A long-time member of the Positive Coaching Alliance (Stanford University), Eddie Russ started Soccer Shots in Central Texas in 2007 with the goal of using the game of soccer to teach children lifelong lessons, including positive attitude, enthusiasm, listening skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and creativity. Eddie grew up in Chicago where he was an all-league soccer and basketball player in high school. He went on to graduate from the University of Illinois with a degree in psychology. Eddie has extensive teaching and coaching experience as a varsity soccer coach for eight years and a high school basketball coach for thirteen years. He also taught high school English for twelve years, and was the former Director of Athletics at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX and at the Drew School in San Francisco, CA. He lives in Central Austin with his wife and two children.

With kids of his own, Coach Justin understands the benefits of youth sports. Currently finding fitness through Camp Gladiator and basketball, he can't wait to coach with the Soccer Shots. His joy in coaching comes from teaching the children something new and making a positive impact in kids' lives. Fun Fact: Coach Justin has been privileged to live by both the mountains and the beach, but definitely likes the beach more!

Arianne has over 20 years of soccer experience! Hailing from the DFW area, she started playing select for FC Dallas Youth, then IM while in college, and in Paris, France for the SciencesPo women's team. Her favorite position is forward because she loves the challenge of scoring goals. She received her degree in International Relations and French from UT and fell in love with the city as a Longhorn. She started coaching kids while in high school through tennis clinics and as a volunteer rec soccer coach. Arianne also served as a camp counselor, childcare supervisor, and AmeriCorps literacy instructor for AISD. Her favorite part about working with children is their unfailing ability to find fun and joy in the smallest things. Arianne loves the vibrancy and culture of Austin. In addition to playing soccer, you can find her playing tennis, paddle boarding, reading, and volunteering. Fun Facts: Coach Arianne checked off an item on her bucket list by attending a European soccer match for PSG and seeing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action! And her best friend is her pup, Eleanor Rigby.

Coach Richard grew up in San Antonio and has been playing soccer for 21 years! He started with YMCA rec leagues and moved up through the club and high school level. Coach Richard holds a childcare license, is fluent in Spanish, and enjoys all the fun that comes with coaching kids.

Coach Eliana grew up in San Antonio, TX and began playing soccer in kindergarten all the way until her freshman year of high school. She loved the sport so much and is excited for her opportunity with Soccer Shots to teach the game she grew up playing! In her spare time, she loves to play recreationally with her friends as well as stay active through running and swimming. She loves to work with children and how infectious their energy is! Fun Fact: Coach Eliana has been playing piano for 15 years!

Coach Alyssa started playing soccer at just 4 years old in her hometown of Kingsville, Texas. Altogether, she has more than 12 years of soccer experience! While she doesn't get on the soccer field anymore, she is now a rugby player for her university team and also includes basketball as one of her hobbies. Coach Alyssa loves working and coaching young athletes: she is a former youth swim instructor and middle school basketball coaching assistant. She strives to challenge herself to make any sport she teaches as fun as possible for the kids! Fun Fact: Coach Alyssa has traveled to 20 different states!

Coach Sam joins our team from Midland, Texas. He started playing soccer at a young age, and continued all the way through middle school. Coach Sam's favorite positions to play were striker and goalie, and now he likes to stay active with running and playing pickup sports. Fun Facts: Coach Sam plays the guitar and loves to travel.

Coach Kimmie is from San Antonio, Texas! She played soccer for a short stint while she was growing up before pursuing dance all the way through high school. Coach Kimme has worked for Soccer Shots in the past, and we’re excited to have her rejoin the team! She has experience working with kids through her previous time with Soccer Shots and through being a summer camp counselor! Coach Kimmie hopes to gain more experience in teaching young kids and helping them creating memories. Fun Facts: Coach Kimmie has 4 big dogs and is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education!

Coach Mya is a native Texan born and raised in Houston, Texas, but new to Austin. She loves the outdoors and being active in her free time— you can probably find her doing gymnastics, running, or playing soccer with her friends at Pease Park. Coach Mya is so excited to join the team and positively impact the Austin youth soccer community. She is currently working on her Spanish speaking skills and hopes to be more fluent by the end of the year. As a Soccer Shots coach, she hopes to impart a fun and engaging experience for every child she works with and to improve on her soccer skills! Fun Facts: Coach Mya has two cats that she loves very dearly and is the second oldest of six kids! She is very family-orientated and loves spending as much time with them as she can.

Coach Ayden is excited to share his passion for soccer with young athletes! With a strong soccer background, including varsity high school play and years of club experience, he brings valuable skills to the field. Coach Ayden has also honed his coaching abilities while leading a friend's team. He believes in creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for kids and looks forward to growing as a coach with Soccer Shots. Fun fact: Coach Ayden loves exploring San Antonio's diverse food scene and park options!

Coach Braulio brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and experience to Soccer Island! Through travel, high school, and even some college soccer, he has been able to fully hone his own skills and is now looking to share that knowledge! He says his favorite part of working with children is seeing the smiles on their faces when they learn something new! Coach Braulio has a few years of experience coaching club soccer and tutoring, and he loves to play small goal soccer and workout in his free time. Fun Facts: Coach Braulio is a self-taught guitarist and pianist, and Computer Science/Math double major!

Coach Bri has played soccer at a high level, competing in the ECNL and varsity soccer at Atascocita High School. Coach Bri's experience playing forward at Blinn College has further honed her skills and knowledge of the game. Beyond her playing experience, Coach Bri has a passion for sharing her love of soccer with young players. She has two years of coaching experience and enjoys the opportunity to inspire and develop the next generation of soccer stars. Coach Bri is eager to gain confidence and experience in this coaching role and believes that she can make a positive impact on the lives of her players. With her strong playing background, enthusiasm for the sport, and dedication to coaching, Coach Bri is a valuable addition to the Soccer Shots team. Fun Fact: Coach Bri's favorite soccer player is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Coach David fell in love with soccer when he started playing in high school. His love for the game turned into a love for coaching. He has now been a soccer coach for 24 years, for teams such as CYO, YMCA, Dragons Soccer Club, ACYSO and Alamo Soccer club. Coach David is one of Soccer Shots' veteran coaches and is a member of NSCAA. Fun Fact: Coach David holds a USSF E Certificate, and a Goal Keeper level 1 and level 2 certificate from STYSA.

Coach Eddy is originally from Laredo, but moved to San Antonio for school and is enjoying the activities that can be done in the city. He played three years of soccer from ages 11 to 13, mostly as a midfielder. He spent the majority of high school not only as an athlete, but also as a coach for the middle school track teams along with teaching kids how to ice skate a few months out of the year. He still plays soccer occasionally on his free days but recently has gotten more into hockey which he plays three nights a week! He is looking forward to working with soccer shots to be able to hone in on his coaching skills for his future career. Fun Facts: Coach Eddy has been playing sports since the age of three and received a bunch of college offers for track after high school!

Coach Emily is a passionate soccer coach with a lifelong love for the game. She has experience working with children and is eager to apply her skills to the coaching role at Soccer Shots. Coach Emily has a strong understanding of the game, having played competitively throughout her youth. She is passionate about teaching young players the fundamentals of soccer and helping them develop their skills. Coach Emily is also a fan of studying bones and collecting sports memorabilia. Fun Fact: Coach Emily's favorite soccer team is the US Women's National Team.

Coach Frank, a seasoned soccer player with over 20 years of experience, brings a wealth of knowledge to the Soccer Shots field. Having played at both the club and high school levels, he understands the game inside and out. With a passion for working with young athletes, Coach Frank has dedicated over 15 years to coaching soccer, cross country, and track. His enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and he's excited to share his love of soccer with the next generation of players. Fun fact: Coach Frank is a skilled photographer and a self-proclaimed gum enthusiast!

*Photo coming soon!* Coach Gabriel is a native San Antonian who grew up playing soccer as a goalie, defender, and striker! He played for about 10 years and now focuses more on basketball coaching (and, of course, coaching with Soccer Shots). Coach Gabriel has experience working with a wide range of children, from 2 to 14 years old, and says that his favorite part about coaching is seeing one of his athletes finally perform a skill after all the hard work they put in.  Fun Fact: Like any native San Antonian basketball player, Coach Gabriel is a SPURS FAN!

Coach Giana is a San Antonio native and loves the city’s culture and how much there is to do. She has played soccer on and off her whole life including a couple years for her high school’s JV team. While new to coaching, Coach Giana has experience working with kids through babysitting for a couple years. She loves the imagination and energy that children have that make them so fun to work with! When not playing soccer, you can find Coach Giana captaining her IM volleyball team or playing basketball.

Fun Facts: Coach Giana played every sport in middle school and has been to 4 different countries!

Coach Crow is from Dallas, but she loves all of the culture and activities that San Antonio has to offer. She played soccer recreationally growing up, and now loves to play with her daughter and her friends! She has experience working with kids through summer camps and teaching at a day care, and her favorite part of working with them is their excited willingness to learn new things! Fun Fact: Coach Crow loves to read, and has 2 kids and 3 dogs!

Coach Haley is here to ignite a love for soccer in your little ones! While she boasts a well-rounded playing background, from goalie to offense, Coach Haley's true passion lies in coaching. With a year of experience under her belt, she finds immense joy in witnessing young athletes develop new skills and gain confidence on the field. She thrives on creating a positive and inspiring environment where kids can learn, laugh, and grow. 

Fun Fact: Coach Haley loves to unwind with a good book after practice. Maybe she'll share some inspiring stories of perseverance with all of her players!

Coach Jasmine is a passionate soccer enthusiast with a strong background in working with children. She has been involved with soccer since the age of four, playing for various clubs and teams throughout her youth. Coach Jasmine's experience playing defense and midfield has given her a solid understanding of the game. Beyond her soccer experience, Coach Jasmine has a wealth of experience working with children. She has worked as a daycare teacher, caring for children of all ages. Coach Jasmine's enthusiasm for working with children is evident, and she enjoys the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives. She is eager to apply her skills and experience to the coaching role at Soccer Shots. With her passion for soccer, her experience working with children, and her positive attitude, Coach Jasmine is a valuable addition to the Soccer Shots team. Fun Fact: Coach Jasmine's favorite soccer player is Alex Morgan.

Coach Jazz is originally from San Marcos, and from coaching, to babysitting, to summer camps, she brings a wealth of experience working with children to Soccer Island. Coach Jazz loves being a cheerleader for young children and wants to show them that they can be respected, valued, and loved even if they’re just kids! She is an outdoorsy type and an avid crafter, and she enjoys playing with her child and their friends in her free time.

Fun Facts: Coach Jazz loves iced matcha and the San Antonio Spurs!

Coach Jenna are up in San Antonio and loves the city’s welcoming atmosphere and pretty environment. As a lifelong soccer player, she started playing at the age of three and progressed from rec leagues to club to high school JV! While new to coaching, she spent time as a student teacher for kindergarteners and first-graders, and her favorite part about working with kids is their creativity and how they can make anything fun and exciting. Coach Jenna hopes to see her Soccer Shots players gain a love for the game and help them have fun while learning!

Fun Facts: Coach Jenna loves to be outdoors and hike, and she is an education major at Texas State!

Coach Josh is a huge force of fun and super passionate about making a positive impact. Originally from the RGV, he came to San Antonio at a young age and has been playing soccer for several years. An avid fitness guru, he worked as a personal trainer and cites soccer as helping him piece together his health and fitness journey. He continues to stay active by cycling about 100 miles a week and playing pick-up with his kid and some friends. Coach Josh previously power-lifted, taught injury preventative workouts through local school districts facilitated both group and 1-on-1 student athlete training. With 10 years of coaching to his name, Coach Josh's favorite part about working with young athletes is passing on his knowledge and experience. Fun Facts: Coach Josh's parents met in a musical and he can do side splits!

Coach Katelynn is a native of Burnet, TX but is currently living in San Antonio for school! She has around 10 years of experience playing soccer and played primarily as a defender. Coach Katelynn has been a coach with Kinetic Kids for 3 seasons, and is now bringing her talents to Soccer Shots! She enjoys being able to encourage new players and share her love for the sport with them. Coach Katelynn hopes to learn some new drills and tactics to created the most fun environment possible for the kids that she coaches! Fun Facts: Coach Katelynn is hoping to become a physical therapist and LOVES pizza!

Coach Luis brings a passion for soccer and a love of working with children to Soccer Shots! Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Luis played for various clubs throughout his youth career, most recently competing in a SoccerZone league. Now, when he's not coaching, Luis enjoys ultimate frisbee and basketball. For the past five years, Luis has volunteered with his church's youth department. He thrives on interacting with kids and sharing his passions. Luis is excited to gain more coaching experience and become more involved in the San Antonio community, a place he appreciates for its welcoming atmosphere. Fun Fact: At his very first soccer game at the age of 5, Luis scored an impressive 5 goals!

Coach Nat is a San Antonio native, and she loves the food and the people that can be found in her hometown! She played club soccer for 2 and a half years, and then played all four years at her high school as a left winger/midfielder. She currently plays intramural soccer at UTSA and is also participating in an outside league. Coach Nat’s favorite part about working with kids is having fun with them and laughing! She hopes that coaching will help her learn how to be a leader and a good mentor. Fun Facts: Coach Nat likes to travel, and her favorite color is yellow!

Coach Nate brings a wealth of soccer knowledge to the Soccer Shots field. With over two decades of playing experience, including time as a midfielder and goalkeeper for SA United and Madison High School, he's a true soccer enthusiast. Coach Nate has also honed his coaching skills at the Christian School of Castle Hills, where he discovered his passion for inspiring young minds. He’s eager to share his love of the game and create a fun learning environment. Fun fact: Coach Nate has 9-month-old twins of his own, and he lived in the UK for 3 years!

Coach Nick is a San Antonio native and he loves how the community brings everyone together as a culture. He played soccer through the YMCA before moving on to the middle school and high school levels for a total of 16 years of experience! He assisted in coaching at the YMCA for a year, and his favorite part of coaching was watching the kids enjoy themselves! When not coaching or playing soccer, you can find Coach Nick hitting the lanes and working on his professional bowling gig! 

Fun Facts: Coach Nick plays guitar in 2 bands and is studying to become a high school biology teacher!

Coach Pablo was born and raised in Mexico City, but loves living in San Antonio because of how affordable it is. He has been playing soccer since he was 8 years old, and he has played just about everywhere, including at the collegiate level! He has 4 years of experience coaching soccer and loves seeing and helping his players develop on the field. Fun Facts: Coach Pablo is a huge fan of cinema, and he loves music and teaching!

Coach Rebecca started playing soccer in Boerne, TX at the age of 4 and continues to play still to this day! She played for Champion and Boerne High School as a defender and midfielder. Rebecca has been coaching children personal lessons for over one year and is so excited to be a part of the Soccer Shots team! Her favorite part of coaching the younger generation is seeing how silly their personalities are and their progression throughout each season. Fun Fact: Coach Rebecca likes learning how to play musical instruments! Be sure to ask her what she is learning at your next session.

Coach Salmon brings a fresh perspective and a love for children to the Soccer Shots team. While her soccer experience spans over 20 years, including time playing in college, her true passion lies in working with young minds. Her previous experience caring for newborns and babysitting has equipped her with patience, empathy, and a genuine connection with children. Coach Salmon is eager to learn and grow in her coaching abilities while creating a fun and supportive environment for young soccer players. Fun fact: This plant enthusiast is currently pursuing a STEM degree and shares her home with a lively pack of dogs!

Coach Victoria is from California, but she moved to San Antonio when she was little. Since then, she’s held several different coaching positions, including one with IDEA public school where she coached middle school basketball and assisted with the high schoolers. At Soccer Shots, Coach V hopes to gain more coaching experience and expand her communication skills to pursue coaching in the future. Fun Facts: Coach V can play music with her face and her favorite restaurant is Chick-fil-a!

Coach Vivi brings a dynamic energy and a passion for sports to the Soccer Shots field. With a strong background in soccer and experience coaching other sports, she's excited to share her love of the game with young athletes. Hailing from the Rio Grande Valley, Coach Vivi enjoys the vibrant atmosphere of San Antonio. Her previous work as a preschool teacher assistant has equipped her with valuable skills in child development and care, making her a natural fit for Soccer Shots. Fun fact: Coach Vivi is a big fan of anime and loves playing pool!

Coach Winter is originally from Vancouver, but loves the southern hospitality and unbeatable sunsets that San Antonio has to offer. While new to coaching she has been babysitting since she was 12 years old and now spends a lot of time hanging out with her friends’ kids. Her favorite part of working with kids is having freedom to be silly with them and being able to instill positive life lessons and experiences! Fun facts: Coach Winter is one of nine children and enjoys having a blend of hobbies, including art, baking, and hiking!

Coach Zachary is native to San Antonio, but comes to us from Soccer Shots Denver!! He has played soccer growing up and still plays in club leagues as a forward and midfielder. He has coached kids aged 2-8 for about 3 years now and was a 3rd grade substitute teacher. Coach Zachary can also speak some Spanish. Fun Fact: Coach Zachary been to Africa for 3 times and loves science!