FVU SENIORS U15-U19 COACHING STAFF
DAMION BLACKBURN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU B05 PREMIER
– HEAD COACH | FVU G2010 PREMIER
– HEAD COACH | FVU G2011 PREMIER
– HEAD COACH | FVU B2011 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF B License
– USSF National Youth License
– USSF Grassroots Instructor License (In Progress)
– USC Premier Diploma (Distinguished Pass)
– USC Director of Coaching Diploma
– USC Level 1, 2, & 3 GK Diplomas
– USC National Coaching Education Staff
– US Club Soccer – La Liga Methodology Level 3 Diploma
– Coerver Youth Level 1 Diploma
– Masters’s Degree in High-Performance Football (In Progress)
Coaching Experience:
– 25+ years of youth club/professional coaching experience
– Youth Grassroots
– Youth Competitive
– ECNL
– DA/GA
– MLS Academy
– Former Glacier HS Girls Head Coach
– Montana ODP/MDP Coaching Staff
– United States ODP National Team Staff
– 2011 Boys ODP National Team Assistant Coach
– Region IV ODP Staff
– 2008 + 2009 Assistant Coach
– 2010, 2011, 2012 Boys Head Coach
– Flathead Valley United Former Technical Director
– Flathead Rapids Director of Coaching
Playing Career:
– USSF Youth National Team Pool
– Ohio Galaxies FC
– University of Dayton (NCAA DI)
– Chicago Fire (PDL)
– Professional:
– Columbus Crew (MLS)
– Cincinnati Saints (MISL, PASL)
– US National Indoor Team Pool
ROLAND BENEDICT
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU G05 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF B License
– USSF C License
– PFSA Level 2 Talent Identification
– PFSA Level 1 Performance Analysis
– PFSA Level 1 Opposition Analysis
Coaching Experience:
– Whitefish HS Girls Head Coach
– 2020 Montana A State Finalist
– 2021 Montana A State Semi-Finalist
– 2022 Montana A State Finalist
– 2023 Montana A State Champions
– 2021-2022 NFHS MT Girls Coach of the Year
– Montana ODP/MDP Coaching Staff
– Region IV ODP Staff
– 2007+2011 Boys Assistant Coach
– Flathead Valley United Technical Director
– Flathead Rapids Former Technical Director
Playing Career:
-Professional: Gillingham (EFL league 1)
– Southend United (EFL League 2)
– Manchester City (EPL)
– Club Brugge (Belgian 1st Division)
– Racing Genk (Belgian 1st Division)
O’Brien Byrd
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU G08 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF B License
– USSF C License
– NSCAA Professional Development Certificate
– National Dutch Federation KNVB Coaching Certificate
Coaching Experience:
-Columbia Falls HS Boys Head Coach
– 2022 Montana A State Champions
– 3x Montana A State Finalist
– Whitefish HS Boys Head Coach
– 6x Montana A State Finalist & 4x State Champion
– 2012 NSCAA National High School Coach of the Year
Playing Career:
– McPherson College (NAIA)
– Professional: Reading Rage
JOHN LACEY
Teams:
HEAD COACH | FVU B07 PREMIER
ASSISTANT COACH | FVU B05 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF C License
Coaching Experience:
– Whitefish HS Boys Head Coach
– 5x A Montana State Champions
– Former Carleton College Women’s Assistant Coach
– Helena HS Head Coach
– Flathead Valley United
– Flathead Rapids
– Helena Arsenal
Playing Career:
– Carleton College (NCAA DIII)
ALYSON DORR
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU G05 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF D License
– USSF 11v11 & 9v9 Grassroots Licenses
– USC Advanced Regional Diploma
Coaching Experience:
– 10+ Years of HS Coaching Experience
– Columbia Falls HS Girls Assistant Coach & JV Coach
– Whitefish HS Girls Assistant Coach & JV Coach
– 2005, 2007, 2008 Montana A State Semi-Finalist
– 20+ Years of Coaching Youth Soccer
– Flathead Valley United
– Flathead Rapids
– Glacier United
– Whitefish Youth Soccer
Playing Career:
– Columbia Falls HS
– Whitefish Sting
– Corban University (NAIA/NCCAA)
– Cascade Conference Champion
– Academic All-Conference
JAKE ZALESKY
CLUB REGISTRAR
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU B2009
– HEAD COACH | FVU B2012 Green
Licensure:
– USSF C License
– USSF D License
– USC Sports Performance Diploma
– USC Youth Academy Director Diploma
– Master’s Degree in Sports Management
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Former Glacier HS Girls Assistant Coach
– Montana ODP/MDP Coaching Staff
Playing Career:
– Davis Legacy
– Placer United
– San Juan SC
– California Baptist University (NCCAA DI/NCAA DII)
– 2x NCCAA National Champions
COLTON BECKER
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU B05 PREMIER
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
Playing Career:
– Flathead Valley United
– Glacier High School
– Northern Michigan University (NCAA DII)
FVU JUNIORS COACHING STAFF
TINO ALEMAN-CHAVES
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU G2012
Licensure:
– USSF D License
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– NSC Montana
– Flathead HS Girls Volunteer GK Coach
RYAN BILLIET
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU B09 PREMIER
Licensure:
– USSF D License
– USSF National Youth License
– USC National Diploma
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Flathead Rapids (Co-Founder/Former Academy Director)
– Glacier HS Boys Head Coach
– 2020 Montana AA State Semi-Finalist
– 20+ years HS Coaching Experience
Playing Career:
– University of South Colorado (NCAA DII)
– 2x RMAC All-Conference Player
CHASE GIACOMO
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU G2012
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU GIRLS ACADEMY
Licensure:
– USSF D License
Coaching Experience:
Flathead Valley United
SHELBY OLIVIER
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU G2011
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
JEREMY OLMSTED
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU B2011
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU B2012
Licensure:
– USSF D License
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
Playing Career:
– Flathead Valley Christian (State Champions)
– Flathead Valley Community College
JAKE ZALESKY
Club Registrar
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU B2009
– HEAD COACH | FVU B2012 Green
Licensure:
– USSF C License
– USSF D License
– USC Sports Performance Diploma
– USC Youth Academy Director Diploma
– Master’s Degree in Sports Management
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Former Glacier HS Girls Assistant Coach
– Montana ODP/MDP Coaching Staff
Playing Career:
– Davis Legacy
– Placer United
– San Juan SC
– California Baptist University (NCCAA DI/NCAA DII)
– 2x NCCAA National Champions
FVU ACADEMY COACHING STAFF
KIM ANDERSON
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU GIRLS ACADEMY
Licensure:
– USSF E License
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Great Falls Rush
Playing Career:
– Rocky Mountain College (NAIA)
VIC KIMERA
Teams:
-HEAD COACH | FVU BOYS ACADEMY
Licensure:
-USSF D License
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Flathead Rapids
– Whitefish HS Girls Assistant Coach
Playing Career:
– Makere University Kampala
– Professional: Makere FC DIV II Uganda
CLIFF KIPP
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU BOYS ACADEMY
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
Playing Career:
-William J. Palmer High School (Colorado Springs, CO)
-Denison University (NCAA DIII)
A.J. WILLITS
Teams:
– ASSISTANT COACH | FVU BOYS ACADEMY
Licensure:
– USSF 9v9 & 11v11 Grassroots License
Coaching Experience:
Flathead Valley United
Playing Career:
-University Southern Colorado (NCAA DII)
JAKE BENGSTON
Teams:
– HEAD COACH | FVU BOYS ACADEMY
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Columbia Falls HS Boys Assistant Coach
– 2022 A Montana State Champions
Playing Career:
– Columbia Falls High School
FVU GOALKEEPING STAFF
MARK GALBRAITH
HEAD GOALKEEPING COACH
Licensure:
– USSF E License
– USC Level 1 GK Diploma
Coaching Experience:
-Flathead Valley United
-Flathead Rapids
– Whitefish HS Boys & Girls Assistant Coach
KAT ROCHE
ASSISTANT GOALKEEPING COACH
Licensure:
– USSF F License
– USSF Grassroots License (In Progress)
Coaching Experience:
– Flathead Valley United
– Flathead Rapids
Playing Experience:
– Hope College (NCAA DIII)
BRANDON KARBERG
ASSISTANT GOLAKEEPING COACH
