Lewis has served as a youth coach, manager and Academy director in Europe and the United States, and as a coach instructor for the U.S. Soccer Federation. Over the course of his career, Lewis has coached and mentored players who have gone on to represent their national team, such as ...
Castellanos was added to the Chicago Fire Academy staff in the Spring of 2023. Castellanos comes to the Fire from the New York Red Bulls where he most recently served as the Director of the Individual Development Program. Prior to this position...
Thornton joins Chicago Fire Academy as assistant coach of the U-18 Academy squad alongside head coach Sammy Castellanos. Thornton comes to Chicago from Michigan Wolves, which he joined in 2017 and most recently...
A member of the Chicago Fire Academy since 2018, Talbi led the Chicago Fire Academy U-15 team to the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup title in June 2025. Talbi currently serves as Head Coach of the Chicago Fire Academy U-16 squad. He also...
Onion joined the academy staff after spending two seasons with Chicago FC United, where he worked across 6 different age groups. Previous coaching experience includes time as a college assistant with both Nebraska Wesleyan University and Benedictine University.
Brady currently serves as Head Coach of the Chicago Fire Academy U-15 team. Since joining the Chicago Fire Academy in the fall of 2016, Brady has been head coach at the U-12, U-13, U-14 and U-17 age levels...
Abidor hails from the Chicago area and played professional soccer with Chicago House AC while also serving as assistant coach of the Men’s Varsity Soccer Team at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. Abidor went on to be assistant coach...
McKerrell has more than 10 years of experience in soccer including as head coach, assistant coach, scout, and professional player. The Scotland native comes to the Fire from the Des Moines Menace (USL League Two) where he led the team...
Nash began his professional coaching career in 2004, spending 5 years at Rangers FC (Glasgow, Scotland) as a community coach, progressing to coaching in the Rangers Academy (U8-U10) and interim Head Coach of the Rangers Ladies senior team. Moved to America in 2009, and served in...
A Macedonian international, Dimov’s playing career included appearances in the UEFA Europa League with FK FCU 55 of Macedonia in 2001-03. Since then, his influence as a goalkeeping coach has been wide-spread...
Cardoso is a former professional goalkeeper from Brazil, playing 18 years for S.E. Palmeiras, one of the biggest and most traditional clubs. He started at the Palmeiras youth academy when he was 13-years-old playing at all levels. He also represented the U-17 Brazil National Team, and signed his...
Grace joined the Fire in 2020 as Performance Coach for the Chicago Fire first team. As Performance Coach, he also oversees the performance and development for the Chicago Fire Academy. In addition to...
DeVries joins the Chicago Fire FC Academy in early 2023 after previously working with Division I college athletics in Florida. Originally from Greenwood, IN, he is a graduate from Indiana University Bloomington. He completed his B.S in Neuroscience in 2020 and graduated with a M.S. in...
Adrian joined the Fire in 2023 after most recently serving as a performance coach for Nashville SC’s first team and Academy teams. Prior to joining Nashville, Sánchez was a collegiate performance coach at Northern Illinois University and Purdue University...
Perrin joins the Fire as the Senior Coordinator of Academy Operations, coming all the way from Southern Maine. In Maine, Perrin worked as the Soccer Operational Coordinator for Seacoast United Soccer Club...
Dade joins Chicago after serving as Athletic Trainer at the LA Galaxy Academy. Dade earned her Bachelor’s in Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Biology from Beloit College in Wisconsin before earning a Master’s degree in Athletic Training...
A native of Sterling, Illinois, Cisneros originally joined the Chicago Fire in 2015 as an intern before moving to Mount St. Mary’s University where he served as a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Following stints at the Barça...
Neritani joins the Fire from ATI Physical Therapy, where he served as an Athletic Trainer. Before joining ATI, Neritani served as a Student Athletic Trainer for St. Louis University, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Athletic Training...
Countess joined the Chicago Fire in 2023 as Academy Performance Coach from the Orlando Pride. In Orlando, Countess started as a Sports Science intern before becoming a Sports Performance Coordinator and, later, Sports Performance Assistant...
Rojas joined the Chicago Fire FC Academy as a Senior Coordinator, Academy Operations after spending 1 season with the club as a Brand Ambassador during gamedays with the first team...
Rachael completed her MSW at University of Chicago in 2019 and is a licensed psychotherapist who is focused on helping young footballers navigate their development pathway. She has previously...
Felix joined the Chicago Fire FC Academy as PASS Coordinator after spending 6 months with the organization as an extern. He completed his Bachelor of Psychological Science degree from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia...
Stanton joined the Chicago Fire FC as Head of Education in 2022 after spending 8 years with the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. While at Parker, he spent the majority of his time an Academic Advisor and Head Coach of the Girls Varsity Soccer program. Also serving as the Varsity...
Hernandez, a dedicated language teacher with a passion for education and a wealth of experience in language instruction spanning over 24 years. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and Spanish as a Foreign Language in both the...