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Coaching Staff

Director of Coaching Bio

Name:
 Luis Aguilar-Lopez, aguilarlopez.luis@gmail.com
Team coach:
 2013 Boys, 2012 Boys, 2011 Boys, 2009/08 Boys, 2012 Girls, 2009/08/07 Girls, 2005 Girls
Experience:
 USYS National Youth License (2015)
USSF National C License (2016)
USSF National D License (2014)
USSF National E License (2012)
Goalkeeping License (2013)
 
About:

Luis began coaching travel soccer in August 2012, since that time has coached approximately thirty travel teams for Alliance SC and taught clinics and classes for multiple years. He has been coaching multiple youth soccer, youth t-ball, softball teams, and travel baseball teams each year for more than two decades. Luis has played soccer all of his life, first learning and playing as a child and a youth in Mexico. He continues to play recreationally and is also a referee. Luis brings with him the experience of learning to play and developing skills in a soccer-focused nation.

 

Luis is a local Oak Park parent of four soccer loving and athletic children who currently attend Whittier, Brooks, OPRF High School, and University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Luis came to the United States from Mexico approximately 28 years ago.
Favorite team/player:
 Luis watches a lot of soccer, too much to list. His favorite player list is long but Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer top the list of favorites.
Favorite Quote:
 "Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple." - Johan Cruyff

Coaching Bios

Name:
 Brandon Bell
Team coach:
 2010 Boys and 2007 Boys
Experience:
USSF National Grassroots License (fka USSF National E License)
Spring 2018 – Assistant Coach, Alliance U11 Boys
Fall/Winter/Spring 2018-19 – Coach, Alliance U12 Boys
Oak Park AYSO Coach for 6 seasons.
River Forest Park District Basketball Coach for 4 seasons.
Oak Park Youth Baseball Assistant Coach for 4 seasons.
Played varsity soccer in high school and college
About:
When not coaching, I’m a lawyer at Grady Bell LLP in Chicago.  My wife (Liz) and I have two kids and live in Oak Park: Violet and Spencer. My competitive streak was forged growing up in a sports-crazed family of 10.
I’m an avid league bowler.
Favorite team/player:
Fulham F.C., Chicago Fire, Chicago Sting
 
Pelé, Karl-Heinz Granitza, Tim Ream, Tom Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon
Favorite Quote:
 “Hey!  Ho!  Let’s Go!” – The Ramones
Name:
 Thomas Howe
Team coach:
 2011, 2012: Girls
Experience:
USSF National D License (2019)
USSF National Grassroots License  
About:
I started recreational coaching with my oldest son in 2014 for basketball, baseball and soccer. It quickly became an obsession and a realization of a calling and a passion.  Thus, I began pursuing coaching travel soccer with Alliance to draw upon my past experiences in teaching kids to provide platforms for youth aspirations and realizations of their fullest potential.   My coaching philosophy is centered on creating the right environment for players to learn team strategies and technical skills while playing the game, and maximizing the players competitive play. 
Favorite team/player:
USA Women's/Rapinoe
Favorite Quote:
 "Be like water" - Bruce Lee
Name:
 Dan McNulty
Team coach:
 2010 Boys and 2007 Boys
Experience:

USSF National Grassroots License (fka USSF National E License)

Fall/Winter/Spring 2018-19 – Coach, Alliance U12 Boys

Oak Park AYSO Coach for 6 seasons.

OPYBS Assistant Baseball Coach for 6 seasons.

Played varsity baseball & football (American) high school.
About:

When not coaching, I run an ocular diagnostics business outside of Chicago.

My wife Jen is both an artist and team parent, we have two kids: Greta and August. We live in Oak Park.

I grew up fast, the youngest of four kids; early on learning the value of trying hard even if you were outmatched. Eventually, you catch up.
Favorite team/player:
 Fulham F.C., Chicago Cubs; Kylian Mbape, Adam Weiner
Favorite Quote:
 “Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.” -RFK
Name:
 Mark Shepherd
Team coach:
 2010 Girls and 2005 Boys
Experience:

USSF National E License

I played soccer from the age of eight into my twenties. I was a player/coach for a competitive team in my early twenties.

Soccer made its first impact on me when I watched my home country (New Zealand) compete in the 1982 world cup, where they were beat 4-0 by Brazil, 3-0 by Russia and 5-2 by Scotland. Watching New Zealand play was a thrill for me regardless of the outcome.
About:

My love for soccer brought me to the US for the 1994 soccer world cup where not only did I watch the final at the Rose Bowl, but touched the world cup itself. More importantly I met my future wife on that trip. My passion for the game has been ignited again with my twin boys starting to really enjoy the game. I have three kids, Will, Cole and Avery, and live in Oak Park.
Favorite team/player:
 Grew up watching the great Liverpool teams of the eighties. Players: John Barnes, and former Liverpool player Luis Suarez.
Favorite Quote:
  
Name:
 Chris Smith
Team coach:
 2013 Girls
Experience:
  • USSF National E License, 2015
  • AYSO Intermediate Coach Certificate, 2013
  • Coached seven travel teams, including:
    • 2013-2014 - Assistant coach, Alliance U-13/14 Girls
    • 2014-2015 - Assistant coach, Alliance U-14 Girls
    • 2015 - Assistant Coach, Alliance High School Girls
    • 2015 - Coach, Alliance U-14 Girls
    • 2015-2016 - Coach, Alliance U-12 Girls
    • 2016-2017 - Coach, Alliance U-14 Girls
    • 2017-2018  - Coach, Alliance U-15 Girls and U11 Girls
  • 2008-2016 AYSO coach, U-10 through U-19
  • Oak Park AYSO Board Member (2012-2016)
About:

 
Favorite team/player:
  
Favorite Quote:
  

Contact

OPRF Alliance  
oprfalliancesc@gmail.com