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Coach Carrasco Named Head Coach of SFEA U19 Boys Orange team and Will Lead SFEA's Unique Athletic Development Programs that Include SAQ+ and AdTEC  SAN FRANCISCO, CA. JULY 9, 2019--The San Francisco Elite Academy announced today that Sebastian Carrasco, recently named to the men’s soccer coaching staff of the San Francisco State Gators, will join SFEA as a head soccer coach for U19 boys as well as SFEA’s Lead Coach for Athletic Development.
Coach Carrasco brings a wealth of experience to SFEA. Before joining SF State, Carrasco was an assistant with the women’s soccer program at Whittier College. He also served as manager of A.S. Los Angeles of the National Premier Soccer League. Previously, he was the strength and conditioning coach at Division I Cal State Long Beach where he spent eleven seasons and was part of a staff that won three consecutive, regular-season championships from 2006-2008, won the Big West Tournament title in 2010 and 2011, advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2011. Carrasco also served, from 2012-2014, as a strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach at Cerritos College, with the Falcons capturing a state championship in 2014. “We’re honored to add a coach of Sebastian’s calibre to our coaching staff,” said Lenonard Griffin, SFEA’s Director of Coaching for Boys. “Sebastian has tremendous experience coaching across multiple levels and ages of play, as well as proven insight into strength and conditioning, which will give our players an added advantage on the field.” Coach Carrasco will be the head coach of the U19 Boys Orange team and will be working closely with U19 Boys Blue head coach Bobby Quinlan as they shape SFEA’s two U19 teams for the next playing year. In his capacity leading SFEA’s various athletic development programs, which include SAQ+ for older players and AdTEC for younger players, Coach Carrasco will take over from Barry McCabe who is transitioning to a full-time position with the COPA Training Center in Walnut Creek, a soccer training facility closely affiliated with a future East Bay USL franchise. Carrasco also has years of coaching experience with various youth clubs. True to his Argentinian roots, he served as the Director of Coaching at Boca Juniors Los Angeles from 2015-17 and produced a State Cup finalist in 2017. From 2008-15, he served as a coach at Beach Futbol Club, and he was a strength and conditioning coach for Chivas USA Futbol Academy from 2011-12. He also had stints with Santa Clarita United and LA United Soccer Club. Coach Carrasco holds a USSF "A" License, a USSF "Youth" License, and an NCAA Director of Coaching License. “The San Francisco Elite Academy is always trying to raise the bar of San Francisco soccer,” said Joe Dugan, SFEA’s Executive Director. “A critical part of that means always being on the lookout to further improve our already strong coaching staff. Sebastian offers so much to our team of coaches and they all share in my excitement to see Coach Carrasco joining our club.” About the San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) is the top college placement youth soccer program in San Francisco, in just four years we have over 30 former players now competing in college soccer. We are developing the next generation of players to the highest standards, ensuring they receive the necessary training and support to successfully represent San Francisco at the highest level of play, our community, and our country.
 It was only a few weeks ago that the SFEA 2005 Girls lost a heartbreaking NorCal State Cup championship in the roulette of a penalty shootout. Well, the team, under the guidance of head coach Tom Atencio and the relentless support of a great parent group, has gone on to prove that it's not about how hard you fall, but how quickly you get back up.
This past weekend the girls went undefeated across four matches, including beating two ECNL sides and not allowing a goal in their final to matches, to claim the title at the US Club National Cup West Regionals in Davis. The SFEA 2005 Girls now become the first San Francisco youth team to earn their way into the prestigious US Club National Cup Championships to be held July 19-23rd in Commerce City, Colorado at Dick Sporting Goods Park. It's an incredible accomplishment and everyone SFEA would like to congratulate the team, coach, and parents on realizing one of their big goals. The National Cup is US Club Soccer’s cup-based national championship competition open to US Club members. To learn more please see the US Club website at https://www.usclubsoccer.org/national-cup-west-regional  Good luck to all the girls and head coach Tom Atencio. We're all so proud of everything you've accomplished and will be wishing you the best on Saturday!
 SFEA Director of Coaching for Boys, Leonard Griffin SAN FRANCISCO, CA. APRIL 25, 2019--The San Francisco Elite Academy announced today that Leonard Griffin, recently named Men's Head Soccer Coach at the University of San Francisco, has joined SFEA as the Director of Coaching for Boys. Griffin will lead the Academy's boys program and its coaching staff as well as contribute his significant technical and college pathway expertise to benefit all the club's players. Coach Griffin, who holds a USSF ‘A’ license, also joins a staff of 15 A and B licensed coaches, affording SFEA players and teams a level of technical coaching expertise and experience entirely unmatched in the San Francisco Bay Area.
"The addition of Leonard to our coaching staff shows our commitment to providing the very best player development environment," said Joe Dugan, President of the San Francisco Elite Academy. "Our goal has been and remains producing the best outcomes for our players, families, coaches & teams. Leonard has been successful everywhere he’s been. We’re looking forward to having lots of success with Leonard now as part of SFEA." Griffin arrives in San Francisco from the University of Portland where he served three years as an assistant coach for the men's soccer program. In his first season as the Pilots' assistant coach, Griffin helped guide the team to a 2016 West Coast Conference Championship. He coached three Far West Region Team players and MLS players: Benji Michel (Orlando City), Paul Christensen (Atlanta United), Kris Reaves (FC Dallas) and Rey Ortiz (1st Team).Prior to joining the Portland staff, he spent two years at UCLA where the Bruins advanced to the NCAA College Cup finals in 2014. Griffin coached nine all-Pac-12 players, including 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Leo Stoltz and 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez. Griffin spent a season as an assistant coach at California in 2013, guiding Cal to a NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. At the time, the Golden Bears received the No. 4 overall ranking in the NCAA, which was the highest ranking in school history. Prior to Cal, Griffin spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's. There, he led the Gaels to the NCAA Elite Eight and a WCC Championship in 2011. Griffin attended UCLA from 2000-03. The 2003 All-American honoree led the Bruins to an NCAA title in 2002. Following his college career, Griffin spent six seasons with the Chicago Fire (2004-06), the Columbus Crew (2007-08), and the Los Angeles Galaxy (2006) while also playing professionally for the Portland Timbers (2007-08). About the San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) is the top college placement youth soccer program in San Francisco, in just four years we have over 30 former players now competing in college soccer. We are developing the next generation of players to the highest standards, ensuring they receive the necessary training and support to successfully represent San Francisco at the highest level of play, our community, and our country.
 SFEA Coach Tommy Alioto SAN FRANCISCO, CA. APRIL 22, 2019—The San Francisco Elite Academy announced today that Tommy Alioto has joined the SFEA coaching staff effective immediately. A member of the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame, Alioto played professionally for 15 years, coached teams for over 30 years and has vast experience in player development and as a youth Director of Coaching. He is also a longtime coaching instructor who has led USSF D, E, F, and grass roots coaching courses in Wisconsin and Northern California.
Coach Alioto, who holds a USSF ‘A’ license, joins a staff that already includes another 7 A licensed coaches and 8 B licensed coaches, affording SFEA players and teams a level of technical coaching expertise unmatched in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Alioto will support all of the SFEA’s players and teams as a staff coach until 2019-2020 head coaching positions are announced later this month. In addition, he will immediately serve SFEA Executive Director Joe Dugan by helping with club operations, as well as by working closely with Girls’ Director of Coaching Jim Millinder in overseeing the club’s player development initiatives and overall technical direction. “We’re tremendously excited to have Tommy joining our SFEA team,” said Joe Dugan, President of the San Francisco Elite Academy. “His experiences in working with professional players, coaching, and leading at all levels of the youth game will be an incredible asset to our program. Incredibly, our staff now includes six coaches with Director of Coaching experience This provides all of our teams, as well as our coaching staff, incredible insight and support in attending to player development.” Alioto grew up in Wisconsin playing for national powerhouse, Milwaukee Bavarians. His U19 team was the first team in Wisconsin to make it to the National Youth Championship Final 4. In 1980, he signed with the Chicago Sting of the NASL and in 1981 moved to the Oklahoma City Slickers with Jimmy Millinder in the American Soccer League where he also made the A League All-Star team. Later, he played professionally with the Kansas City Comets, Milwaukee Wave, Louisville Thunder, and Houston Dynamos. He was Assistant Coach coach with the Pro team Milwaukee Rampage which won the A League Championship. Alioto has developed many youth academies including FC Kickers, Milwaukee Rampage, then Sockers FC Milwaukee, and Clovis Crossfire of California. Jim Millinder, SFEA’s Girls Director of Coaching and former teammate of Tommy echoed the club’s excitement over Alito’s addition to the SFEA staff: “I’ve known Tommy for 35 years from when we played together. He was an outstanding player and even a better coach. His passion and love for the game has allowed him to touch many youth players lives around the country in all his former coaching endeavors. I look forward to Tommy doing the same things here at SFEA.” About the San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) is the top college placement youth soccer program in San Francisco, in just four years we have over 30 former players now competing in college soccer. We are developing the next generation of players to the highest standards, ensuring they receive the necessary training and support to successfully represent San Francisco at the highest level of play, our community, and our country. |
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