Coaches
The DCYFC coaches are not just coaches. They are role models. The bios described below demonstrate their commitment way beyond soccer. Many have pursued academics and higher education beyond the college bachelors degree, work two and three jobs and pursue careers dedicated to life beyond soccer. So why is this important. Because soccer is a means to an end. It teaches discipline, routine, camraderie, teamwork and passion to pursue an ambition. These soccer coaches instill motivation and pursuit of something beyond soccer.
Mitch Dubensky is the President of the DCYFC and is also the Founder and President of First Touch Soccer. He moved to DC in 1984 and has lived in American University Park since 1990. He holds a USSF National "Youth" coaching license, a USSF National "C" coaching license and holds a USSF Referee certification. He played collegiate soccer, played in post-university adult leagues and played in various countries around the world. His work ethic is simple -- if you work hard good things can happen. Having acquired the academic credentials to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling 25-year livelihood in the government and corporate world, he decided it was a time for a new ambition, a revitalized purpose and a renewed commitment to give back. He came to the conclusion that among many passions is to teach children soccer skills, leadership skills, promote physical education, a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition. The game demands physical and mental exertion, forces one to think and provides ultimate satisfaction in teamwork and accomplishing goals. It provided him with a routine during school, a competitive outlet that eventually translated to a neccessary life and business skill, motivated him to puruse his academics, created a desire for achievement and willingness to sacrifice for teammates and friends. He strongly believes it helped with his career goals and achieving his ambitions.
Jesus Martinez graduated Archbishop Carroll High School in 2009. After HS, Jesus attended Regis College from 2009-2012 majoring in biology and physical therapy. He is now attending the University of the District of Columbia studying physical therapy/nutrition while working at a health care consulting firm. His soccer highlights include a four-year varsity career at Archbishop Carroll, the Real Maryland Youth Academy from U10-15 and the Olympic Development Program. Jesus was the former head coach for DC Scores at the Sacred Heart School from Fall 2012-2013.
Parry Carter began academy coaching for the New River United Soccer Association in 2006. A native of Richmond, VA, Carter captained the Atlee Raider’s varsity team to three consecutive capital district titles from 2004 to 2006, earning all-district honors each year. He has extensive club and olympic development experience, playing in tournaments in Spain and Italy and college showcases throughout the southeastern United States. Parry holds a national “E” coaching license and advocates for both technical and tactical training for youth players. He works on state fiscal and economic issues for a think-tank in Washington, DC.
Jeff White was born in Guatemala and arrived to America at age 9. After graduating from Wilson High School in 2008, Jeff went on to get an Associates Degree. He works full-time at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Adams Morgan. He is great with the kids, calm and cool under pressure, and the kids gravitate to him because of his laid back style.
Kristen Horning has played soccer for fifteen years starting at the age of five in AYSO and through High School. She played seven years for her travel soccer club team -- Hotspurs USA based in San Diego, California with her identical twin sister. In her High School senior year, Kristen was voted Player of the Year and inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions. Her coaching career includes two years of coaching five to 11 year olds at an elementary school in San Diego. She is currently working as a paid intern at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, is entering her second year as a Master’s student in Public History at American University and is interested in curatorship and collections management.
Adam Correia has 18 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. As Director of Coaching for Radnor Soccer Club in Pennsylvania (2013-2017), he oversaw all aspects of player development in the club's travel program, including development of club curriculum, coach education, and player feedback. He has worked with boys and girls teams from U8-U16. As Assistant Coach with Haverford College Men's Soccer program in Pennsylvania (2014-2017), the team won back-to-back Centennial Conference championships and competed in the NCAS tournament, reaching the Elite 8 in 2015. Adam played club soccer in Massachusetts with Charles River United (1992 State Champions). He was a four-year starter with Haverford College where he earned a B.A. He also earned a M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International studies. As with most of our coaches, he has a "real job" working in international development. His favorite league is the Italian Serie A and his favorite team is Fiorentina.
Sarah Stroh grew up in Ohio, where she was a member of a number of soccer teams, as a coach and a player. From playing travel, club, a boys' team, varsity soccer in high school and then finally a college club team, she is familiar with and enjoys all levels of play. Sarah started coaching in high school, received her E-level Coaching License from Ohio Youth Soccer Association North, and has worked with ages ranging from 4 to 13. Sarah recently graduated from American University with a Bachelor's in International Relations and is now pursuing her graduate degree while working full-time. She spends her weekdays serving as an Americorps Volunteer at People.Animals.Love in Southeast D.C.
Odingas Anyabuike was born in America, grew up in Nigeria for many years and returned to America to live. He has been a coach at DC Scores, Jefferson Middle School, John Eaton Elementary School, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, University of the District of Columbia (UDC), First Touch Soccer, DCYFC, DC Way, and Derringdo Soccer Coaching (Founder). He currently holds a certified national/state USSF "D" License, and a NSCAA Level 3 Diploma. He graduated from UDC with a B.A. degree in Economics. He earned soccer honors at UDC for completing three years as the best central defender. He is a passionate, experienced, and professional soccer coach who seeks to educate, demonstrate, and inspire all athletes to become their greatest.
Ozcan "John" Inak started playing soccer on the streets and school grounds in Istanbul, Turkey at the age of 6. Mesmerized by the acrobatic saves of the neighborhood goalkeepers, he earned a spot as the goalkeeper for Umraniye Futbol Club, a Division 1 Semi-Pro Soccer Team in Istanbul. After his H.S. graduation, he learned life's ropes and traveling the world as a "merchant seaman." Since moving to the USA in 1981, he's played in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties and coaching U4-U16 neighborhood youth soccer club teams. As he nears his retirement as a HVAC/Mechanical Contracting Business, he plans to spend more time helping develop young players with DCYFC.
Matthijs Maruanaya - Matthijs grew up in the vicinity of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. At the ripe old age of twelve he was recruited to play for the youth academy of the professional soccer team AZ Alkmaar. He played for all age groups and made his way to the senior Reserve Team. He also played for the Dutch Under 19 National Team. In 2005 he was asked to play for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He was team captain in his junior and senior year. After college, Matthijs obtained a Master of Political Science degree in Barcelona, Spain. Matthijs now has a full-time professional position that only allows him to participate in our winter training sessions through First Touch Soccer.
Eric Gwadz, at sixteen years of age, is one of our youngest coaches. But in terms of soccer experience, he has been playing for ten years with the last five at the highest levels of youth soccer in the Washington DC area. His skills are exceptional, his game understanding terrific and his abiity to work with children excellent. In addition to his extensive youth soccer team commitments, he was a freshman starter on the Fall 2014 Wilson H.S. team. His soccer resume is second only to his academic achievements in A.P. and Honors classes.
Marcelus Jones attended high school at The Nora School in Silver Spring, Md and graduated in June 2017. He played for a U23 Bethesda Soccer Club team after a long and distinguished star with the Capital Football Club (CFC). As a striker, he was the second leading scorer in the Eastern Development League (EDP) in Spring 2015. He was the first player to train with First Touch Soccer back in 2006. He now works with DCYFC and First Touch Soccer and recently signed on to a small club in Barcelona, Spain.
Vince Tersegno played college soccer at St. Lawrence University. He played semi-pro and competed in several international soccer tournaments. As a FTS Board member, Vince loves to impart his humorous anecdotes and teaching skills. As a born striker, he can demonstrate the tricks of the trade in getting by defenders, anticipating runs and using deft touches to assist and score goals. Vince has a national "D", National Youth Soccer and Coerver licenses.
Mitch Dubensky is the President of the DCYFC and is also the Founder and President of First Touch Soccer. He moved to DC in 1984 and has lived in American University Park since 1990. He holds a USSF National "Youth" coaching license, a USSF National "C" coaching license and holds a USSF Referee certification. He played collegiate soccer, played in post-university adult leagues and played in various countries around the world. His work ethic is simple -- if you work hard good things can happen. Having acquired the academic credentials to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling 25-year livelihood in the government and corporate world, he decided it was a time for a new ambition, a revitalized purpose and a renewed commitment to give back. He came to the conclusion that among many passions is to teach children soccer skills, leadership skills, promote physical education, a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition. The game demands physical and mental exertion, forces one to think and provides ultimate satisfaction in teamwork and accomplishing goals. It provided him with a routine during school, a competitive outlet that eventually translated to a neccessary life and business skill, motivated him to puruse his academics, created a desire for achievement and willingness to sacrifice for teammates and friends. He strongly believes it helped with his career goals and achieving his ambitions.
Jesus Martinez graduated Archbishop Carroll High School in 2009. After HS, Jesus attended Regis College from 2009-2012 majoring in biology and physical therapy. He is now attending the University of the District of Columbia studying physical therapy/nutrition while working at a health care consulting firm. His soccer highlights include a four-year varsity career at Archbishop Carroll, the Real Maryland Youth Academy from U10-15 and the Olympic Development Program. Jesus was the former head coach for DC Scores at the Sacred Heart School from Fall 2012-2013.
Parry Carter began academy coaching for the New River United Soccer Association in 2006. A native of Richmond, VA, Carter captained the Atlee Raider’s varsity team to three consecutive capital district titles from 2004 to 2006, earning all-district honors each year. He has extensive club and olympic development experience, playing in tournaments in Spain and Italy and college showcases throughout the southeastern United States. Parry holds a national “E” coaching license and advocates for both technical and tactical training for youth players. He works on state fiscal and economic issues for a think-tank in Washington, DC.
Jeff White was born in Guatemala and arrived to America at age 9. After graduating from Wilson High School in 2008, Jeff went on to get an Associates Degree. He works full-time at the Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Adams Morgan. He is great with the kids, calm and cool under pressure, and the kids gravitate to him because of his laid back style.
Kristen Horning has played soccer for fifteen years starting at the age of five in AYSO and through High School. She played seven years for her travel soccer club team -- Hotspurs USA based in San Diego, California with her identical twin sister. In her High School senior year, Kristen was voted Player of the Year and inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions. Her coaching career includes two years of coaching five to 11 year olds at an elementary school in San Diego. She is currently working as a paid intern at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, is entering her second year as a Master’s student in Public History at American University and is interested in curatorship and collections management.
Adam Correia has 18 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. As Director of Coaching for Radnor Soccer Club in Pennsylvania (2013-2017), he oversaw all aspects of player development in the club's travel program, including development of club curriculum, coach education, and player feedback. He has worked with boys and girls teams from U8-U16. As Assistant Coach with Haverford College Men's Soccer program in Pennsylvania (2014-2017), the team won back-to-back Centennial Conference championships and competed in the NCAS tournament, reaching the Elite 8 in 2015. Adam played club soccer in Massachusetts with Charles River United (1992 State Champions). He was a four-year starter with Haverford College where he earned a B.A. He also earned a M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International studies. As with most of our coaches, he has a "real job" working in international development. His favorite league is the Italian Serie A and his favorite team is Fiorentina.
Sarah Stroh grew up in Ohio, where she was a member of a number of soccer teams, as a coach and a player. From playing travel, club, a boys' team, varsity soccer in high school and then finally a college club team, she is familiar with and enjoys all levels of play. Sarah started coaching in high school, received her E-level Coaching License from Ohio Youth Soccer Association North, and has worked with ages ranging from 4 to 13. Sarah recently graduated from American University with a Bachelor's in International Relations and is now pursuing her graduate degree while working full-time. She spends her weekdays serving as an Americorps Volunteer at People.Animals.Love in Southeast D.C.
Odingas Anyabuike was born in America, grew up in Nigeria for many years and returned to America to live. He has been a coach at DC Scores, Jefferson Middle School, John Eaton Elementary School, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, University of the District of Columbia (UDC), First Touch Soccer, DCYFC, DC Way, and Derringdo Soccer Coaching (Founder). He currently holds a certified national/state USSF "D" License, and a NSCAA Level 3 Diploma. He graduated from UDC with a B.A. degree in Economics. He earned soccer honors at UDC for completing three years as the best central defender. He is a passionate, experienced, and professional soccer coach who seeks to educate, demonstrate, and inspire all athletes to become their greatest.
Ozcan "John" Inak started playing soccer on the streets and school grounds in Istanbul, Turkey at the age of 6. Mesmerized by the acrobatic saves of the neighborhood goalkeepers, he earned a spot as the goalkeeper for Umraniye Futbol Club, a Division 1 Semi-Pro Soccer Team in Istanbul. After his H.S. graduation, he learned life's ropes and traveling the world as a "merchant seaman." Since moving to the USA in 1981, he's played in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties and coaching U4-U16 neighborhood youth soccer club teams. As he nears his retirement as a HVAC/Mechanical Contracting Business, he plans to spend more time helping develop young players with DCYFC.
Matthijs Maruanaya - Matthijs grew up in the vicinity of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. At the ripe old age of twelve he was recruited to play for the youth academy of the professional soccer team AZ Alkmaar. He played for all age groups and made his way to the senior Reserve Team. He also played for the Dutch Under 19 National Team. In 2005 he was asked to play for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. He was team captain in his junior and senior year. After college, Matthijs obtained a Master of Political Science degree in Barcelona, Spain. Matthijs now has a full-time professional position that only allows him to participate in our winter training sessions through First Touch Soccer.
Eric Gwadz, at sixteen years of age, is one of our youngest coaches. But in terms of soccer experience, he has been playing for ten years with the last five at the highest levels of youth soccer in the Washington DC area. His skills are exceptional, his game understanding terrific and his abiity to work with children excellent. In addition to his extensive youth soccer team commitments, he was a freshman starter on the Fall 2014 Wilson H.S. team. His soccer resume is second only to his academic achievements in A.P. and Honors classes.
Marcelus Jones attended high school at The Nora School in Silver Spring, Md and graduated in June 2017. He played for a U23 Bethesda Soccer Club team after a long and distinguished star with the Capital Football Club (CFC). As a striker, he was the second leading scorer in the Eastern Development League (EDP) in Spring 2015. He was the first player to train with First Touch Soccer back in 2006. He now works with DCYFC and First Touch Soccer and recently signed on to a small club in Barcelona, Spain.
Vince Tersegno played college soccer at St. Lawrence University. He played semi-pro and competed in several international soccer tournaments. As a FTS Board member, Vince loves to impart his humorous anecdotes and teaching skills. As a born striker, he can demonstrate the tricks of the trade in getting by defenders, anticipating runs and using deft touches to assist and score goals. Vince has a national "D", National Youth Soccer and Coerver licenses.