STAFF & BOARD

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Rich moved to Atlanta with his family in 1978. His playing career started with DYSA, ASA and TYSA soccer clubs.

Coach Rich played soccer at Clarkston High School and then earned a scholarship to play at Berry College in Rome GA. After college he continued to play in the Georgia Amateur league (ADSL Div 1) with Genesis SC and in the Caribbean Soccer League with Islanders FC.

Coach Rich has almost 20 years of coaching experience in academy/select programs starting with GSA then DDYSC where he became the Boys Academy Director.

Coach Rich also coached at Midtown HS (formerly Grady HS) from 2013-2016 with both Boys and Girls Varsity and JV programs and was influential in getting the Globe Academy soccer program started.

Rich currently holds a USSF National “C” license.

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A native from Höganäs, Sweden, Ludvig has a long background in Soccer, both coaching and playing. Recently Ludvig came from Davis & Elkins College where he was the Men’s assistant coach for the NCAA DII team who made it to the Sweet 16 in the National Tournament. Prior to Davis & Elkins, Ludvig served on the Western Illinois University (NCAA DI) staff as an assistant coach for both men’s and women’s. His coaching career started at University of The Incarnate Word, San Antonio (NCAA DI) where he was the volunteer coach. In San Antonio he also served as the Head Coach for San Antonio City Soccer Clubs Girls u10, Boys u15, and Boys u17.

Ludvig’s playing career started at his local club in Höganäs, and then led to playing for the internationally ranked Helsingborgs IF Academy. Here he played from u15-u19, which led to regional camps, and being a backup for national team camps. He also played in 4th division in Sweden, before he decided to come over to the U.S. to study and play college soccer. Ludvig played for University of Mary where he was Team Captain, before he transferred to Montana State University Billings for his last three semesters.

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The height of Alex’s playing career came when he played for the first team in the second division of the Venezuelan Professional Soccer League. Prior to that, he played in the Under-20 Venezuelan golden series for Universidad Central de Venezuela FC (UCV FC) for two years. While playing professionally, Alex began coaching youth soccer in Venezuela. After finishing his playing career, Alex completed his degree in accounting and began working for Ernst & Young Venezuela. Alex also competed in trail running competitions throughout Venezuela, winning several races. He began working with TYSA in 2017.

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Soccer has always been an important aspect of Coach Hambie’s life, where he acquired many skills through training and coaching. He earned his USSF “B” National License and has applied USSF’s curriculum when managing soccer programs at the collegiate, club and high school soccer levels.

Coach Hambie competed in soccer at the military level playing for the United States Air Force Team, and the United States Air Force Team in Europe as well as several teams in Germany (Sembach FC and SV Mehlingen Futbol Club), where he was the lead scorer. He coached at the collegiate level at Agnes Scott College with the women’s soccer program, as well as at youth clubs. As the Assistant and Head Varsity Boys Coach at Decatur High School (1998 to 2005 then 2013 to Present) Coach Hambie has been instrumental in coaching the boys’ program to be one of the Top Ten Teams every year in Georgia High School. Playing and coaching at these levels helped him to develop a strong work ethic, confidence and passion for soccer.

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Anja grew up playing at TYSA. She earned a scholarship and went on to play at Charleston Southern and continued playing WPSL in Atlanta after college. Anja returned to TYSA and has been coaching since here for the last 5 years!

Coach Hong began his playing career with many clubs around Atlanta, including DDY, ASA Wolves and Concorde. He played on the Nike travel team and ODP team. He played for Lakeside High School all four years.

He was granted a full soccer scholarship to play at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Social Science and is currently a Social Studies teacher at Tucker Middle School.

Hong has 22+ years of various coaching experience. After graduating from college he returned to his alma mater, Lakeside High, to be the head coach of the JV Boys and Assistant Coach to the Varsity Boys and Girls for ten years. He has coached club teams for 12 years in the Atlanta area (AYSA, TYSA, GolSA, Inter Atlanta FC and back to TYSA) - ages from Tiny Tykes to U15 Athena and Select.

Hong currently has a National C License - USSF (United States Soccer Federation) and a National Diploma - NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America)

Coming soon

Erin has been a part of TYSA since 2006 when she started as a U8 Recreational player. She advanced to the Academy and Select programs where she played through U19. Erin worked as a referee for a few years, as well as a coach for various age groups. Over the years, she has also volunteered at TYSA in many capacities alongside her family. Erin is a full-time graduate student at the University of Georgia, and enjoys being able to spend her evenings and weekends outside on the soccer field.

Mauricio is from Miami, FL. Full bio coming soon.

Coach Clarke has 20+ years of coaching experience at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels. He also has a deep background in coaching education and player development.

Coach Clarke is currently the head coach at Clayton State and a Select Coach at TYSA. Prior to these positions, Coach Clarke was the Interim Head Coach for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). As an interim Head Coach, Clarke was responsible for the management of the team, the execution of individual development programs, and track player progress and growth. He also was instrumental in representing the team in different media engagements.

In 2021, Clarke was an Assistant Women's Soccer Coach for Georgia State University where the Panthers went 9-4-7 and reached the Semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Coach Clarke mentored and directed three NCAA DI Southeast All-Region selections. Prior to his time at Georgia State, Ricky was an assistant coach for the Seattle Reign, who competes in the NWSL. He was mentored by and was under the direction of current Angel City FC Head Coach Sam Laity.

Before his arrival at the professional ranks, Coach Clarke served as a National Education Staff member for United Soccer Coaches (USC) from 2013-2021 while also serving as the Technical Director for SSA Soccer in Atlanta. At SSA, he managed a variety of levels and implemented different coaching philosophies and player development techniques. In 2015, Coach Clarke was appointed as the Director of Scouting & Player Recruitment for the NASL club Atlanta Silverbacks where he was mainly responsible for creating scouting reports, managing the recruiting process of players and building player profiles. Coach Clarke also served in other various coaching roles with Rush Soccer in Milton, Ga., and in California with the Pleasanton Rage ECNL, Mission Valley United, and NOGA Soccer.

Coach Clarke holds a variety of coaching certifications including a USSF A, B, and Youth license while also earning a USC Master Diploma, Premier Diploma, and DOC Diploma. Clarke is a native of Camberwall, London and attended the University of Bedfordshire where he played in two National University Finals. Ricky also played semi-pro soccer at Langford Club FC and Harpenden Town FC.

Ben has been playing soccer his entire life. He came up through the TYSA youth soccer program, playing for a variety of excellent coaches at the top level on a travel team. He stayed with TYSA through his teenage years, while also playing for the Georgia Select program and the Olympic Development Program. Ben played soccer at Lakeside High School in Atlanta, GA, graduating in 1997 with a Georgia State Championship. He captained the 1997 Georgia State Championship team and the Georgia All-State team. Ben decided to end his competitive soccer career and attended the University of Georgia in Athens, GA.

Ben came back to soccer to coach at Lakeside High School in 2008, as Varsity Assistant Coach and Junior Varsity Head Coach. That season, Lakeside High School won another Georgia State Championship. He became the Varsity Head Coach of Lakeside High School in 2013. While still involved with Lakeside High School soccer, Ben stepped down in 2017 as Varsity Head Coach at Lakeside High School to focus on being an elementary school principal at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and to coach at TYSA.

Coach Alex grew up playing for Concorde Fire Academy and Select teams his U11-U18 years. He later played at the National League level with Georgia Alliance becoming part of the best starting XI in the southeastern region for the 2020 year. Alex went on to play at the collegiate level with the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzly's where he then decided to turn his attention to coaching. He's been doing private training with Fenomeno Footy as well as coaching for over 2 years now and is very glad to finally be a part of the TYSA team!

Andre Deas grew up playing in the inner city of Atlanta, Ga. After playing Developmental Academy and high school soccer, he played at the University of Central Florida before transferring to University of California State, Northridge. He received his Bachelor's degree in communications and is finishing his masters in Recreation, tourism and management. The last three years Andre has been playing professionally with USL Championship club, Hartford Athletic Club and Flower City Union in the NISA. Andre began his TYSA coaching career last fall and also does private training on the side.

Coach Cameron Heyen grew up playing soccer at TYSA and Tucker High School. After high school, Coach Heyen played soccer for The University of Georgia Men’s Club Soccer Team while obtaining his Bachelors’ degree. Coach Heyen returned to Atlanta and attended Mercer University for his Masters’ degree, while coaching at The Davis Academy and Santos Club. For the past 5 years, Coach Heyen has been coaching at TYSA and the Tucker High School Varsity Boys Team. Coach Heyen has 15 years of soccer coaching experience.

Originally from Ghana, Coach Nene grew up playing soccer in the Atlanta area where he graduated from Tucker High School. Soccer led him to both Presbyterian College and King University, graduating with a B.A. in Behavioral Science. Nene spent time with The Charlotte Eagles and The Atlanta Sliverbacks reserves, along with coaching stints with Ralph Lundy and Providence Christian Academy. "I genuinely enjoy sharing this game we love with these wonderful girls I coach all while serving in my community".

Isabel is an international student-athlete from Venezuela. She has competed extensively at the club level, playing for Caracas Futbol Club for three years and Deportivo La Guaira for one, as well as for California Rush. She played for the U-17 Venezuelan National Team. She played for Clayton State University, where they were runner-ups of the Peachbelt Conference Tournament. Isabel coached tykes in Venezuela before coming to TYSA’s Tiny Tykes program. She has worked as a TYSA camp coach and several recreational soccer camps with Caracas FC in Venezuela.

As a young boy growing up in Jamaica, I fell in love with the game of soccer. I knew from then that soccer would shape my life. I played soccer for five years in high school. I moved to the United States in 1989. I played collegiate ball at Young Harris College and Lander university. I played semi-professional for four years before starting to coach in high school. Currently I am the head boys coach at Cross Keys High School. I have been coaching and teaching for over 25 years.

Coming soon

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Allan Waters has been playing soccer his entire life, and coaching soccer since 2008. He currently holds a National D USSF coaching license. As a kid he played at TYSA and RYSA as well as for Lakeside High School. He also was a starter for the Georgia ODP team and a regional alternate before a back injury caused him to halt his playing career. He began his coaching career at Dunwoody High School for a few years before helping start a “stepping stone” academy program at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. After that he returned to TYSA to work with the Academy program. He has also been a personal trainer since 2013 and specializes in youth training.

Coach Boxi Started his soccer journey at TYSA almost 20 years ago as a member of the rec program. He's gone on to have a 9 year professional career playing for clubs such as Atletico Madrid and the San Jose Earthquakes. He was featured heavily for the US Youth National teams during his youth career. He has found his passion in assisting local players to reach the heights they set.

Coming soon

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Allan Waters has been playing soccer his entire life, and coaching soccer since 2008. He currently holds a National D USSF coaching license. As a kid he played at TYSA and RYSA as well as for Lakeside High School. He also was a starter for the Georgia ODP team and a regional alternate before a back injury caused him to halt his playing career. He began his coaching career at Dunwoody High School for a few years before helping start a “stepping stone” academy program at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. After that he returned to TYSA to work with the Academy program. He has also been a personal trainer since 2013 and specializes in youth training.