Larry Sunderland, Director of Player Development
Sunderland comes to Cincinnati from the Portland Timbers, where he has served as the club’s Youth Technical Director since December 2015. At FC Cincinnati, Sunderland is charged with overseeing the launch, build and administration of the forthcoming FC Cincinnati Academy, and will also manage the club’s relationship with the United Soccer League through FCC’s own programming, as well as identifying potential affiliations and player development relationships.
Dave Schureck, Academy Coordinator
Schureck comes from Kings Hammer Academy, where he was director for Kings Hammer East since 2018. Prior to that, he was director of coaching at Ohio Elite Soccer from 2012-18, assistant goalkeeper coach for FC Cincinnati during the 2017 USL Championship season, and Midwest Development League administrator for the National Premier League. Schurek started his coaching career as goalkeeper coach for USYSA Region II Olympic Development Program in 1997. He was later appointed head coach for University of Dayton’s men’s team in 1999 before serving as head coach for the men’s team at Xavier University from 2004-09.
Fouad Kawtari, Academy Scouting Director
Kawtari joins FC Cincinnati after spending nine years with the New York Red Bulls Academy, serving in various roles. During his tenure with Red Bulls, Kawtari scouted and recruited a number of current MLS and USL Championship players, including Daniel Edelman and Serge Ngoma who have made first-team appearances for Red Bulls in 2022. Born and raised in Paris, France, Kawtari played for French amateur side, Villemomble Sports, and helped the team achieve promotion to Champion National, the third division of French professional soccer. Following his playing career, Kawtari shifted focus to coaching and youth development, earning a USSF B License and several certifications from the US Soccer Federation and United Soccer Coaches.
Richie Ryan, U19 Head Coach
Cristiano Scapolo, U17 Head Coach
Former Professional Player from 1990 to 2004 played in the Italian “Serie A” with Inter Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Napoli e Roma. In 2005 he started his coaching career working for AC Milan as a Technical Director for the AC Milan Academies in the United States. After this experience he spent 3 years as a Technical Director and Coach at Real So Cal. In 2015 he was a USMNT Scout for “Copa America 2016” and for World Cup Qualifiers games. In 2017 he was hired as an Academy Coach at LAFC for 3 seasons. In 2019 he served as Assistant Coach with US Soccer with the U16s and U17s National Teams. In September 2021 he was Assistant Coach at FC Cincinnati (MLS) for the remaining games of the season (9). In January 2022 he started a position as a U17 Academy Head Coach with FC Cincinnati.
Eric Lichaj, U15 Head Coach
Lichaj is a former professional soccer player, who from 2007-2021 played with Aston Villa, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Hull City and the USMNT. He started his coaching career with Nottingham Forest’s U-23’s before joining FCC at the end of March 2022. Lichaj served as FC Cincinnati's U19 Head Coach for the 2022/2023 season.
Andy Seidel, U14 Head Coach
Seidel joins the FC Cincinnati Academy following a season with Cincinnati United Premier, an MLS Next Elite Academy. Prior to that he was with Minnesota United FC from 2017-2020 where he was the U13 head coach, U14 head coach and Pre-Academy Technical Leader. Prior to that he he coached the Reserve team competing in the Premier League of America for MNUFC.
Adrian Parrish, U13 Pre-Academy Head Coach
Parrish comes to FC Cincinnati after serving as technical director of the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association since 2005. While with the KYSA, Parrish ran the State Olympic Development Program, assisted youth clubs with development, designed programs to grow membership and created coaching curriculums. He was also the head coach for Cincinnati United Premier DA Under-13 team. Before joining Cincinnati United Premier, he coached the boys’ and girls’ teams for the Kentucky Wanderers from 2006-10, was the director of coaching for the Amherst Soccer Association and the men’s assistant coach for Buffalo State University from 2003-05. Parrish started his career as youth development officer with Grimsby Town Football Club in Cleethorpes, England, where he was on staff from 1996-2000.
Nikola Katic, U15-U19 Assistant Coach
Katic last served as academy head coach for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Under-19 and Under-15 Elite Club National League teams. He was responsible for conducting individual and team practices, developing curriculum as well as identifying academy players to train with Pittsburgh’s first team. Katic was the assistant coach for the Riverhounds’ USL Championship team from 2016-17 and interim head coach in 2015. He played professionally with the Riverhounds from 2009-15.
Nick Piccirilli, Assistant Coach (U13, U14)
Piccirilli joins FC Cincinnati from the Columbus Crew, where he was the club's regional scout. Prior to joining Columbus, he spent 2021 as a U.S. Olympic Development Program coach for the East region. From 2018-2022, Piccirilli served as the Academy Director with SCS United Pittsburgh. He began his career in 2016 with the New York Red Bulls' Training programs and Regional Development Schools.
Bobby Edwards, Goalkeeping Coach
Bobby Edwards joins our coaching staff as our Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach. He is responsible for coaching & developing the FCC Academy goalkeepers from U13 to U19 ages. Prior to FC Cincinnati, he was the Lead Goalkeeper Coach at Indiana Fire Academy, the Director of Goalkeeping at Sogility, Assistant Goalkeeper Coach at Indy Eleven, & Goalkeeper Coach at Marian University Men's Soccer.
A former professional Goalkeeper with FC Cincinnati in 2020, his playing experience includes Portadown FC & Indy 11. He has his undergraduate degree from Monmouth University & his Masters of Sport Management from Mount Saint Mary's University.
Brett Holmertz, Academy Athletic Trainer (U15, U17)
Holmertz joins FC Cincinnati after spending the last seven years with EXOS in Philadelphia as a performance coach/athletic trainer. Prior to working with EXOS, he was the athletic trainer/performance coach for the Rockford Raptors Soccer Club. Also during that time, he worked with a performance company as strength and conditioning coach training professional, college, and high school soccer athletes in their off-season. Holmertz spent one season with the Chicago Fire Academy and seven years with Region II Olympic Development Program as an athletic trainer. He has also worked in a couple different high schools and physical therapy clinics.
Ryo Akita, Academy Athletic Trainer (U13, U14)
Dolores Fredericks, Academy Athletic Trainer (U19)
Meghan Viens, Academy Player Care Specialist
Viens comes to FC Cincinnati from the University of Cincinnati where she was an associate director of Student-Athlete Support Services since 2013. During her nine years at UC, she was the academic counselor for women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer. She also served as an adjunct professor for a professional development course and a leadership course both geared towards NCAA Division I athletes. Prior to UC she spent one year at the University of Memphis as an athletic academic assistant for women’s basketball and men’s soccer. She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Syracuse University in 2006, a Master of Science in cultural foundations of education from Syracuse University in 2008, and a Master of Education in college student personnel from Marquette University in 2012.
David Kerr, Scout
Christopher Atkins, Video Analyst
Ryan Christophel, Equipment Manager
Jalen Hjelmeng, Equipment Manager
Abby Weller, Academy Intern
Andrew Sibley, Academy Intern
William King, Academy Equipment Intern