Our resume of curriculum directors reads like a Who’s Who of Soccer and Sports Performance.

SuperKick/TeamZone Directors

Executive Director - Brian Smith

Brian graduated from The Ohio State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree of Physical Therapy. As a licensed physical therapist, he has specialized in sports medicine and orthopedic injuries. In 1998, Brian became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  Brian served as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the The Columbus Crew from 2002-2005. Brian has co-authored 2 training manuals: Protecting the Athlete’s Knee: A Complete Guide to Knee Injury Prevention and Athletic Excellence, and The Fitness Secrets of Championship Golfers.

 

Senior Director of Soccer Programs - Tony Earp

Tony Earp directs SuperKick/TeamZone Columbus' Soccer Skills programs. Tony has a Masters in Education from The Ohio State University. Tony was a standout player both academically and athletically at The Ohio State University, earning multiple honors both on the field and in the classroom. Tony's achievements included 2nd Team All Big Ten in 2001 and 2002, serving as Captain in 2002. Tony was named Most Inspirational Player in 2001 and 2002, as well as achieving Scholar Athlete status in those same years. Tony was a member of the 2002 MLS Draft Pool. Tony is a very gifted trainer and educator and will make a major impact on the development of youth soccer players at SuperKick/TeamZone Columbus.

 

Director of Goalkeeper Development - Jon Busch

Jon Busch, Goalkeeper for Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, leads SuperKick Columbus' Goalkeeper Development programs. Prior to joining The Fire, Jon started 75 matches for The Crew, is their all-time shutout leader and helped lead the team to the 2002 U.S. Open Cup Championship. Jon has been a member of U.S. Men's Soccer National Team pool, earning one cap in a 3-0 shutout vs. Colombia in 2005. Jon was awarded the Crew's
MLS Humanitarian of the Year award in 2005. In addition, Jon has a USSF "B" License and
has been training goalkeepers of varied age groups and abilities in Central Ohio for the past several years. 

SuperKick Columbus' Goalkeeper Training Staff includes Taly Goode (former MLS-KC Wizards),Andy Brinkman Men's Soccer (OSU Assistant Coach), Amber Leonard (OSU & Local Club Coach), Kerny Thompson (former OSU GK), and Casey Latchem (current OSU GK).

DIRECTOR OF GOALKEEPING DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM Peter Mellor is our Director of Goalkeeping Development Curriculum. Mr. Mellor is currently the Assistant Head Coach for Real Salt Lake, a professional franchise in Major League Soccer. Previously he served as the National Goalkeeper Staff Coach and a Coordinator for the US National Soccer Teams. Mr. Mellor also served as an Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach for the U-17 Men’s National Soccer Team. Mr. Mellor has served as the Goalkeeper Coach and Assistant National Team Coach for numerous FIFA World Cup Games since 1993, including, most recently, the U-17 Men’s World Cup-Finland (2003). Mr. Mellor played soccer professionally in England’s Premier League for 18 years as a goalkeeper in more than 800 league and competitive games. He is one of only a few men who have played in every one of the 92 stadiums of the four flights of English Pro Soccer. He holds a U.S.S.F. “A” license, a CONCACAF Goalkeeping Diploma, an English Football Association Goalkeeping License and a UEFA Coaching Certificate. Mr. Mellor is the author of the New U.S. Soccer Federation National Goalkeeping License Curriculum.

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND STRENGTH CURRICULUM Pierre Barrieu is our Director of Sports Performance and Strength Curriculum. Mr. Barrieu has served as the U.S. Soccer Federation Men's National Teams and U.S. Olympic Team Strength and Conditioning Coach. He was responsible for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Strength and Conditioning programs for the World Cup in South Korea, FIFA Confederation Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the U-23 Men’s National Soccer Team and the U-20 Men’s National Soccer Team. Mr. Barrieu serves as the U.S.S.F. National School of Coaches Instructor for Strength and Conditioning. He has served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Virginia Men’s Soccer Team, the Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and the University of Virginia Football Team. Mr. Barrieu has conducted many professional seminars and visits with professional soccer clubs throughout Europe; has been published in numerous periodicals on strength and conditioning in Europe and the U.S.; and is the author of the Strength and Conditioning Curriculum for the U.S. Soccer Coaching School (National A, B, and C licenses). In 2003, Mr. Barrieu received the England Football Association Fitness Trainers Award in London. He holds the Soccer Instructor’s Certificate First and Second Degrees in France, as well as a teaching certificate in physical education from the University of Nancy.

DIRECTOR OF SOCCER SKILLS CURRICULUM John Ellinger is our Director of Soccer Skills Former U.S. Men's U-17 National Team Coach John Ellinger was named the first head coach in the history of Real Salt Lake on October 6,2004, bringing with him an impeccable reputation for grooming young talents into accomplished professionals after ushering such American soccer icons as Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Tim Howard. Ellinger, 53, joined RSL as a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Soccer National Coaching Staff. During his tenure with U.S. Soccer, he served at the helm of the Under-17 Men's National Team for seven years and added duties as U.S. Soccer's Director of Youth Development in 2001. Previously guiding the National 'B' Team and serving as Region I (East) Under-14 National Coordinator, he also brings experience as a former assistant coach of MLS' Columbus Crew in the League's inaugural season in 1996. A native of Laurel, Maryland, Ellinger is among the most successful coaches of the U.S Men's National Teams program history. He led his squad to a fourth place finish in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championships, boasting the best finish at an U-17 World Championshiop in the 21-year history of the U.S, program. The loss to Ghana in the consolation game ended a 15-month, 25-match unbeaten streak, the longest in the history of any U.S. Soccer Men's National Team program. Additionally, while molding the U.S. U-17s in the 1990s, his teams claimed the best mark of all U.S. programs with a .723 winning percentage and 30-8-9 record over that 10-year period. While alongside Head Coach Clive Charles, Ellinger helped guide the U.S. U-23s to a berth in the Olympic semifinals for the first time in U.S. Soccer history, as well as capture the Bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 1999. Ellinger began his coaching career as head coach at Montgomery College (MD) in 1979, leading his squad to a No. 5 ranking in 1980, before moving on to a nine-year stint at University of Maryland-Baltimore County from 1981 to 1990. He earned his bachelor's degree (1973) and master's degree (1974) in health and physical education from Frostburg State College in Maryland. He and his wife, Tami, have three children: daughters Leigh and Brooke, and son Matt

 

A special SuperKick Curriculum Advisory Board (CAB) oversees and recommends all SuperKick Soccer and Sports Performance Program curriculum.

This important oversight and review board serves two primary purposes; specifically,
to ensure:

   • Every SuperKick program meets rigorous quality standards and continues to employ
      cutting-edge soccer skills, goalkeeper and sports performance training techniques
      used throughout the world of competitive sports;

   • All SuperKick program curriculum is appropriate for the ages and skill levels for
     which they were written and developed.

The CAB is comprised of a cross-section of experienced and highly motivated and qualified
individuals, and presently includes:

Thomas Rongen

Head Soccer Coach, U020 National Mens 2005 - present
Head Coach for Club Deportive Chivas USA- MLS 2004-2005
Head Soccer Coach: U-20 National Men’s Soccer Team 2001 – 2004
Head Soccer Coach: Tampa Bay Mutiny – MLS – 1996
Head Soccer Coach: New England Revolution – MLS – 1997-1998
Head Soccer Coach: D. C. United – MLS – 1999-2001

Jay Hoffman

Head Soccer Coach – U-20 National Men’s Soccer Team 1995-1997
Assistant Soccer Coach – Women’s World Cup Team 1999
Head Soccer Coach – Boston Breakers – W.U.S.A – 2000-2002

John Rennie

Head Soccer Coach - Duke University
Duke University Div. 1 National Champions 1989

Trevor Adair

Head Soccer Coach – Clemson University
Clemson University Div. 1 National Champions 1984 and1987

John Bluem

Head Soccer Coach – The Ohio State University
Player - Tampa Bay Rowdies – 1975-1978

Kevin Payne

President and Chief Executive – D. C. United – MLS
Member of Board of Governors – MLS
Member of Marketing and Competition Committee – MLS
Member of Board of Directors – US Soccer Federation
Secretary of US Soccer Foundation
Member of Executive Committee – US Soccer Foundation

Francisco Marcos

Founder and Chairman – United Soccer Leagues (U.S.L.)
Member of the Executive Committee of US Soccer Foundation

Dave Richardson

Director of Youth Academies – F. A. Premier League, London, England

Farrukh Quraishi

President and General Manager Tampa Bay Mutiny, MLS – 1995-1996
Venue Executive Director, World Cup USA – 1994
Player/Director of Youth Development,Tampa Bay Rowdies
1975-1980
Hermann Award Recipient N. C. A. A., College Player of the Year -1974