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WAXHAW ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Waxhaw Academy & Travel Program Coaching Staff

Updated Wednesday, April 17, by Waxhaw Soccer Club. 

Jeff Mercado – Director of Coaching

Jeff began his competitive soccer experience in Michigan before moving to Germany for several years.  After returning stateside, Jeff’s club and high school success as a player in Virginia led to a four-year soccer career at Elon University.

Jeff began coaching in college and continued after college at Elon before moving to Charlotte, where he spent ten years coaching high-level teams for Charlotte Soccer Club.  He spent one year at Charlotte Soccer Academy before committing solely to coaching high school soccer.  Jeff’s high school coaching career began at Providence High School before his selection to begin the men’s and women’s programs at Ardrey Kell.  

Jeff has been an English teacher and coach in the Charlotte community for twenty years and has been director of coaching at Waxhaw Soccer Club while maintaining his position at Ardrey Kell, where he happily teaches English.   Jeff currently spends his time coaching early youth development in the club, having been with the club for six years.

Scott Temmen - Director of Coaching U13-U18

Scott came to the U.S. from England in 2006 after having played for several professional soccer academy teams and upon his completion of a sports science degree from Liverpool University. His stateside work experience includes UK Elite Soccer, the Soccer Domain Academy, and the Americans in New Jersey. In 2010, he was appointed the Academy Director of the Soccer Domain, where he was responsible for the recruitment of players, recruitment of staff, developing the curriculum, and budget control. In 2009 and 2012, he also had the pleasure to work at one of the best division one soccer schools, West Point, where he worked with, Marcia McDermott, who still has involvement with U.S. Soccer.

Scott has worked with a variety of ages, from 2-18, and a wide range of abilities, from the recreational, travel, high school, college and international-level players, including New Jersey Crush Girls U15-U18 (ranked 7th in New Jersey), Soccer Domain Crewe Boys U15-U17 (ranked 5th in New Jersey), over 100 high school varsity players, and over 50 who have moved on to play at college level, including a handful of international players.

UEFA B LICENSE
NSCAA STATE GK
NSCAA STATE, REGIONAL AND ADVANCED REGIONAL SOCCER DIPLOMA
NSCAA DIRECTOR OF COACHING

Faisal Akar - National Youth Academy and Pre-Academy Director

Faisal grew up in Charlotte, NC, and played competitively for the Charlotte Eagles, Charlotte Soccer Club, and Charlotte United Premier- level teams. He was a 4-year starter at Charlotte Latin School, and made up a core group that was ranked in the National Public and Private school Top 10 for his junior and senior seasons. He finished his high school career with multiple All-Conference and All-State honors.

Although recruited by D1 and D2 programs, Faisal opted to attend the University of South Carolina, where he played for the Club team for 2 years. Graduating with a double major in B.A., he pursued a career in business, only to be called back to the game 4 years later.

On his return to Charlotte, he became the Assistant Boys Varsity Coach and the Head Middle School Coach at Charlotte Latin for 4 years. From that time until now, he has acquired certifications as a Youth Speed and Agility Trainer and has his USSF D License.


Nick Barnhorst - Technical Director and Director of U8 Junior Academy

A product of the Charlotte soccer community, Nick began playing for South Charlotte Soccer Association before its merge with Charlotte Soccer Club to create Charlotte Soccer Academy.  Nick was a member of the 2007 CSA team that reached the Academy national semifinals and the 2008 State Cup Finals.

His high school career was marked by all-state, all-region, all-conference, and all-Observer honors, as Nick finished playing for Ardrey Kell High School one of the most decorated players in school history.

From 2011-2014, Nick played for UNC-Charlotte, seeing his squad play for the National Championship in 2011 against UNC, and playing each year as a top recruit of Jeremy Gunn (Stanford Head Coach) as an outside back.  Nick's UNC-Charlotte squad finished in the top 25 in the country each year there, and in that time, Nick earned national player of the week honors and the David Schlee Award (best exemplifies a desire to succeed), 

Nick currently trains all players in Academy and Classic programs.  His daughter, Leighton, currently plays in our micro division.




Percy McKinney -

Don Reda- Director of U4-U7

Don Reda is originally from Long Island, New York where, after a four-year soccer career at James Madison University, he coached boys high school and club soccer for 4 years on Long Island.

In 1989, Don moved to Charlotte, and has since been part of the Charlotte soccer community for over twenty years. With three daughters growing up in soccer, Don moved to the girl’s game and started coaching them at MARA. While at MARA, he was part of a group of coaches that brought Challenge and Classic Girls soccer to Charlotte. He continued by coaching at Charlotte Soccer Club for over ten years with Classic girls teams ages 11 - 14. He then joined Charlotte Soccer Academy for a few years with U11 and U12 girl’s teams. Additionally, Don has high school coaching experience as well as a Waddell assistant and a Providence High School JV for a season.  Essentially, Don's seen it all, working with the likes of notable Charlotte coaches like Sean Bubb, Tim Santoro (NC State Head Coach), John Cullen (UNC-Charlotte), and Adam Denton (Davidson).  Don currently works with Jeff Mercado in Waxhaw's youth development.

Jackie (Gorman) Day 

Jackie began playing soccer for various clubs in the Charlotte area including Charlotte United Fubol club.  She played four years for Ardrey Kell High School, including playing in two state championship games.  Jackie attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she played for Wilmington's club soccer team for 3 years until having to unfortunately retire due to a third knee injury. She began coaching for Waxhaw in the Youth Academy and has now been with the club for 3 years. Jackie was the facility coordinator and a strength and conditioning coach at D1 Sports Training in Matthews

Nathan Mangione - Director of Goalkeeping

Grew up in Charlotte North Carolina playing club soccer for South Charlotte Soccer Club.  As a kid Nathan was trained by his father, an ex professional goalkeeper, along with Eric Imler and Philip Pool (US woman's national team goalkeeper coach). Nathan played high schools soccer for Mallard Creek, in just his senior year he broke all the records for goalkeepering in the school inclining a NC State record for most saves in a season with 246. Nathan continued his soccer career attending Lousiburg College where he was named First Team All Region and set a school record for most shutouts in a season (11) and most conservative shutouts (9). He had his first professional opportunity with the Rochester Rhinos in his sophomore year of college. In his Junior year of college he played Semiprofessional  for the Branstonworth Rovers in NYC. In  his senior year of college Nathan moved to Germany to peruse a professional career where he played for TSV Neustadt while training with FC Nuremberg's  goalkeeper coach, one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the Germany. In Nathans first start as a professional he recorded a shutout, a penalty kick save and a goal assist, the first goalkeeper in club history to succeed at such a thing. When Nathan returned home to the US he was called up three times to Charlotte Independent. Nathan returned back to his high school in 2016 to become an assistant coach for Mallard Creek for one season. He is now currently the Director of Goalkeeping for Waxhaw soccer club and running his own goalkeeper training business.

WAXHAW ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

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Waxhaw, North Carolina 28173
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