Director – Edward Brown
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Edward is the founding director of Academy One Goalkeeping and one of the top developers of goalkeeping talent in North America. Academy One Goalkeeping has produced international, professional, nationally ranked collegiate and national level goalkeepers of all ages. Edward is a nationally licensed coach holding an Advanced National License from The National Soccer Coaches Association of America as well as a Level III Goalkeeping Diploma.
Edward grew up in the Columbia, Maryland area where he was a member of the first Soccer Association of Columbia team to win state, regional and national titles. Despite being recruited by nationally ranked programs, Edward chose not to play college soccer due to burnout. He greatly regrets not having played college soccer, but it motivated him to help others from the same overexposure that hindered his career. He did run NCAA Division I collegiate track and coached local youth soccer while in college and that helped improve his fitness and love of the game so he was able to return to high level soccer after college. As a player, he was one of the first Americans to play at the top level of soccer in Europe (Ireland) and Africa (South Africa). After injury ended his playing career, Edward began his coaching career at the high school level in Minnesota (Bloomington Jefferson High School) and Indiana (Marion Bennett High School, Muncie Central High School and Muncie Burris Laboratory School). He started his college coaching career at Anderson University in Indiana. After his return back to the DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area, he coached such nationally ranked or prominent colleges as Johns Hopkins University, American University, the University of Delaware and George Mason University. He coached at Howard University and then coached at St. Mary's College of Maryland for both the men's and women's program. He then returned to Howard University and the men's program. |
He coached at Howard University and then coached at St. Mary's College of Maryland for both the men's and women's program. He then returned to Howard University and the men's program.
He has coached men's professional soccer with Real Maryland FC and helped them to their only professional A-League playoff appearance and a playoff appearance as a Professional Development League team. Edward coached the Bermuda Hogges A-League Division II team. The Bermuda team was part of a development program for the Bermuda Men's National team. The Hogges goalkeepers were all national team members for Bermuda. In 2003, Edward coached the Maryland Pride women’s professional team. He has coached champion boys’ and girls’ high school teams in the Baltimore/Washington area at St. Paul's School for Girls and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He helped lead his Baltimore Football Club, Soccer Association of Columbia, Thunder Soccer Club, Team America Premier and Gunston club teams to various tournament and league titles. He was the director of goalkeeping for the Maryland Olympic Development boys program during its two most successful years of goalkeeper development (A keeper placed in every age group in the Region I region pool). He worked for Virginia Olympic Development. He has been a goalkeeper director for the DC United Academy and the Baltimore Chelsea Bays Academy (ranked the #1 program in the country) programs, Gunston Soccer Club, Thunder Soccer Club, Team America Premier and the PWSI club, which is the largest in Virginia. With all that he has done in soccer, Edward is also an award winning film and television writer/director/editor/producer, and has worked as a full time musician and music producer. Edward lives in the DC area with his wife Erica and daughters Kari and Ava and they are actively involved in their church. |
Director – Nigel Burgess
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Nigel is one of the best goalkeepers to ever come out of Bermuda and he is one of the most accomplished members of the Academy. Nigel was born in the Hamilton Parish section of Bermuda. He started his soccer career in the Hamilton Parish FC program. He was quickly identified by the Bermuda Football Federation and made numerous appearances for the Bermuda Junior National team from the time he was 14 years old. He was also offered opportunities to play professionally, but chose to pursue education and college soccer at Howard University in Washington D.C. Nigel started every minute of every match in his four years at Howard. He is considered one of the best keepers in Howard University's very proud history. He ended his career leading Howard into the NCAA tournament and graduating as an honor student. After college, Nigel went back and played for Hamilton Parish and won Bermuda goalkeeper of the year while helping his team to a Bermuda Championship. He also made several appearances (Caps) for the Bermuda National team. Bermuda made their greatest
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World Cup showing ever in 2006 when they lost out to Costa Rica on goal differential for the final spot in the CONCACAF qualifying group. While Nigel was doing this, he was also earning a Master's degree in Engineering from Howard University. After graduating, Nigel was hired by the Bermuda Power Company as an engineer, while still playing in the Bermuda Premier League. In 2007, Nigel joined fellow Academy One Goalkeeping professional member Jason Williams as the Bermuda Football Federation put together a team to play in the American professional USL A league. The purpose of the team was to develop the national team for World Cup play. Nigel and Jason shared starting duties while playing against some of the top talent in US Soccer. Nigel still plays for the Bermuda Hogges on the national team. He currently plays for his local team in the Bermuda Premier League. Nigel does a lot of coaching with the youth in Bermuda and runs Academy One Goalkeeping in Bermuda. Nigel also has the joyful and difficult task of helping raise his two children.
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Director – Zachary Davis
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Zachary joined the Academy back in the winter of 2010. He is known for being one of the friendliest members with the biggest personality in the Academy. Zach has had a remarkable career considering he didn't start playing soccer seriously until the middle of his junior year in high school. Zach attended one of the top academic private schools in the Baltimore area, Boys Latin, where, aside from being the soccer goalkeeper, he was the catcher on the baseball team and ice hockey goaltender. Zach was named All-Conference twice for soccer in leading his team to the private school championships three times and winning once. He was an honor student, a prominent member of the drama department and the Student Body President. He was considered one of the most remarkable students to have ever attended Boys Latin. Zach started playing club soccer in late 2009. His Soccer Association of Columbia team was one of the best club teams in Region I. They made the State Cup Final Four, where they lost out to fellow Academy One member Seth MacMillan's Pachuca team. They finished high up in the Region I Premier League. They also finished high in numerous premier level tournaments.
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During his senior year, Zach played for the Baltimore Chelsea Bays US Soccer Academy U-18 team. Along with fellow Academy One member Andrew Harris, Zach helped the Bays to the US Soccer Academy tournament finals. After being recruited by numerous top level Division I schools, Zach chose a scholarship to attend and play soccer at Colgate University. Unfortunately, Zach started his freshmen year injured and was unable to train until the middle of the season. He ended the season moving up the depth chart as the Colgate team won the Patriot League Championship and a place in the NCAA Tournament. After a very hard set of decisions, Zach chose to transfer to The University of North Carolina at Asheville. Zach has seen playing time there, despite injuries. As expected, Zach is one of the most well known and well regarded students on campus. He again earned Student Class President UNC Asheville like he did at Colgate University. Even with his many interests and activities, Zach was active in helping coach/teach young soccer players in the Baltimore area. He is an excellent teacher and example to young people everywhere. Zach was a finalist for the Academy One Academic Award.
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Director – Andrew Harris
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Andrew joined Academy One Goalkeeping back in 2008. He is considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the country for his age. Andrew was invited to the U-18 National Team camp and is a member of the US National Team pool of players. The summer before his junior year, Andrew's US Academy team finished third in the nation. What was more impressive is that Andrew didn't give up a single goal during the Academy playoffs while playing in all the playoff games, except for the third place match. Andrew's Academy team also won the Disney Showcase playing up an age group in both 2008 and 2009 (Nick Voyton was Andrew's teammate). The previous year, Andrew's club team won the U-15 US Youth Soccer National Championship. Andrew's team also won the United States Youth Soccer National League for the top club teams in the US. Overall, Andrew's club teams have won three State Cups and have finished either second or third in Region. Andrew was a member of Maryland State ODP state team. Andrew has had huge success in his high school career. His high school team has never had a strong soccer history, but since Andrew has been in goal, he has led them to the greatest success in the school's soccer history.
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As a sophomore, Andrew was named All-Conference. In his junior year he led his team to the prestigious Baltimore private school championship (Considered the best boy's soccer conference in the nation) and a national ranking. As the team's captain, Andrew was named All-Conference, All-County, All-Met, All State, Regional All-American and High School All-American. He was also named the Baltimore Sun Athlete of the Week, Baltimore Sun Soccer Player of the Year and Baltimore Sun Athlete of the Year. In his senior year, Andrew again led his team to the finals, but lost in overtime to Academy member Matt Sanchez' team. Andrew was again named All-Conference, All-County, All-Met, All State, Regional All-American and High School All-American. Andrew was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Maryland. Andrew runs track at his high school and achieved an amazing feet when he high jumped his height. Andrew is an honor student at his high school, a Peer Educator and a member of the Spirit Committee. In the spring of his junior year, Andrew accepted a scholarship offer to play at Wake Forest University.
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Director – David Kern
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Dave Kern joined the staff of Academy One in 2009, after playing for the Real Maryland Monarchs and being coached by Edward Brown. Dave is starting up the Academy One branch in Pennsylvania as well as helping the current Academy members. Dave's playing career started at Cardinal O' Hara High School in the Philadelphia Catholic League where he was a four year varsity starter and two time captain. Dave was All-Conference three years and League MVP his final year. Dave then played college soccer at Misericordia College, where he posted at 0.75 goals against average en route to the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000. He was named his team's MVP in 2001 and 2002, earned First-Team All-Middle Atlantic Region selections in 2000 and 2002, Second-Team All-Middle Atlantic Region in 2001 and was a three-time All-PA Conference selection. Dave began his professional career in 2004 when he signed with the Harrisburg City
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Islanders in the USL Second Division and subsequently became the team's starting goalkeeper all four years, winning the USL 2 championship in 2007. Dave left Harrisburg to join the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League, helping the team win an American Indoor Championship in 2008 and 2009. Dave did double duty playing for the Real Maryland Monarchs in the off season from the Baltimore Blast. He was primary starter for the team when it gained the only playoff appearance in the club's history. Dave has now started his coaching career. He currently coaches with such prominent Pennsylvania clubs as CASA/CAPA, the Harrisburg City Islanders Academy and the Hershey Attack. He was recently named an assistant coach for the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL A League Division 2. Dave recently married and lives in the Central Pennsylvania area.
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Director - Sean Killion
Director – Mael Lefebvre
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Mael comes to Academy One via Lorient, France. He was born and raised in Lorient and played for the Academy of the Lorient FC French Ligue 1 premier professional team. He was a member of their Academy team from 2006 - 2010. He made it all the way through the Lorient ranks, making it to the reserve team for two years (French 5th Division). He won two championships with Lorient. One championship as an Academy player in the U-15 National Championships and one with the reserve team in the French 5th Division Championships. Mael earned prestigious All-Tournament honors in the Plougonvelin Tournament in 2010 where he played against Boavista Porto, Dynamo Kiev, and Hajduk Split. After that season Mael was offered a large professional contract with Real Sociodad of Spain's La Liga premier professional league. Unfortunately, Mael suffered a severe ankle injury that made him unable to accept the offer. After successful rehabilitation, Mael chose to attend Hawaii Pacific University in Hawaii. Mael led the Hawaii Pacific team to
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a conference championship and very impressive statistics in his first year in Hawaii. Mael finished third in the nation in shutouts. He was second in the nation in shutout percentage: 0.61. Mael went into his second year at Hawaii Pacific with an amazing 0.8 goals against average. At the end of the season, Mael again All-Conference honors for both soccer and academics. Mael spent the Summer of 2012 training with Real Maryland PDL team as they earned a playoff appearance. In his last season as a player at Hawaii Pacific, Mael again earned All-Conference honors as the captain of the team. Using up his eligibility, Mael accepted a position as Assistant Coach for the his college while he finished his diploma and MBA. Mael has started his own branch of Academy One in Hawaii as well as being part of Academy programs for club and individuals in the islands. Mael has also proven to be an excellent teacher of goalkeeping working with younger keepers in camps and training and an excellent example.
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Director – Kristin Luckenbill
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Kristin Luckenbill is one of the greatest goalkeepers in United States soccer history. She brings a wealth of knowledge, professionalism and positive distinction to soccer and to life. Kristin grew up in Pennsylvania where her primary focus was skiing, as well as soccer. Kristin had a very difficult decision in her early athletic career when she had to choose to focus on either soccer or skiing. Fortunately for us, soccer won out, but to this day, Kristin remains a high level skier/snowboarder. Kristin had great success with her Conestoga High School team. She is known as one of the greatest athletes in the school's history and certainly its greatest soccer player. In her final year of high school she was named All-Conference, All-County, All-Region, All-State, Regional All-American and High School All-American. She was named Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year, as well. Kristin attended Dartmouth College, where she was a three-time NCAA All-American, four-time First Team All-Ivy League, Ivy League Rookie of the Year and Ivy League Player of the Year. Her ODP career was equally as impressive with Kristin earning a place on the Pennsylvania State team five years in a row from U15 - U19. She was a member of the Region I team from U16 - U19. She was a member of the U20 National ODP pool. During her final year of high school, Kristin played up two age groups and led her Buckingham United club team to the Pennsylvania State Championships and the Region I finals. As an older club player, Kristin was a member of the U-19 Boston Bolts team that won the
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Massachusetts State Championship, Region I Championship and was National Club finalists. The following year, Kristin led the Bolts to another Massachusetts State Championship. After her college career, Kristin was drafted to play for the Carolina Courage in the WUSA in 2001. She was the starting goalkeeper for the Courage for most of her tenure, winning the Founders Cup Championship in 2002, earning WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year and First-Team All-League honors and starting in the WUSA All-Star Game. She was also nominated for an ESPY Award in 2003 for "Best Female Soccer Player". She became a member of the US National Team in 2004, and won an Olympic gold medal with the team in Athens. She finished her professional soccer career in the WPS, playing one season for the Boston Breakers and the following season for Sky Blue FC. She last played professional soccer for Sky Blue FC of the Women's Professional Soccer league, located in New Jersey. Kristin totaled ten professional seasons as a player. Kristin announced her retirement from professional soccer after July, 2010, to pursue a Master's degree in Business from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Kristin graduated from Darden - ranked in the top ten in the nation for MBA programs - in the Spring/Summer of 2012. Besides helping others develop their soccer future, Kristin is helping to improve sports and fitness in the US in her professional career. Kristin was an honor student and loves anything to do with the outdoors.
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Director - Matthew Sanchez
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Matt joined Academy One in the fall of 2006 when he was 12 years old. He is the best goalkeeper in the country for his age. This statement is reinforced by Matt winning the Golden Glove award the summer of 2010 for the top club goalkeeper in the country. He did this as he helped his Baltimore Bays club team win the U-15 US Youth Soccer National Championship. They were also Maryland State Champions, Regional Champions and Region I League Champions. As a U-14, Matt's Baltimore club team was Maryland state champs and went undefeated in the US Region I tournament. They missed the Regional finals only by goal differential. Matt's teams have also had success indoors winning US Futsal Federation National Championship Silver Medal and Matt earning US Futsal Federation All-Region team. Matt was a four year member of the Maryland ODP State team and a two year member of the Region I ODP pool. Matt was a true freshmen starter for his nationally ranked McDonogh High School program and was the starter for all of his four years. They finished 2nd in the best private school league in the nation the first two years Matt was the starting goalkeeper. In his Junior year Matt led the team to the Baltimore private school championship and another national ranking. At the end of his junior year club season, Matt was a finalist for the United States Soccer Federation Save of the Year. After his senior year as a high school player, Matt earned All-Conference, All-Met, All-State and Regional All-American. Matt ended his career having led the McDonogh team to three MIAA Conference
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Championships and recorded a staggering 54 career shutouts: a Maryland state record. Matt is also an excellent golfer (0 handicap) and played for his high school team. He also sang in the choir. More impressive than his club and high school accomplishments is that Matt was the U-15, U-17, U-20 and Men's Puerto Rican National Soccer Team keeper. Matt was chosen to be the Puerto Rican starter for the U-20 Dallas Cup and U-20 World Cup. He was also chosen to be the back-up keeper for the full National Team in their matches against Nicaragua. During his Junior year in high school, Matt committed to a scholarship to play soccer at national power Old Dominion University. In the summer before his senior year, Matt led the U-20 Puerto Rican National team to an undefeated record in group play of FIFA World Cup qualifying. He was named "Man of the Match" by Puerto Rican television after the match with Bermuda. The Puerto Rican U-20 team advanced to the second round of World Cup qualifying. This is the furthest ANY Puerto Rican team has advanced in the history of their soccer program at any level of international play. Matt again led the Puerto Rican team to advancement to the CONCACAAF Championships in Mexico City. This was above and beyond anything any Puerto Rican team had ever achieved in its soccer history. Two tough losses in Mexico City ended the Puerto Rican team's dream of a U-20 World Cup final, but leave much for the future. Matt has been huge in coaching young keepers and is an Academy One Director.
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Director - Morgan Ruhl
Morgan joined the Academy as a goalkeeper in the summer of 2010 when she was 15. She was one of the finest goalkeepers in the country when she played and is now one of the finest young coaches in the country. She attended McDonogh High School, where she led the team to numerous championships and numerous personal awards and honors in the toughest private school league in the country. She was multiple times All-State, All-Conference, All-County, and was named one of the top 100 players in the nation stated by Soccer America. She finished her high school soccer career as one of the greatest players to have ever played at her school. Morgan was also a member of the National Honor Society and played Varsity Softball. More than her high school accomplishments, Morgan was among the best club goalkeepers in the country. She was a three year member of the US National team. She was a four year member of the Region I ODP team and a four year member of the Maryland State ODP team. During her junior year, Morgan's club team won the Virginia State Cup, the Region I Championship and finished second at US Nationals (Before the days of US Soccer Academy or ECNL). Morgan went on to achieve the Golden Glove Award at the Adidas ESP Camp for the top 100 players in the nation. Morgan changed to a more local club team in her senior year and led them to national prominence in tournament and state cup play. In the fall of her junior year, Morgan committed to a scholarship to play at Louisiana State University. Sadly, a severe hip injury in the first days of her college career harshly restricted her ability to play. Even with a brutal hip injury that required multiple surgeries, she was still able to play some in college. More remarkable was that in her senior year, she was named the Goalkeeper Coach while still a player. After graduating from LSU, Morgan was hired at Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland as an Assistant Coach. She also coaches at the US Soccer Academy level with Washington Spirit - Baltimore Armour where she is the Director of Goalkeeping and Assistant Coach. After a couple years as a full time university coach, Morgan was called back into the playing ranks joining the Washington Spirit as a goalkeeper at the highest level of women's professional soccer. Morgan finished the year with the Spirit in 2018 and returned to her coaching. Words do not express how proud we are to have Morgan and one of the Academy's Directors. Her knowledge and insight into goalkeeping and overall coaching are without measure. Morgan currently lives in rural Maryland with her family and her beloved dogs.
Sports Psychology Consultant – Dr. Caroline Silby Ph.D.
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Caroline Silby, Ph.D holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree of Sports Psychology from the University of Virginia. She is a nationally recognized expert on the development of elite athletes, author of, Games Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes (St. Martin’s Press, 2000, 2001), contributing author to, Sports Secrets and Spirit Stuff (American Girl Company, 2006) and The Female Athlete (Boston Children’s Hospital Harvard & Springer Publishing, May 2016) and A Smart Girls Guide: Sports and Fitness: How to Use Your Body and Mind To Play and Feel Your Best (American Girl Company, February, 2018), Sport Science of Figure Skating (Routledge, 2018). Dr. Silby spent twelve years as adjunct faculty at American University and has worked on an individual basis with three Olympic Gold Medalists, over 20 Olympians, two Paralympian Gold Medalists, four World Champions, fifteen National Champions, dozens of professional athletes from sports of football, baseball, golf tennis and soccer as well as hundreds of National Team members and Division I student- athletes, teams and their coaches.
She is currently the sport psychology consultant for the US Figure Skating National Team, DC United Academy, amongst many other sport organizations. She recently served as sport psych consultant for US Figure Skating at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang. |
As an elite athlete, Dr. Silby was a member of the National and International Figure Skating Teams. She later served on the U.S. Figure Skating Association Board of Directors, Athlete Advisory Council and Sports Medicine Committee. Dr. Silby was appointed to the U.S. Olympic Committee Athlete Advisory Council, Collegiate Sports Council and Finance Committee. Currently, she serves on the Sports Medicine Committees for the United States Figure Skating Association as well as the Professional Skater’s Association, is a member of the Medical Advisory Board for American Ballet Theatre and Board of Directors for GirlsUP. Recently, she served as President of the Board of the Southwest Women’s Law Center, Education Committee for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Advisory Board of FabLab, a Fox television series aimed at encouraging girls to become involved in STEM, served as a curriculum creator for Winning Play$, a financial literacy program, and has been a featured speaker for the US Department of State, Sports United program. Dr. Silby is sought after expert and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs including the Oprah Winfery Show, CNN, Tru-Television, ABC-Wide World of Sports, Oxygen Television, NPR and the Mitch Albom Show. She resides in Potomac, Maryland where she has an active national practice.
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