ELITE COACHING STAFF ANNOUNCED

RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, March 4, 2016) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the Technical Staff and Elite coaching staff for the 2016-17 season.  Twelve elite teams will be coached by current or former Kickers professional players including captain and player/assistant coach Michael Callahan and six-time All-League defender William Yomby.

The Richmond Kickers Technical Staff is comprised of Michael Burke, U11-U12 Director, Ross MacKenzie, ADP and U9/U10 Director, Andy McIntosh, U13-U18 Girls Director and Mark Stollsteimer, U13-U18 Boys Director, under the continued guidance of Ihor Dotsenko, Technical Director and Leigh Cowlishaw, Director of Soccer.  The Kickers have also recently added former pro player Gerson Dos Santos as Futsal Director and Kickers pro goalkeeper Ryan Taylor and Naci Bilgeturk as Goalkeeping Coaches.

With a combined 80 years of experience, the Richmond Kickers Technical Staff guides the club through innovative and high quality youth development programming and excellence in coaching, while providing the highest level of customer service and building upon the club’s unassailable reputation for success on and off the field.

Among other duties, each member of the Technical Staff will act as a main point of contact for his respective age group.  In addition, the Technical Staff will serve as a technical liaison between coaches and the Technical Director, collaborate to ensure successful player placement and cultivate positive and proactive communication between parents, coaches and staff, while fulfilling the strategic direction of the club.

Detailed information about upcoming tryouts, Classic teams coaching staff, fees and programming will be announced shortly at www.richmondkickers.com.

Leigh Cowlishaw, Director of Soccer
An integral member of the Kickers franchise since the club’s inception in 1993, Cowlishaw has compiled an overall record 250-121-107 over 16 seasons as head coach of the Richmond Kickers professional team.  Under his guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 15 of the past 16 seasons, reaching the league title match six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) and claiming the USL crown twice (2006 and 2009).

Cowlishaw holds a USSF A License and provides technical direction and guidance for all levels of the Kickers organization.  Essential in establishing the Richmond Kickers youth club in 2000, he works closely with the technical staff to oversee nearly 8,000 youth soccer players in programs sponsored by the Kickers and partner clubs.

Ihor Dotsenko, Technical Director
Holding a USSF A License, a UEFA A License and a USSF National Youth Coaching License, Dotsenko has been involved with the Richmond Kickers organization at all levels, from youth to the professional ranks since 1998.  Acting as the club’s Technical Director since 2003, Dotsenko oversees the Kickers youth soccer programs, guiding the club’s innovative player development curriculum, while also coaching the Richmond United U18 Academy team.

Ross MacKenzie, ADP and U9/U10 Director
Continuing the strong tradition of hiring from within the organization, the Kickers selected former pro player Ross MacKenzie as the ADP Director in 2012.  Promoted to ADP and U9 Director, MacKenzie manages the day-to-day operations and technical aspects of the Kickers U9/U10 program while overseeing all levels of player development for future Kickers travel players ages 6-8 through the Advanced Development Program (ADP).  The native of Paisley, Scotland holds a USSF B License and a USSF National Youth Coaching License and also provides technical direction for the Kickers recreational programs, the All-Star Academy and coaching education.

Michael Burke, U11-U12 Director
As the U11-U12 Director, Burke acts as the main technical point of contact for all of the Kickers U11 and U12 Boys and Girls, Classic and Elite travel teams. Involved with the Kickers youth club since 2001, with a USSF B License, he currently coaches the Kickers U11 Boys Elite and the Kickers U12 Girls Elite teams.  Holding the franchise record with 61 assists, the perennial fan favorite amassed nearly 18,000 minutes in a Richmond Kickers pro uniform over 11 seasons and garnered Supporter’s Choice MVP honors on six consecutive occasions before retiring from professional soccer in 2012.

Andy McIntosh, U13-U18 Girls Director
Involved with the Kickers organization for over a decade, McIntosh joined the Technical Staff in 2004 as Classic Director, adding Director of Soccer Camps to his title in 2006.  While also overseeing the Kickers camp program, he manages all technical aspects of the Kickers U13-U18 Girls Classic and Elite teams.  A native of London, England, McIntosh received his BS in PE and Sports Science as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education in Physical Education from Loughborough University.  He also has a USSF A License and a NSCAA Technical Director License.

Mark Stollsteimer, U13-U18 Boys Director
Joining the Kickers full-time staff in June 2012 as an Assistant Technical Director, Stollsteimer oversees all technical aspects of the U13-U18 Boys Classic and Elite teams.  With 14 years of experience as a head coach at the NCAA Division II and III levels, Stollsteimer spent 12 years as head coach at Davis and Elkins College and two years at Millikin University.  Holding a NSCAA Premier License, he brings over 10 years of experience in leadership positions including President, Technical Director and Director of Coaching for three different soccer clubs in the U.S.

Gerson Dos Santos, Futsal Director
A native of São Paulo, Brazil and licensed Futsal coach, Dos Santos made 45 appearances at Virginia Commonwealth University, scoring 10 goals and 8 assists over three seasons before signing with the Richmond Kickers professional team in 2009.  Over four seasons with the Kickers, he made 85 appearances, recording 7 goals and 7 assists before retiring prior to the 2013 season.

Ryan Taylor, Goalkeeping Coach
Acting as Goalkeeping Coach for the Kickers Girls Elite teams, Taylor is in his fourth season with the Kickers pro team after splitting time with D.C. United goalkeeper Travis Worra for 17 appearances last season.  A native of Midlothian, VA and graduate of Radford University, he finished his collegiate career with the third-lowest goals against average in the Big South at 0.99 after playing every minute of every game his senior year, earning All-Academic Team, 2012 NSCAA All-South Regional Second Team and Big South All-Conference Team honors.

Naci Bilgeturk, Goalkeeping Coach
Holding a UEFA B License, Bilgeturk is the Goalkeeping Coach for the Boys Elite and Boys & Girls Classic teams.

Elite Coaching Staff 2016-17