OUR COACHING STAFF
All Celtic competitive teams are coached by USSF and NSCAA licensed coaches who often have collegiate and, in some cases, professional playing experience. As coaches, they’ve led players at all levels, and as players, they’ve been Celtic players themselves, high school varsity state champs, college scholarship earners, and professional players!
Andy McDermott
Executive Director
- USSF National 'A' License
- United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Certificate
- United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Coach Certificate
- EXOS Sports Performance Coach Mentorship, Level One
- NASM-CPT, Subject Matter Expert in Physical Conditioning
- TRX Suspension Trainer Instructor Certification
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Chicago Pegasus
- Chicago Sockers
- Fremd High School
- Northwestern University
- Chicago Stingers
- Sportclub Freiburg – Germany
- Indiana Blast – USISL A-League
- Charlotte Eagles – USISL A-League
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Intentional Sports (Chicago, IL) – President and Founder
- COPA Soccer Training Center (Walnut Creek, CA) – Creator and Director of Culture
- USL East Bay (Concord, CA) – Sporting Director, Academy Director of professional club in development
- Solano United / Solano Surf Soccer Club (Fairfield, CA) – Director of Coaching
- Los Angeles United Futbol Academy (Los Angeles, CA) – Head Coach, U17 DA Team
- Tudela Futbol Club (Hollywood, CA) – Staff Coach
- GYSA (Gilbert, AZ) – Staff Coach
- Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club (Charlotte, NC) – Camps, Clinics
- Broad Ripple High School (Indianapolis, IN) – Head Coach, Boy’s Varsity
- Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) – Assistant Coach, Men’s Soccer
- Chicago Sockers (Arlington Heights, IL) – Staff Coach
Gordy Poluyanskis
Girls Technical Director/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'B' License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach FCX
- Director of Coaching Rockford Raptors
- Head Coach Rockford Dactyls W-League
- Staff Coach Rockford Raptors & Dactyls
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Rockford East HS
- Triton College
- Rockford Raptors PDL
Anja Jacobsen
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots 11v11 License
- Professional Educator License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Little Strikers Head Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- St. Norbert College
- Palatine High School
- Palatine Celtic SC
Ben Borst
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach Jr. Celtic
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Fremd High School
- Former Celtic Player
Conner Nowicki
Staff Coach
- UEFA 'B' License
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Valur Women's Academy
- Mount Prospect Park District
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Northland College
- Prospect High School
- American Soccer Club
Dan Riskind
Staff Coach
- USSF National 'B' License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- FC 1974 Staff Coach
- Loyal Academy Boys' Varsity Head Coach
- Carmel Catholic HS Girls' Asst Varsity Coach
- Carmel Catholic JV Head Coach
- Willowbrook HS Boys' Varsity Head Coach
- Larkin HS Girls' JV2 Head Coach
- Palatine Celtic Recreational Coach
- Glen Ellyn Lakers FC Staff Coach
- Barrington Middle School, Station Campus Coach
- Barrington Middle School, Prairie Campus Assistant Coach
- Schwaben AC Staff Coach
- Buffalo Grove SC Recreational Coach
- St Viator Sophomore Head Coach
Dave Kahl
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach Palatine Celtic
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- FC SKA - PSL Division A
- Iowa State University
- Prairie Ridge HS - State Champion 1999
- Crystal Lake Chargers FC
Estefan Linares
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Celtic and Soccer Shots Coach
- CD Alianza Morada Staff Coach
- P2 Soccer Training
- Paris Saint-Germain Chicago Academy
- Paris Saint-Germain Nationwide USA Academy
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- CD Alianza Morada (AKA Alianza Bryan CF) - Captain
- Talara Chicago (Semi-Pro)
- Notre Dame Intramurals (Champion)
- Stevenson HS (JV Captain)
Hannah Booton
Director of Celtic Jr Academy/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
- BA in Sports Management
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Trevian SC Staff Coach
- Trevian SC Assistant Director (LTA & U7/U8 Program)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Trinity International University (NCCAA 1st Team All Region, Offensive MVP, Newcomer of the Year)
- Provo High School
Jacob Koutas
Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach Jr Celtic
- Assistant Coach U23 FC Select
- Player Coach FC Select
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 2016 All-Conference, All-Sectional Mention at Rolling Meadows HS
- Club Soccer at Iowa State University - 2019 Regional Champion
- FC Select - Croatia Professional Soccer Tour
- FC Select - 2021 National Soccer League of Chicagoland 7v7 Major Division Champions
James Serio
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Palatine Celtic Assistant Staff Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Harper College
- Palatine Celtic SC (U19 Boys State Champion team)
- HS Varsity Starter
John Miller
Director of Community Relations/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
- United Soccer Coaches National Diploma
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Palatine Celtic House Director of Coaching
- Palatine Celtic Soccer Club Staff Coach
- Green White Soccer Club Staff Coach
- Grove United Soccer Club Staff Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Palatine Celtic
- Fremd HS
- ISU
John Tomaino
Staff Coach
- NSCAA Advanced National License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Palatine Celtic SC
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Ohio State University
- US Youth National Team
- Fremd High School
- Chicago Sockers
- Palatine Celtic
Lee Merrick
Staff Coach
- USSF C License
- English Football Association
- Switzerland Football Association
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- FCX Staff Coach
- Spartans FC Staff Coach
- Sockers FC Staff Coach
- Ela SC Staff Coach
- Illinois ODP Coach
- Chicago Cobras, W-League, Head Coach
- St Charles HS Boys Assistant Coach
- St Charles SCDirector of Coaching
- St Charles SC Staff Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Chicago Vikings, Metro League
- Sion, Switzerland
- Manchester University
Matt Hamnett
Staff Coach
- English FA License
- USSF National Coaching License
- USSF D License
- PCA "Double Goal Coach" Certified
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach FCX
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Former player, Chicago Stingers and Halifax Town AFC (English D3)
- Former player, York City (English D2)
Nick Walan
Boys Technical Director/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'C' License
- La Liga LV 3
- USC Director of Coaching Diploma
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Executive Director Fox Valley Kickers SC
- Staff Coach FV Kickers SC
- Staff Coach Sockers FC
- Director of Youth Development Chicago Fire Juniors
- Staff Coach Chicago Fire Juniors
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- US Army Base Team
- Team Chicago
- Kickers SC
Paul Daly
Staff Coach
- English FA Prelim
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Coached teams in England and South Africa
- Asst. Varsity Coach at Oak Park River Forest High School
- Coach for Oak Park Alliance
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Played semi-pro in England
- Played for University in South Africa
Philip Suprise
"Next Level" Program Director/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
- NSCAA Premier Diploma
- U.S. Youth Futsal Level 4 & 3 Diplomas
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Croatian Eagles S.C. - Milwaukee, WI
- Connecticut F.C. - Hartford, CT
- Milwaukee School of Engineering - NCAA Div. III
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Quinnipiac University - NCAA Division I, Hamden, CT
- MLS Supplemental Draftee - D.C. United
- Charleston Battery - USL, Charleston, S.C.
- Milwaukee Wave - MASL, Milwaukee, WI
- U.S. Futsal National Team
Rafael Beretta
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Spartan FC Staff Coach
- GLSA Premier Libertyville Staff Coach
- Ela Soccer Club Staff Coach
- United Chicago Soccer Academy Staff Coach and Coach Director
- Chicago Incas Soccer Academy Coach Director
- ATL Youth Sports Staff Coach
- Mustangs FC Coach Assistant
- Amundsen High School Coach Assistant
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Maroons FC: Metropolitan League Mayor Division
- Grand FC Mustangs: USL Professional League
- Rebels FC: AISL Semi Professional League
- Schwaben FC: Metropolitan League Mayor Division
- Pena Sporting
- Sport Boys Association Professional Team
- Sport Boys Association Minor Division
- Sporting Cristal Minor Division
- Peru National Pre Selection U15
- Tito Drago Academy
Sara Sheridan
Staff Coach
- U.S. Soccer Grassroots (E License)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach Palatine Jr. Celtic
- Staff Coach Palatine Celtic
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- North Central College - Team Captian & Academic All-CCIW
- Rolling Meadows High School
- Palatine Celtic
Scott Robertson
Celtic Cup Director/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'C' License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Jr Celtic
- Palatine Celtic Recreation Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Scottish Regional Youth Select
- Scottish Pro Youth
Stephanie Eide
Staff Coach
- USSF National 'C' License
- Professional Educator License
- MA in Teaching of Spanish with Heritage Language Concentration
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Staff Coach Palatine High School (JV1, JV2, Freshmen)
- Staff Coach Fremd High School (JV2)
- Assistant Coach College of Lake County Women’s Soccer
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- College of Lake County - 2011 Conference Champions & Region Runner-Ups (All-Conference First Team, Conference Player of the Year, All-Region First Team)
- Bartlett High School
- Campton United
- Chicago Alliance
Steven Soltykiewicz
Goalkeeper Coach/Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
- United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Level I Diploma
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Assistant Palatine Celtic Goalkeeper Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Bradley University
- Fremd High School
- Palatine Celtic
Surina Potter
Staff Coach
- USSF National 'D' License
- Professional Educator License
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Chicago Rush Fox Valley
- Chicago Rush North
- Lil' Kickers
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- Trinity International University (Team Captain, NAIA Scholar-Athlete, NCCAA Scholar Athlete, CCAC All Academic Team)
- Fremd High School
- FCX
- Ela Soccer Club