Soccer Nation Expo always presents the cream of the crop in world-class coaches in special coaching clinics and numerous breakout classroom sessions throughout the show. Remember: only VIP Coaches can get special VIP seating to these clinics and entrance into the breakout sessions. To get your VIP Coach Pass, click here.

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Coaching Clinic Biographies

Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance is the current women’s soccer head coach at the University of North Carolina. Anson has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics, leading the Tar Heels to a 625-28-20 record (a .943 winning percentage) over 29 seasons on their way to winning 18 out of 25 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships. He has led his team to a 101-game unbeaten streak and coached 13 different women to a total of 20 National Player of the Year awards. Dorrance has been recognized as Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year seven times, and also successfully coached the U.S. Women’s National Team to win the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1991. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Lawrie Sanchez
A successful player for 18 seasons, including substantial tenures with Reading and Wimbledon, Sanchez began his managerial career as a player-manager with the Sligo Rovers in 1994-95 and has since coached the Wycombe Wanderers and, most recently, Fulham FC. Through his tenure managing the Northern Ireland National Team from 2004 to 2007, Sanchez oversaw his team from an initial 124th ranking in the world to an all-time high at 27th upon his departure from the team to take over Fulham. His most famous moment as a player came when he scored the goal that won Wimbledon the FA Cup in 1988 over Liverpool, widely considered one of the biggest cup final upsets in history.

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Preki
Head coach of CD Chivas USA, Preki was named the 2007 Major League Soccer Coach of the Year in his first season after leading Chivas to a first place finish in the Western Conference. He took Chivas to the playoffs this year with a 2nd place finish. During his playing career, Preki was an MLS standout as an eight-time all-star, two-time MLS Most Valuable Player (including 2003 at the age of 40) and two-time MLS Scoring Champion. Preki has also spent time from 1996-2001 as a U.S. National Team player with 28 caps.

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Tony "Tosh" Farrell
"Tosh" is a longtime Youth Academy Coach and Manager for the Everton FC of the FA Premier League, and a former Program Director for the FA. He also currently fills the position of Everton FC's Head of International Football Development, and is the chief guiding force behind "The Everton Way," a prominent online coaching education program. Farrell holds a UEFA "A" license at both the senior and youth levels, and is considered in many circles to be the top youth soccer coach in England. Farrell is also widely sought as a top speaking instructor at engagements all over the world.

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Jillian Ellis
After 10 seasons at the helm of the UCLA Women’s Soccer program, Ellis has transformed the Bruins into one of the premier programs in the nation, as UCLA is one of only a handful of teams that are annually in the hunt for the national title, She has led UCLA to six appearances in the NCAA College Cup, including six in a row from 2003-08. Her College Cup appearances have been highlighted with three trips to the Women’s Championship match (2000, 2004 and 2005). Ellis has also excelled at the international level, serving head coaching stints with both the Under-21 and Under-20 U.S. National Teams. She led the U-21s to two Nordic Cup titles (2000 and 2005). She coached the U-20s to a 2nd place showing at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil. She currently serves as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she helped guide the team to their gold medal performance.

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Dave Sarachan
Currently an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sarachan spent the previous five seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Fire. In 2003, his first year as head coach, Sarachan took the Fire to the MLS Cup Finals, claimed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and was named MLS Coach of the Year. He also led the Fire to capture another Lamar Hunt trophy in 2006. Once a pro player in the NASL and MISL, Sarachan spent ten years as head coach for Cornell, before moving to the MLS as an assistant coach for DC United. He also spent four years as an assistant coach on the US Men's National Team.

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Rene Miramontes
A member of U.S. Soccer's National Instructional Coaching Staff and a National Staff Coach for Region IV, Miramontes has coached and taught at nearly every level of soccer: as assistant coach with the Colorado Rapids from 1997-2000, as technical advisor with the San Diego State Aztecs from 2002-2006, and as the head coach at Cuyamaca College in 1993, when he won the NSCAA National Coach of the Year award. Miramontes also has a deep connection to Cal South, having won the Cal South Coach of the Year award in 1994, in the course of two decades with various Cal South clubs.

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Jeff Tipping
The NSCAA's Director of Coaching Development, Tipping is also a well-respected speaker and clinician, representing the NSCAA at educational forums and other soccer-related events throughout the country and the world. He joined the NSCAA in 1983 as Assistant Director of Coaching, promoted to Director of Coaching in 1996, and promoted to his current position in 2002. Tipping was previously the director of soccer at Muhlenberg College for 15 years. He also served as an assistant soccer coach at Hartwick College for four years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League for five seasons, was a four-year varsity player for Hartwick and holds a master's degree from Lehigh University.

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Dr. John Thomas
Dr. John Thomas, PhD is the current Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer, having started there in 2004 as their Assistant Director of Coaching Education, and holds both an "A" License and a National Youth "Y" License. Thomas is also a US Soccer National Staff Instructor, the former men's head coach for both San Diego Mesa College (2000-2004) and the US Armed Forces, and a staff coach for US Youth Soccer's Region IV ODP program. He spent three years as a Regional Coaching Coordinator for Cal South, working with George Kuntz, Steve Hoffman and Steve Sampson. Dr. Thomas is known throughout the country for his ability to teach players and coaches in a manner which is both professional and fun.

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Velocity Sports Performance
Velocity Sports Performance is the Official Performance Training Partner of Cal South Soccer, and is a national network of training centers where athletes of all sports, ages and skill levels go to improve their core athletic skills - speed, power and agility. Athletes train in small groups with degreed and certified performance coaches. Players who train with Velocity can expect to get to the ball quicker, cover more field faster, increase their shot power and reduce their chances of injury. Visit their training centers throughout Southern California, including Irvine, Redondo Beach, Anaheim, Carlsbad, San Diego, West LA and Santa Clarita.

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We are constantly adding exciting new sessions up until Soccer Nation Expo starts.
Keep checking back here for schedule updates and announcements!