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ODP Staff

Carla DeSantis - VP of SRI ODP

Christina Maciel - DOC of SRI ODP

Barbara Labossiere - State Administrator

Millie O'Connell - ODP Administrator

Boys Staff:

Nate Millette
Jason Burnett
Callum Bissett
David Murphy

Academy Staff

Director: Tony Vieira
- Hugh McCracken
- Peter Maciel
- Krista MacKinnon
- GK Staff (Shannon Huffman and James Williamson)
- Strength and Conditioning Staff (Jeff Patten)

Boys ODP Coaching Staff

Jason Burnett

Jason will enter his second season with SRI ODP. Burnett joined the Brown University men's soccer staff in August 2011 as an assistant coach under Patrick Laughlin. Previously, Burnett served as an assistant at the University of Vermont for one season working with the team's goalkeepers.

Burnett arrived at UVM after a successful four-year career at Saint Michael's College. A goalkeeper, he served as team captain and was an All-New England selection as a senior. During his career at SMC he ranked among the Northeast-10 Conference leaders in six different categories, including saves, shutouts and goals against average. He was part of a four-year class that won 37 games, the most by any four-year class in the program's history.

Burnett earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Saint Michael's

Callum Bissett

Callum is in his second season with SRI ODP.

Bissett enters his third season as an assistant coach for the Rams in 2012-13. A native of Pencaitland, Scotland, Bissett was a four-year starter and three-time captain for the Rams. He was a member of two Atlantic 10 Championship teams and helped lead the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in both 2006 and 2007.

A three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection, he was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region honoree in both 2005 and 2007 while landing a spot on the 2006 A-10 All-Tournament team.

In addition to his assistant coaching duties, Bissett will also serve as the Assistant Director of Coaching for Rams Football Club, a premier youth soccer organization that is a fundraising arm for Rhody men's soccer. He holds a Scottish Football Association and UEFA "C" Coaching License, as well as an NSCAA Regional Diploma and Scottish Football Association Youth Coaching License.

Nate Millette

Nate will be in his first season with SRI ODP.

Nate Millette is entering his third year as the assistant men's soccer coach. Millette has helped guide the program to six wins over the first two years of Division I play. A native of Scituate, RI, Nate graduated from Scituate High School in 2002.

Millette was a four-time all-conference soccer player in the open-division. As a senior, he was a member of the Rhode Island All-State team and was second in the league in points, scoring 18 goals and dishing out six assists while splitting time between sweeper and center midfield. Millette played for the Northern Lightning, South Coast United and Mid-State Stompers Premier Clubs, collecting a total of six state cup titles.

Girls ODP Coaching Staff

Christina Maciel

Christina Maciel enters her ninth season on staff for SRI ODP and her first season as the Director of Coaching on the girls side. The past eight seasons, Maciel has worked with several different age groups and has also trained goalkeepers.

Maciel is also in her fourth season as the assistant women's soccer coach at Bryant. In the past three seasons, she has helped transition the Bulldogs from the Division II to the Division I level.

Before returning to her alma mater, Maciel spent two years as the head women's soccer coach at Dean College. Previously the assistant coach,

Maciel took over the head position in December of 2004. Under her tutelage, the program saw 12 players receive all-region honors and two players were named Dean College Female Athlete of the Year.

For the past nine years, she has also held many positions within the RI club soccer scene, working with RI Rays and Bayside FC before finding a home as the Director of Coaching for Tidal Wave SC. At Tidal Wave, Maciel oversees all the clubs teams and runs the academy program.

In her tenure as a player at Bryant, her team appeared in two conference tournaments and was the first squad in program history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, accomplished in 2001. Maciel graduated from Bryant in 2004 with a degree in marketing. She currently holds her USSF "D" and NSCAA National Diploma.

Steve Pickman

Steve Pickman begins his 5th season with RI ODP. Steve has been coaching full time since the year 2001. Prior to his coaching career Steve played soccer for Hartwick College and URI. After college Steve played 2 years in the USL for the RI Stingrays where he rostered with the New England Revolution and also trained with Benfica of Portugal’s first division.

Steve began his coaching career with Roger Williams University. He then began coaching for Providence College where he worked as the first assistant for the Woman’s team until 2006. He then moved to the Harvard Men’s team where he helped them capture an Ivy League title and two trips to the National tournament. Steve most recently was the men’s assistant at Bentley University for 2 years.

Steve has been most active with youth and premier coaching, he has coached at all age groups for the FC Greater Boston Bolts since 2001 and he currently coaches at Blackwatch United.

Steve holds his NSCAA National Diploma

Ed Martins

Ed Martins has been with ODP for 3 years. He has coached premier soccer for 15 years and has coached youth soccer for 20+ years. Teams that he has coached have represented Rhode Island in 13 state cups. Ed has coached players that have gone on to play at all levels of college throughout the country, including Brown University, Northeastern, Providence College, Central Connecticut, URI, Sacred Heart, Holy Cross, Saint Rose, Trinity, University of Chicago, Villanova, Salve Regina, & RIC.

Ed currently holds a USSF National D, Youth 1 and 2 certificates.

Jeremy Sherer

Jeremy Sherer enters his 5th season as a part of SRI ODP. He is also entering his 5th season as a member of the Tidal Wave SC staff. While at Tidal Wave, Jeremy has led his 16G team to the RI State Cup Semi Finals and State Cup Championship.

Prior to coming to Tidal Wave, Jeremy was the Director of Coaching at CLCF in Cranston, RI. He coached at WMS in North Kingstown--where he helped launch a new middle school soccer program winning the NK Cup for two consecutive years-- and at the HS level at Moses Brown School in Providence.

He is an active member of the NSCAA and holds a USSF National Y License and D License.

Joe Carreiro
	Joe Carreiro begins his 6th season with SRI ODP. Carreiro has been a fixture in the RI club soccer scene, holding positions within the RI Rays, Northern Lightning, and currently working with Bruno United FC. Carreiro is a Certified State and Collegiate Referee. Along with his officiating credentials, he holds his USSF Youth 1, Youth 2, F, E, & D licenses.

Tony Vieira (Academy Staff Director)

Tony Vieira is entering his first season with SRI ODP. Vieira has spent the last 7 years coaching for the East Providence School department. From 2004-2005 he was the 2nd assistant with the boy varsity team, from 2006-2008 he was the head coach of Martin middle school, and in 2009 Vieira was hired as the boys varsity soccer head coach.

Tony is also entering his 6th season with the Bayside FC Bolts premier club, where he holds the position of Vice President. In this role, he assists the clubs president and DOC’s with all aspects of the club on a daily basis. Along with his VP position, Vieira is currently the U14 boys and U14 girls head coach. In 2008 Vieira lead the U12 boys to a RI State Cup Championship. In 2009 Vieira lead the U13 boys and U11 boys to a RI State Cup Championship and the U13 girls to the finals of the RI State Cup.

Vieira, a product of RI ODP, played High School Soccer at East Providence High and played his youth soccer for Bayside United Rangers. He also played for Taunton Sports Juniors in LASA where he was a 2 time all-star. In 1999 Vieira was among 30 players from the US to be selected to AYSO C.A.P National program in North Ridge, California. Tony continues to play for various men’s amateur leagues in RI.

Tony currently holds an AYSO youth module, USSF E license and a NSCAA High School Coaches Diploma.

Hugh McCracken

Hugh McCracken is entering his 3rd season within the SRI ODP program. Throughout his time he has worked primarily with the programs developmental age group.

Raised in Portsmouth, and educated at Loughborough Teacher Training College in England, Hugh immigrated into the US after teaching in Nassau, in the Bahamas. Hugh Lettered in soccer for UCLA and was Assistant Coach to Dennis Storer as the Bruins went to two final fours in NCAA soccer tournaments. Hugh went on to further degrees in Kinesiology and earned a Doctorate at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

McCracken has coached continuously in soccer with the Madison 56ers, and in MAPLE Division One clubs in MA at Charles River United (now defunct), at the Boston Bolts, and briefly at The Stars of MASS. Coach Hugh moved to RI and recently joined Elite National Soccer and the Black Watch Premier staff in 2006, and has coached soccer for the last few years in Barrington and at The Wheeler School in Providence.

Coach Hugh holds a USSF C, a USSF National Youth License, and an NSCAA National License amongst other coaching qualifications. Hugh is also a member of the Instructional Teaching Staffs for both MA and RI. With a passion for children's learning and adult instruction, he is focused on discovering ways to coach children's soccer.

Peter Maciel

Peter is entering his first year with SRI ODP. He has helped develop players within RI on both the boys and girls side. As a player he was a member of Bayside for his entire youth playing career where he won 3 State Championships. After his time at Bayside he moved on and continued to play at CCRI where he was named All-Region. Coach Maciel is currently working with our U-13, U-15 Girls teams and Our U12 BoysTeam. Coach Maciel currently holds a USSF E and USSF National D licenses.

Krista MacKinnon

Krista MacKinnon enters her third season on the SRI ODP staff.

This past year, she played her second year with the Boston Breakers Reserve womens soccer team (Boston Aztec). Krista was part of the 2010 Boston Aztec team completing their last season as the Women’s Premier Soccer League’s (WPSL) National Champions. They were also the 2010 TSL Champions and NECL Champions. Krista has trained and played alongside players from the Boston Breakers such as Tiffany Weimer and Fabiana (Brazil) and has played against players such as Kristine Lilly, Amy Rodriguez, and Leslie Osborne.

She played four years of collegiate soccer at Rhode Island College from 2004-2008 and was co-captain her senior year. She was also second leading women’s RIC player with career assists. As part of the Boston Aztec organization she was head coach of an academy team, ran clinics for U-12-U-16 boys and girls, and provided personal training for Boston Aztec premier players.

Martin Yarumian

Martin Yarumian is entering his 1st season with SRI ODP. Yarumian has grown up playing soccer through the Coventry Soccer Association and still plays in a number of leagues in Rhode Island. He began his coaching career at the young age of 14 and has worked developing players for the past 12 years. During this time Yarumian has coached both boys and girls in all age groups, from the U8 to U19. Most recently, he coached the Coventry U12 girls to a Superliga State Championship.

He served as the U8 and U10 trainer as well as the goalkeeper coach for Coventry Soccer Association. Yarumian also does individual training, group sessions, and helps other coaches to develop their coaching skills.

Yarumian has also branched off to develop his own soccer camps that develop skills, knowledge of the game, and the ability to play at an elite level. Now he will bring his talents to TIDAL WAVE S.C. working with the U-12 boys squad as well as spear heading the Tidal Wave South movement, as the club looks to grow into Southern Rhode Island.

Brendan Faherty

Brendan Faherty will join the SRI ODP Staff for the first time this season. He currently in his second season as an assistant coach for Umass Amherst.

Faherty came to UMass after serving as head coach at New Haven for eight seasons where he became the winningest coach in program history with 82 career victories. He led the Chargers to six straight postseason berths and the school's first two appearances in the Division II NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2005. Faherty was recognized as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year that season, as well, after the team captured the league's regular season crown.

Under his watch, New Haven women's soccer saw its first four All-America honors, three straight conference Player of the Year award winners and the first Academic All-American in the program's existence. Faherty has also guided student-athletes to 13 all-region accolades and 27 all-conference plaudits. His 2008 squad earned recognition as a NSCAA/adidas National Academic Team. As a player at Northeastern, Faherty was a four-year starter and three-year team captain for the Huskies. The team MVP earned America East All-Conference and All-Tournament honors as a senior and participated in the New England Senior Bowl. Following college he played one year with the Cape Cod Crusaders of the USL.

Faherty graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in 2001 and spent a year coaching in England while earning a postgraduate degree in football industries at Liverpool University in 2002.

He currently holds a USSF "B" License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

Michael Needham

Michael will begin his first season with SRI ODP in 2012. On Jan. 14, 2011, he was named the seventh head coach in the history of the University of Rhode Island's women's soccer program.

Needham, a 1996 graduate of the University Rhode Island, returns to Kingston after a two-year stint as head coach at New Mexico State in which he oversaw the start of the Aggies soccer program.

In two seasons in Las Cruces, Needham guided the program to 16 wins, including a nine-win campaign in the program's inaugural season in 2009. That season, Needham guided NMSU to the postseason, entering the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament as the fifth seed. The Aggies finished the season ranked No. 15 in the NCAA in attendance, averaging 1,129 fans for seven home matches.

Prior to New Mexico State, Needham spent two seasons as the top assistant coach at George Mason. While there, Needham was responsible for every aspect of the program, including on-field direction, budget responsibilities, daily program operations, and the student-athletes' academic success. He was also the program's recruiting coordinator and orchestrated two of the top recruiting classes in Mason history.

Needham also served as an assistant at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. from 2002-03 and was an assistant at URI from 2000-01. He also has extensive experience coaching outside the collegiate ranks. He worked with the Region IV Olympic Development Program as a staff coach and prior to that he was with the Nevada Olympic Development Program as head coach. He also spent time at the United Soccer Academy in Delray Beach, Fla., as the Director of Coaching.

The Killingworth, Conn. native has his United States Soccer Federation National 'A' License, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 'Premier Diploma' in addition to an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with Distinction and an United States Soccer Federation National Youth Licensure.

Goalkeeping Staff

James Williamson

James Williamson will begin his 9th season with SRI ODP. Williamson has 10 years of youth coaching experience. His experience ranges from developmental to collegiate, recreational to premier. While coaching he has won state championships with Northern Lightning premier and Black Watch RI premier, had an undefeated junior varsity season at North Smithfield and received RIIL Division II South Coach of year (2009) as head coach at Cranston West.

As a keeper coach, Williamson has assisted in the development of many keepers who have moved on to play collegiately for all Divisions 1-3 and keepers who have been identified both regionally and nationally. He has trained keepers for multiple towns and premier clubs throughout RI & MA. He has also trained keepers for the RIC men’s team, as well as Providence College women’s team. He is currently the boy’s head coach at Cranston West HS and Goalkeeper coach for Bruno United FC.

Williamson is a former ODP player. He played and excelled while at North Kingstown HS before choosing to attend and play at Rhode Island College. While playing at RIC he was selected to the Little East all-conference team, nominated for Little East player of the year, captained the team his junior and senior year, and was awarded Most Valuable Player.

In addition to coaching, Williamson currently works as a physical & health teacher at North Smithfield Middle School. He has his master’s degree from Rhode Island College in education as well.

He currently holds a USSF E and USSF National D coaching license.

Shannon Huffman

Shannon Huffman will begin her first season on staff at RI ODP. Huffman attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to her career at UNC Charlotte, Huffman was a member of the Barrington High School team. During her youth soccer years, she played for Barrington Youth Soccer, RI ODP, and the Stars of Massachusetts.

Huffman has 6+ years of youth coaching experience. Huffman currently serves as the Girls Academy soccer coach for Bruno United FC.

Strength & Conditioning

Jeff Patten

Jeff will begin his fourth season on the SRI ODP staff but his first season as the program's strength and conditioning coach. Patten is in his third season as a women's soccer assistant coach at Bryant University, where he is in charge of developing the teams's fitness and speed agility program.

Jeff has worked in the sports and fitness field for over 10 years and currently is the owner of Athletic Conditioning Center, Inc. in Smithfield, RI. ACC has the distinction of being the premier soccer training facility in New England. He has trained many of the top players from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Patten earned his B.S. in Sport Management/Health and Fitness with a minor in physical education from Eastern Connecticut State University and M.S. in Human Movement (Biomechanics) from A.T. Still University.