Coaching Team

Background

• PE teacher at Riviera Hall

• 20+ years of soccer experience

• 15+ years of child care experience

• 10+ years of coaching experience

Bio

Max founded Tiny Kicks Academy after running soccer training programs across the country. He began his career by leading a soccer program at a YMCA in Prescott, AZ for two straight summers. He then ran private training sessions for Peekskill Soccer Club in NY and formerly coached for Soccer Shots.

Max advocates for the introduction of soccer to children at a young age as a fun game to stay active, learn, and play competitively. He relentlessly organizes classes to ensure every child will be actively learning and playing for the full duration of each session.

Background

• 20+ years of soccer experience 

• 10+ years of mentoring children and college students

• Full Time Financial Planner at Capstone Partners

Bio

Coach Michael grew up playing soccer in Southern Indiana. He matriculated to the University of Kentucky, where he played club soccer all four years, including two undefeated seasons.

In 2012 Coach Michael moved to the South Bay following his long-time teammate and former LA Galaxy midfielder Josh Tudela. Michael is looking forward to supporting Tiny Kicks Academy in growing the children’s love of the game and is committed to teaching the technical proficiency it takes to succeed at the highest levels.

Background

• 15 Years of Soccer Experience

• Coached at AYSO Camps

Bio

Lexi grew up in the South Bay and has played soccer for the majority of her life. She was a member of Mira Costa High School's soccer team in Manhattan Beach, CA. After graduating Lexi played at Santa Monica College and a semi-pro organization named Invictus A.C. Feminae in Long Beach.

Lexi has coached young kids since high school. She got her start coaching American Youth Soccer Organization's camps and continued on to do private lessons.

Background

• 15 Years of Soccer Experience

• B.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology

• Former Youth Assistant Coach at AYSO Camps

Bio

Joe is from Long Beach, CA, and has been involved with soccer since the age of seven. He was a member of Cypress F.C. in Cypress, CA, and played for Millikan High School in Long Beach. In college, he achieved his Bachelors in Kinesiology, emphasizing in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and is currently working on his Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Joe has worked as a youth assistant coach for AYSO summer camps and coaching for South Coast Soccer Academy in Huntington Beach.

Background

• 15+ Years of Soccer Experience

• 2+ Years coaching at Toca Football

Bio

Celine grew up in the South Bay and has played soccer her whole life. She played at Redondo Union High School for four years before playing Division 1 soccer at California State University of Long Beach. She also played a season in a semi-pro organization called Internacional FC in Irvine.

Celine has coached kids and players of all ages since high school. She started doing private lessons and then continued to work at Toca Football in Costa Mesa for 2 years, where she would train players one on one.

Background

• 18 years of soccer experience

• Played semi pro for Beach soccer LA

• Head coach of Beach FC

• Played D2 at Cal State of LA in 2019

Bio

Gicelle has been playing soccer for Beach FC since middle school and is now a head coach for their 2013 players. She also played for Peninsula High School and later transferred to play two years at Los Angeles Harbor College. Over the years she played as a goalkeeper and has a deep understanding of the game.

Gicelle also traveled to several countries for missions work with children and has a passion for sharing the love of soccer with children all around the world. Her enthusiasm and passion for Soccer is contagious.

Background

• 18 years of soccer experience

• Played semi pro for Beach soccer LA

• Head coach of Beach FC

• Played D2 at Cal State of LA in 2019

Bio

Jessi was born and raised in Gardena and introduced to a ball at a very young age in a soccer fanatic household where it was considered a part of life. Currently plays for LASC registered in the California State Soccer Association.

Passionate about developing players in the sport they love and teaching each player values they will utilize outside of the soccer field, such as teamwork, leadership, honesty, and integrity. Jessi coaches and directs academies full-time to expand his coaching knowledge, with aspirations to coach a professional team in the future. An avid reader and a constant student in life.

Background

• 20+ years of soccer experience

• 15+ years of coaching and management experience

• 5+ years of child care experience

• Associates in Psychology

Bio

Andrew has played soccer for over 20 years in Florida, Brazil and Switzerland. Indoor and outdoor, 5v5 and 11v11. He has competed at an Olympic level in multiple sports, most prominently diving, under such coaches as Mark Ruiz, Jay Lerew and Wendy Lerew (former Pan Am and Olympic Games Winners). Having coached soccer and other fields since he was a teenager, he has occupied a teaching position for over 15 years now.

Andrew firmly believes in positivity, leadership, sportsmanship and inclusion. Happy to simply be a part of the community, his goal is to make learning as fun and easy as possible with a healthy amount of personal development along the way.

Background

• 20+ years of soccer experience

• Played Premier League and Academy Youth Soccer in Southern California

• Recruited American Football Kicker at Brown University

• Played in Cosmopolitan Amateur League in NYC

Bio

A son of a former professional Romanian Soccer player. Alex has loved soccer as long as he can remember. While a youth in Southern California, he played for South Bay Soccer Club, Irvine Strikers, Arsenal and more. During High School, he played both Soccer and Football for the Mira Costa Mustangs. His senior year, he kicked the winning field goal for the Mustangs to win CIF, and was recruited to Brown university where he went on to be a 4 year starter, becoming the 2nd highest scoring kicker in Ivy league History.

Fulham and Real Madrid are his favorite club teams, and USA is his favorite team to root for. His formative soccer watching moments were during the 2002 World Cup and he has attended the 2004 Portugal Euro Cup, 2006 Germany World Cup and 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Background

• 10+ years of soccer experience

• Coached at various soccer camps for 3 years

• Grew up in the South Bay

• Currently plays for the LA Galaxy academy team

Bio

While playing for the LA Galaxy Colin has played overseas in Italy and Portugal. He believes that soccer is a great way to get kids into sports and keep them active at a young age. He is currently the starting goalkeeper for his team and we’re so happy to have him offer quality goalkeeper training to our players. Colin brings the energy to every session he coaches and our group at Riviera Hall adores him.