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.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Coaching Clinic Biographies

Oscar Hernán Gil Rincón, Club Atlético Boca Juniors
Rincón is not only the head coach for the U17 Boys Academy of the renowned Club Atlético Boca Juniors, but has also served as the club's International Director of Coaching and Player Development since 2004. In addition to founding a Boca Juniors Developmental Academy in Columbia, he recently founded a similar academy in Southern California with the North County Pacific Football Club.



Back to Top

Bob Gansler, former U.S. Men's National Team & MLS head coach
Kansas City Wizards head coach from 1999-2006, winning the club’s first MLS Cup in 2000 and the US Open Cup in 2004. MLS Coach of the Year in 2000. Coached the U.S. U-19 National Team (1979-82), U-20 National Team (1987-89), and then the full Men’s National Team (1989-91), taking them to the 1990 World Cup, the U.S.'s 1st appearance since 1950. Played for the U.S. National Team (1963-69), captaining the 1964 and 1968 Olympic and 1967 Pan-American teams.

Back to Top

Dave Sarachan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Currently an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sarachan spent nearly 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. A former 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.

Back to Top

Klaus Pabst, Soccer Academy Cologne in Germany
Pabst is the U8-U15 director of coaching for FC Cologne, as well as the U16-U19 assistant coaching director. He is also the owner and director of coaching of the "taxofit" First Junior Soccer School and the director of coaching and vice-president of the Soccer Boarding School, both in Cologne, Germany. Author of the innovative soccer book, ‘Coordination: A New Approach to Soccer Coaching’. Author of numerous articles for the German Football Federation magazine, “Fussball Training” and their affiliated U.S. based magazine, “Success in Soccer”. He is a professor with the German Sports University Cologne in the Science of Sports Games (Soccer). Former FC Cologne Youth Coach, 1993-1998.

Back to Top

Jan Smisek, USSF National Staff Instructor, USSF "A" License
One of the pioneers of the women's game in the United States, in 1982 Smisek became the first woman to earn a USSF "A" License. She also holds a KNVB National Youth Certificate. She has been a USSF National Staff Instructor since 1994 and served as a full-time National Staff Coach from 1996-2001. In addition to her National position, she also serves as the Director of Coach and Player Development for the Newport Youth Soccer Club. Smisek was the Region IV ODP Girls Head Coach from 1990-1993 and the Region IV ODP Girls U14 Head Coach from 2005-2007. She is a member of the Washington State Soccer Association, Washington Youth Soccer Association and UC Santa Barbara Halls of Fame. She also played for the Women's National Team in 1983, and was an All-American at UC Santa Barbara in 1980.


Back to Top

Sacha Van Der Most, Chivas USA U18 Head Coach
Sacha van der Most van Spijk joined the Chivas USA youth system when it was established in 2005. Van der Most has many years of coaching experience in different youth levels, starting with Quick’s youth teams in Holland, ranging in age from U8 to U16. He currently coaches the Chivas USA U18 team, which plays in the highly competitive U.S. Soccer Development Academy, as well as international youth tournaments, such as the Copa Chivas and the Copa Saprissa. Van Der Most made his professional debut with Quick's first team at the age of 16, and continued to play with the club until the age of 29.

James Parry, Liverpool FC Youth Academy
Parry recently served as an assistant coach for Liverpool FC's U18 Youth Academy squad, which he helped guide into the finals of the FA Youth Cup last season. He has worked for Liverpool's Youth Academy through the last decade in a variety of roles, including as a full-time U16 coach, director of soccer camps, and a development and community coach. He is currently serving as a talent identification scout for the Liverpool FC, and also acts as a recruitment identification scout for Fulham FC.

Back to Top

Jeff Tipping
The NSCAA's Director of Coaching Development, Tipping is 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. 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.

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.

Back to Top

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