest@tennesseerush.com
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Zeke Vezina, Director of Coaching (Developmental) - Germantown High School varsity soccer, '83 and ''84 State Champions; Head Coach, White Station High School Boys and Girls.
Zeke began coaching during his junior year of high school in 1986. He was twice awarded "Outstanding Citizen" by the City of Germantown for his volunteer work with the Germantown Area Soccer Association in 1983 and 1987. Although a successful competitive coach for the past 13 years, Zeke is mostly proud of his 24 years of volunteer service as both administrator and head coach for local Inner City and Church recreational leagues within the Memphis-metropolitan area. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis and currently holds both USSF National 'D' and NSCAA National Youth licenses.
Contact: (901) 409-3341 ~ zeke@tennesseerush.com
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Tony Whicker, Coach- Helped establish Dragon Soccer in 1996. Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Tony attended Wooddale High and played for Memphis’ first ever soccer club, the Kickers. He went on to stardom at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS, where he led the Blazers to a 3rd Place National finish, was selected team MVP for three consecutive years, made Honorable Mention All-American and was inducted into the Belhaven Hall of Fame. Tony played professionally for eight years, including stints with the Memphis Americans and the Memphis Storm, and served for two as Assistant Coach at the University of Memphis. Tony turned St. Mary’s high school team from doormat to powerhouse, winning regional titles and Regional Coach of the Year honors four years in a row. While at St. Mary’s he was named Commercial Appeal Best of Preps Coach of the Year among all high school coaches in all female sports. Tony has also led three club teams to Tennessee State titles. He currently serves as Head Varsity Soccer Coach for both boys and girls teams at the new St. George’s High School.
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Chris Cook Coach - Played competitively for 15 years, earning seven State Championship trophies, a position on the State Select team for four years. He played and coached for Memphis’ first soccer club, the Kickers, and has also coached teams for the River City Soccer Club, the Collierville Lobos and MFC. Chris served as Head Coach of the Memphis Express Super Y U16. Chris served as a teacher and Head Varsity Soccer Coach at St. Mary’s High School the past two years before recently entering private business. USSF “C” License.
Contact:(901) 428 4057 ccook@tennesseerush.com
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Steve Bradshaw, Coach- Steve began playing soccer aged 9 and he won 6 state titles with his Kickers team. Steve represented the state of Tennesse at the ODP, the regional ODP and then the National team where he made his debut against Germany. He went on to play professionally for 5 years. As a coach, Steve has been involved with youth soccer for 20 years and he has coached at the ODP, Regional ODP and at the High School levels.
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Meredith Vezina, Coach
Contact: (901) 212-7341 ~ meredith @tennesseerush.com
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Jon Knickerbocker, Coach- Jon graduated from Auburndale High School in Cordova, TN where he started all 4 years and earned All-Metro honors in his sophomore and junior years. Jon also lettered in Baseball and Track. He played club soccer for the Kickers U19 team. He was recruited to play Division II college soccer but chose to stay in Memphis and attend Memphis Sate University where he earned a BSE with honors. He went on to receive a master’s degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He returned to Lakeland, TN where he served on the Lakeland Board of Parks and helped begin the Lakeland Youth Soccer Association which is currently in its 8th year. He coached recreational soccer for 10 years ages 4 to 14. Jon has coached on the club level for the past 5 years ages 9-16. He was the assistant coach for both a U10 and U12 boys team ranked No. 1 in TN by the Soccer in College Rankings. He holds a USSF “D” License.
Contact (901) 299-2530 – jknicker@tennesseerush.com
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Remco de Jong: Remco de Jong was born and spent his first 38 years in the Netherlands, where he played for the internationally renowned Ajax Amsterdam Futbol Club from age 9-23 against other world-famous teams such as Juventus and AC Milan. As a goalkeeper with Ajax, he played with John van het Schip, Stanly Menzo, and Marco van Basten, who coached the Dutch National team to a Round of 16 appearance at the 2006 World Cup. His Ajax 3 team also won the national championship in 1985-86 and was a regional champion from 1985-88. In Holland, he coached the amateur club RKAVIC from 1996-2000. Remco played adult soccer at the highest non-professional level in the Netherlands and continued to coach and train both youth and adult players and goalkeepers for Ajax. Remco is one of the top goalkeeper trainers in the country and trains our keepers of all ages.
Contact- remco@tennesseerush.com
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Pepper Pratt, Head Speed & Agility Trainer - Pepper is from Jackson, TN. He is a SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness) National Certified Trainer and is a professional member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He holds the Regional Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Pepper is the head women's soccer coach and assistant men's soccer coach at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson. His philosophy is "high intensity training brings high intensity performance". He naturally has a vision for the best in people and looks for every opportunity to bring it out.
Contact: (731) 267-1222 ~ pepper@tennesseerush.com
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Jason Love, Coach - Jason played soccer at the high school level for Bolton High School. He began coaching soccer in the Memphis area 8 years ago, taking a break from 2003-2005 while on staff with the University of Memphis Men's Basketball Program. Jason has been coaching on the club level for the last two years and currently holds a USSF D license.
Contact: (901) 550-8115 ~ jlove@tennesseerush.com
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Emmanuel Zavala, Coach -Emmanuel is from Mexico City, Played for Ridgeway High School were he won one State Championship in 2002 and all so played club soccer for Lobos 82 and Germantown United. Was an assistant for Bobby Fox with the Memphis Kickers who
recently joined with the Tennessee Rush for the past three years. Won one State Championship with the Memphis Kickers 89 boys in 2007.
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Darin White, Technical Director - Dr. White led the Union University men’s soccer program for twelve years from 1994 to 2006. In 2006 White received the prestigious NSCAA/adidas Coach of the Year Award – South Region at the NSCAA National Convention in Philadelphia, PA. He also received the Buffalo Funds NAIA National Team Character and Integrity Award. During his tenure, White coached the Bulldogs to a NCCAA National Championship (2003), five NCCAA MidEast Region Championships, three TranSouth Tournament Runner-Up finishes, and one TranSouth Regular Season Runner-Up finish. White, a native of Alabama, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Birmingham-Southern College in 1989 and his PhD in Business (1995) from the University of Alabama. White also holds the NSCAA National and Advanced National Coaching Licenses.
Contact: (731) 661-1225 ~ darin@tennesseerush.com |
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Rodney Bright, Coach- Rodney has over 10 years of experience coaching youth recreational soccer in the Memphis area and started coaching competitive soccer in 2008. Rodney was a multi-sport athlete in high school in the Memphis area and was an all conference athlete (baseball) at the University of Memphis in the mid 1980’s. During the off-season, Rodney conducts voluntary fitness workouts for players with an emphasis on conditioning, agility and skills.
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Randol Lay, Coach- Randol was the initial women's coach at Rhodes College and helped to establish the soccer program at Germantown High School. Randol played for Western Carolina University. Randol has earned the USSF National "C" License and the National Youth Diploma from the NSCAA. After almost 40 years of coaching the one thing that he is most proud of however, is the fact that a large number of former players and parents have established themselves as high school, college and competitive soccer coaches and are also giving back to the game Coach Randol has grown to love.
Contact: (901) 212-9231~ randol@tennesseerush.com
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