COACHING STAFF
The playing field is where most young people learn to win and lose, to deal with mistakes, defeats, and moments of vulnerability - where they rise again and again to new challenges. The game presses them to understand what it takes and what it means to put their team before themselves.
The playing field is also where most young people learn to cooperate, compete, resolve conflicts - it's where they stand up in front of parents and peers to prove themselves. The game becomes central to their identity. It gives them confidence and joy and a craft of their own to work at.
The playing field is also where most young people learn to cooperate, compete, resolve conflicts - it's where they stand up in front of parents and peers to prove themselves. The game becomes central to their identity. It gives them confidence and joy and a craft of their own to work at.
Sport teaches life. It brings out the best and the worst in us. We believe the coaches who guide young people through these experiences should go beyond teaching the game - they must be life mentors who understand their impact as teachers and role models on the children in their charge.
Pelada Academy coaches are selected for their ability as educators, their strength of personality, and their soccer knowlege. All staff members are USSF Certified and participate in ongoing coach education.
Pelada Academy coaches are selected for their ability as educators, their strength of personality, and their soccer knowlege. All staff members are USSF Certified and participate in ongoing coach education.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM
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Age group specific Field Training exercises
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Coach-led Technical and Tactical training environments
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Player-led Open Play environments
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Video Tactical Sessions for U11-U19 teams
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Age group training pools and developmental benchmarks for U9-10, U11-12, U13-14, U15-16, and U17-19 players
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Leadership training and advanced learning opportunities through the Coach Development Academy

Joey Garah
Director
Originally from Corvallis, OR.
Joey is the founder and director of Pelada Football Academy. He has been coaching in the Eugene area since 2005, and before that in the Corvallis area since 1994. Joey holds a USSF C License, a USSF Youth License, a Director of Coaching certificate from United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA), and a BA in English Literature from the University of Oregon / Robert D. Clark Honors College.
Contact: director@peladafa.org
COACHING STAFF

Chris Daniel
USSF C License
Originally from Eugene, OR.
Chris has been coaching with Joey since before the founding of Pelada FA, assisting with five teams during the 2012 seasons and with the full set of Summer 2012 Grassroots Soccer Clinics. Prior to this he was a coach in the Little Kickers program at Kick City. Chris is an alumni of Marist HS and a BA candidate at University of Oregon. In addition to Pelada Football Academy, his recent coaching experience includes head coaching the boys program at Marist HS and assistant coaching positions at Lane United FC and Lane Community College.
Contact: coach.chris@peladafa.org

Stephen Deskovic
USSF C License / Events & Fundraising Coordinator
Steve is from Buffalo, NY.
He is one of the founding coaches of Pelada Football Academy and has been coaching alongside Joey since the 2012 summer Grassroots Soccer Clinics season. His past coaching experience includes work with U8/9/10/11s in New York in 1991-93. Steve holds a BA in Philosophy and English from University of Oregon and works as a college writing tutor when he is not playing or coaching.
Contact: coach.steve@peladafa.org
Stefan Schroffner
USSF C License
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Stefan played both soccer and football at Punahou High School, earning all-state and conference honors in both sports, including soccer player of the year his senior year. At the University of Notre Dame, Stefan began as a freshman soccer recruit but transferred his soccer skills to the football team as a place-kicker, playing for the Fighting Irish from 1991-1994 and scoring 50 points in his collegiate career. Stefan holds a BA in Economics and Pre-medicine and an MBA in Finance and General Management. Since moving to Eugene in 2010, Stefan has stayed very connected with soccer in the community — coaching youth soccer, cheering as a parent of 3 kids, playing in local recreational leagues, and serving as a board member and co-owner of Lane United Football Club. In addition to his work with Pelada, he is also head of the girls program and Marist Catholic High School.
Contact: coach.stefan@peladafa.org
William Pike
USSF C License
William was born in San Antonio, Texas, but grew up in Newnan, Georgia. He started playing soccer at seven years old and began refereeing at twelve. He played competitive soccer through high school, then ran cross country and track for Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he earned a BA in Biblical Text. After college William spent four years living in Sequoia National Park in California, then moved to Eugene at the beginning of 2019 to pursue his dream of coaching soccer.
Contact: coach.william@peladafa.org
Jonathan Fechtel
USSF D License - Goalkeeper Coach
Jonathan was born in Springfield. He is an alumni of Marist HS, where he made the varsity soccer team as a junior. He joined the Pelada coaching staff in the summer of 2016, specializing as a goalkeeper coach. He has enjoyed playing soccer since he was a toddler and has been a part of Pelada Academy since he was in 7th grade. In addition to coaching with Pelada, Jonathan plays soccer for Lane Community College.
Contact: coach.jonathan@peladafa.org
Beth Atkerson
USSF Grassroots Certified
Jin Kwon
USSF Grassroots Certified
Jin was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in multiple countries, including England, Scotland, Holland, and Guatemala. He has been playing soccer since the age of eight. He played competitively in high school in South Korea and began coaching during the same period. He attended New York University and after graduating with a BA in economics, he decided to move to Eugene to be with his wife and attend law school and business school at the University of Oregon. Jin has been coaching soccer ever since his move to Eugene by volunteering with Kidsports as a head coach. He is excited to embark on this next step in his coaching career with Pelada Football Academy.
Mike Oswalt
USSF Grassroots Certified
Adam Jones
USSF Grassroots Certified
Jack Kennedy
USSF Grassroots Certified
Hans Elliott
USSF Grassroots Certified
Jake Nash
USSF Grassroots Certified
Paige Oswalt
USSF Grassroots Certified
Joshua Wrolstad
USSF Grassroots Certified
Originally from Liberty, Missouri.
Joshua has played competitive soccer from second grade through his adult years. He played for Liberty High School in the Greater Kansas City Area and spent four years playing for Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, competing in the NCAA Division III Elite Eight Tournament in 2002. After college Joshua spent several seasons playing with the Kansas City Brass in the Premier Development League. Since moving to Portland in 2009, he has continued to play in local leagues as well as with Portland City Futsal Club. Joshua moved to Eugene and joined the coaching staff of Pelada FA in the summer of 2017. Prior to that he coached for Red Star Soccer Academy in Missouri as well as Marshal HS, Franklin HS, and Eastside Timbers FC in Portland. Joshua holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Luther College and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Portland State University. In addition to coaching with Pelada, he works at 4J’s Howard Elementary School as their BEST Afterschool Program Coordinator.
Contact: coach.joshua@peladafa.org
Jessica Chalette
USSF Grassroots Certified
Jessica has lived in Springfield, Oregon, all her life. Since around five years old, she’s been playing soccer through various organizations and clubs, eventually landing at Pelada in middle school. About two seasons later, Jessica started in the player-coaching program, and joined the coaching staff in spring of 2017. She is currently a junior at the Academy of Arts and Academics and participates in both indoor and outdoor soccer in the winter season.
Contact: coach.jessica@peladafa.org
Madison Wisnewski
USSF Grassroots Certified
Madison was born in Eugene, is currently a student at Marist Catholic High School. She has been playing soccer ever since the age of three. She has been involved with Pelada ever since it was first founded. She has helped volunteer at many past Pelada soccer camps. She joined the Pelada coaching staff in Fall of 2017.
Contact: coach.madison@peladafa.org
Sydney Nash
USSF Grassroots Certified
Saul Bramel
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Nathan Hanson
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Josey Scott
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Rafa Garcia
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Soren Gustafson
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Mariquia Alferez
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Kolby Hartford
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Tressa Geyer
USSF Grassroots Candidate
Paige Jorgensen
USSF Grassroots Candidate
COACHING STAFF ALUMNI

Dakota Hanson
USSF D-License
Dakota was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She has played soccer since kindergarten and participated in 6 years of club soccer. Dakota played two years at Pleasant Hill High School on the varsity girls soccer team; it was the first girls soccer team they had in 10 years. While at Pleasant Hill she was team captain her senior year and was awarded First Team All-League. Dakota has coached for many Kidsports teams, from boys to girls ranging in ages from 3-14. She has also coached U10 girls for the Eugene Timbers Futbol Academy. In addition to coaching for Pelada FA, Dakota is an assistant coach for the Pleasant Hill High School girls varsity team and attends Lane Community College. At Lane Community College she plays for the women’s soccer program and is majoring in Exercise and Movement Science.
Contact: coach.dakota@peladafa.org

Muvua Alexander Matu (Alex)
USSF D-License Candidate
Originally from Nairobi, Kenya.
Alex grew up in Kenya, a country crazy about football (soccer). Watching professional football games on TV and learning about the sport, its geography, and terminology was among his greatest treats. Alex started his football career in middle school, as part of the Mathare Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). His passion for football doubled in High School, where he made the school team. Football games’ were supplemented by friendly kick-arounds during lunch and snack breaks, as well as long hours of watching and imitating videos of football stars like Ronaldinho and Zidane. Upon graduating from high school five years ago, Alex moved to Eugene, OR, where he met Joey at a local pelada (pick-up game) and a year later started coaching for the Academy.
Contact: coach.alex@peladafa.org
Sean Dorman
USSF D-License
Originally from New Hampshire.
Sean has been playing soccer his entire life. He played at Nazareth College of Rochester New York (2008-2012). He was a four year starter – two time First Team Conference selection – and two time All Conference Tournament Team. He graduated with his Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and just recently moved to Eugene. Sean has been coaching at the club and recreational level since graduation and he is looking forward to getting to know the Eugene soccer community through Pelada Soccer Academy.
Contact: coach.sean@peladafa.org
Mark Nash
USSF E License
Jason Atkerson
USSF E License
Devin Hughes
USSF Grassroots Certified
Wells O'Byrne
USSF Grassroots Candidate