Boys/Girls U10 - Coach Paul Gannon Paul is a 1976 graduate of SUNY Cortland where he received his BS in Public Health Administration. While there, he competed for the varsity soccer program & was selected as team co-captain his senior year. He received his MS degree in Recreation Administration, also from SUNY Cortland, while at the same time filling the graduate assistant soccer coaching position. Immediately upon graduation, Paul was hired as the full time men s assistant soccer coach at the United States Military Academy, West Point, a position he held for approximately 17 years. Along the way he received his USSF C license, NSCAA National & Advanced National coaching diplomas. After leaving the men s program, Paul accepted a full teaching position within the Department of Physical Education, also at U.S.M.A. To keep his hand in collegiate coaching, Paul accepted the volunteer assistant women s soccer coaching position for 3 years. In all, Paul is currently in his 27 th year of service as coach, instructor/coach, and instructor at the Military Academy. Outside the Academy, Paul has coached the girl s Eastern NYS Olympic Development girl s soccer program, the Empire State Games women s open soccer, the Newburgh Free Academy girl s varsity soccer, and has an untold amount of clinic/camp experience. He has also presented various soccer topics at several NYS-AHPERD conventions, and Eastern District Association-AAHPERD conventions. This is his second year coaching within the East Hudson Youth Soccer Academy program. BU11 - Coach Aidan Topley Coach Aidan is originally from Ashford, Kent, England. He moved to the U.S.A as a Professional, full time soccer trainer in New Jersey, working for United Soccer Academy from 2003-2006. In 2005 he moved to Dutchess County. Currently he holds a U.E.F.A B pt 1 license and U.S.S.F F License. Playing soccer since the age of 6, Aidan played for his high school, winning a County Championship Cup in 1999 and 2 division titles in 1997, 2001, and was also the top goal scorer 2 seasons in a row, 2000/2001-2001/2002. In addition, he played for many amateur men s teams in the Kent county and District league, winning 2 championships with the Wye Wanderers F.C, and 1 league cup. Also in 2004 he made his first appearance for his local semi-pro club, the Ashford Town Football Club Reserves team, who played in the Go Travel Kent League 2 nd Div, only playing several times before he returned to the states to continue his coaching education and school opportunities. Coach Aidan has been coaching soccer for 9 years. Before moving to the US, he was the assistant manager of Ashford Town U-18 s soccer team. He would lead the training sessions and warm ups prior to games, helping in the team selection, and advising the head coach on game day.
Boys U12 Coach Jim Purdy Coach Purdy is currently in his second season as the Men's Head Soccer Coach at Dutchess Community College.He has been coaching youth soccer in the area for over twenty three years and is in his twelveth year as a member of the East Hudson Academy/League Select coaching staff. He served as a founder and Director of the Academy for it s first six years.he has coached on both boys and girls sides in the Academy program. Many of Jim's former youth players have or are currently playing college soccer. Jim has coached league travel teams from the developmental age groups through U19's. He holds both a NSCAA National Diploma as well as a USSF National License. In addition, Jim has coached five East Hudson League Champions (3 boys/2 girls) and his teams have also been awarded several Sportsmanship Awards. In 2005, he was honored by East Hudson as the Boys Travel Coach of the Year and in 2009 elected to the East Hudson Hall of Fame. In 2012 Jim was elected President of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League.He is also currently coaching the Mens U23 East Fishkill Blue Falcons. Coach Jim's soccer philosophy is centered on being a teacher to the young player so they may have the technical skills on which to build and develop. Jim s goals for his players are to develop a dedication to the sport, establish new friendships and above all have fun playing this wonderful game.all four of Jim and his wife Barbara's children have played in the EHYSL. BU12 Assistant Coach Kerry Gannon Kerry currently holds a USSF F license and an ENYYSA F license and plans to continue pursing higher level of coaching licenses. Kerry has run numerous footwork clinics in the Hudson Valley. She has trained players at the United States Army Girls Soccer Camp at West Point. Kerry has also trained players at the Number 1 Striker Camp at West Point. Kerry is a 2012 graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, where she started for four years on the women s soccer team. She was team captain her junior and senior years. Kerry received Honorable Mention in the Empire 8 Conference in her junior and senior years. Upon graduation, Kerry studied an extra semester of math and education in Budapest, Hungary, where she was able to play soccer and futsal on numerous women s teams. BU13 - Coach Mike Hanchar Mike is 1990 graduate of the University of Evansville, Indiana. He had the fortune of being part of a team that was ranked first nationally in the division one polls for 4 weeks during the 1987 season. Currently, Mike is the Varsity coach at Old Tappan High School in New Jersey. The 2012 season brought great success for the Golden Knights culminating in a 1 st ever Bergen County Championship for the school. Mike was named Bergen County and Sectional coach of the year. Coach Hanchar also trains and coaches
numerous boys team in the Northern Valley Soccer Club, the feeder program for Old Tappan High School. In 2002, Mike received the USSF C license. The same year he joined the coaching staff as an assistant at Drew University, Madison NJ. The Rangers finished the season ranked 3 rd nationally with a 21-2-1 record. The season ended in a thrilling overtime loss in the national quarterfinals (NCAA DIV 3) to eventual national champions Messiah University. Mike s real passion for the sport is in helping his athletes be successful in life and the game. It certainly is not a sprint but rather a marathon. Coach Hanchar has really enjoyed his first two seasons with the East Hudson Academy. It is very rewarding from a coaching perspective to see the players improve over the course of a year. BU16 Jim Sanborn Jim was born and raised in the Hudson Valley area. He grew up playing youth soccer for the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club and continues to play in various men s leagues in the area. Played his High School career at Arlington High School under the tutelage of Gary Montalto for 3 years where he served as captain his senior year. He played collegiately at University of Rhode Island, Dutchess Community College and SUNY Binghamton. He served as captain on both DCC and SUNY Binghamton. Jim has been coaching youth soccer for about 15 years. This is his second year with East Hudson Academy. He currently holds a NSCAA State, Regional and National License and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and love of the game. BU16 Assistant Coach Jeff Paine Jeff is currently the Assistant Men s Soccer Coach at Dutchess Community College where he completed his initial season this past fall. Previously Jeff was the JV Boy s Head Coach at Marlboro High School. Jeff s is playing history includes Highland High School where he played two years of varsity soccer. Jeff also played travel soccer for many years as a member of the Highland United Soccer Club. Following graduation he attended SUNY New Paltz where he was a member of the Men s Soccer Team competing in the SUNYAC Conference. Jeff later transferred to Marist College where he completed his college studies graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science. GU11 Amanda Popoli Amanda graduated in 2010 from Adelphi University where she spent four years on the women's soccer team and was a co-captain her senior year. Once graduating, she traveled to Italy where she was invited to train with a Serie "A" professional women's soccer team. The following winter, she was invited into preseason camp with the NJ Sky Blue Professional Women's soccer team.
As a coach, Amanda has coached the modified girls soccer team at her hometown High School, John Jay, and the following year coached as the assistant coach for the Harrison High School girl s varsity soccer team. During the past year, she was selected as the girls U-16 assistant ODP coach and also had the opportunity this past spring to coach the John Jay High School Boys soccer spring team. Currently, she is the head women's soccer coach at Lehman College where she began the first ever team for the college this year. Amanda has earned her National "D" Coaching license and is continuing to pursue her coaching education. She has a tremendous amount of experience in soccer camps and has directed her own week long soccer camp for the past three summers. Her philosophy as a coach is to teach the fundamentals and build a strong foundation for players to build upon as they go through their soccer career. She believes that the basics are just as important as any other part of the game and once a solid player has been developed, then the player can grow into a remarkable player with practice and dedication. GU12 - Coach Andrea Humphreys Andrea began playing competitive soccer at a young age, and continued all throughout her school years. She was captain of her varsity team at Clarkstown HS North. Andrea went on to play for four years on the women s team at the University of Scranton. After college, she returned to Clarkstown HS as the girls JV soccer coach for several years. Then, for many years Andrea was the girls JV soccer coach at John Jay HS, in East Fishkill, and the the girls modified coach at Van Wyck JHS. Additionally, she is the coach of an EHYSL BU18 premier level team, and also formerly a GU18 premier team. She has helped many players get recruited, and watched them go on to continue playing at the collegiate level. Andrea holds an NSCAA National Diploma, a USSF License, and NYSPHSAA certification. She is a middle school teacher in the Wappingers School District. Andrea and her husband have four children, who have all played soccer for various EHYSL teams. Coach Andrea believes in developing the whole player, and strives to prepare young athletes physically and mentally to compete in the game she loves! Andrea aims to help players improve their technical abilities, while also increasing their overall fitness level. She believes it is important for players to develop confidence in themselves, and to recognize their contributions to their team. Yet above all, Andrea believes it is critical to always exhibit good sportsmanship! This is Coach Andrea s 5th year with the East Hudson Academy program.
GU12 Assistant Coach Karen Shogren Karen is currently the girls junior varsity soccer coach at Haldane High School. Previously, she coached modified girls soccer at Van Wick Junior High School. Karen holds a USSF National D license, A NSCAA National Diploma, a USSF National Y license and is a certified referee. Karen also runs an outreach program for special needs soccer athletes in the East Fishkill Soccer Club. In addition, she organizes winter pick up soccer games in the East Fishkill Soccer Club. In 0210, Karen was honored as East Hudson Youth Soccer League Volunteer of the Year and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Administrator of the Year. Karen, spent her youth playing on several Huntington Boys Club and Huntington travel teams. She was a starting varsity soccer player at Huntington High School and was Captain her senior year, earning top honors in Suffolk County. She played collegiately at SUNY Stony Brook. For the past five years, Karen has played in the East Hudson Women s Soccer League at the NET. GU13- Coach Adam Ritter Adam Ritter enters his seventh year coaching and fourth year as part of the East Hudson Academy coaching staff after previously leading the BU-17 and assisting the BU-11 squads. He has also coached for three years at Lourdes High School and now four years at Arlington High School where he has been part of a state finalist, regional championship, and three sectional championship girl programs. In addition, he has trained/coached several youth travel teams in the Hudson Valley over the past few years. A native of the Hudson Valley and a product of local youth programs himself, Coach Ritter s playing days started with the LaGrange Soccer Club, East Fishkill Soccer Club, and East Hudson Select teams where he won numerous league championships and regional tournaments. A graduate of Arlington High School in 2000, he was a member of the varsity boy s soccer team for three years where he won league, sectional, and state (1999) titles. He would continue at the Division 1 level where he had the opportunity to play for Marist College s first Men Soccer MAAC Conference Championship team and experienced the NCAA Tournament first hand. Coach Ritter would later graduate from Marist in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Dean s List Honors, and being named to the All-MAAC Academic Team. Coach Ritter s philosophy about the game of soccer isn t about being the biggest, fastest, or strongest player on the ball. It s (more) about understanding how to communicate, move, and anticipate play off the ball (after all there is only one ball for 22 players to share at any given moment in the game).in addition to his soccer background, Coach Ritter has extensive experience working in higher education, which allows him to be
knowledgeable about the college selection and recruiting processes. Coach Ritter currently holds the USSF National D Coaching License. GU13 Assistant Coach Kara Sefcik Kara is currently a member of the New York Coerver Soccer Academy coaching staff. She is also in the second season as the Head Coach for Our Lady of Lourdes High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team. Recently, Kara was recognized as the Coach of the Year for Conference I, League A, Section I, and also as Co-Coach of the Year for Conference I. She is also a trainer for GU10 Beekman Bulldogs. Kara s soccer career started with the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club where she played intramural soccer and travel soccer. In 1999 Kara started playing soccer in the Olympic Development Program and made the Region I team. In 2001, Kara joined the nationally recognized Albertson Soccer Club on Long Island. The Albertson Elite were two time New York State Cup Champions, Region I Championship contenders, and one time New York State finalists. The Albertson Elite won numerous high level tournaments including the WAGS and the Disney Cup. In high school, Kara played for Arlington High School where she was team captain her junior and senior years. She was named First Team All Section and All League four years in a row. In addition, she was a Scholar- Athlete all four years. Kara was named Arlington s Athlete of the Year in 2004. She played college soccer for the division I Siena Saints earning a place on the MACC All Academic Team all four years. Kara believes soccer is about working hard to achieve your greatest potential as a player, and having fun while doing it. Her goal is to create skilled, confident and creative contributors on the field, who exhibit excellent sportsmanship.