WASHINGTON – The D.C. United Academy has announced its staff ahead of the 2015-16 youth soccer season, including a number of key new additions. The new hires include Ken Krieger, who has been named Head Coach of United’s Under-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy team; Patrick Mannix, named the academy’s Lead Sport Performance Coach; Gus Teren, the new Under-15 Head Coach; and David Mieklejohn, who has been named the D.C. United Academy Goalkeeping Coach.
“The D.C. United Academy has strengthened its coaching ranks and its development platform,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “We are excited about the upcoming youth season and our continued opportunity to provide an unmatched path for players to reach their full potential.”
"We're confident the newest additions to our staff will make an immediate and lasting impact in the Academy,” said D.C. United Academy Director Nolan Sheldon. “Ken is a proven leader in our soccer community and has been at the forefront of youth soccer for more than 25 years. Patrick is a leader in the field of sport performance and a member of the U.S. Youth National team staff; he will oversee the athletic development of our academy players. Gus and David have spent the past year in the club establishing themselves and understanding our club culture; both are top young coaches in their own right who will continue to add value to the academy.”
Krieger is one of the most accomplished youth soccer coaches in the region, a veteran of the highest levels of youth soccer, high school and college. He formerly coached D.C. United Under-14, Under-16 and Super-Y teams in 2001. As the Technical Director of Coaching at Prince William Soccer over the last decade, Krieger has overseen 18 different teams win the Virginia Youth Soccer Association State Cup, two U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region 1 champions, and both a semifinalist and runner-up for the USYSA Under-16 National Championship. He continues to be the USYSA Region 1 ODP Girls Under-19 Head Coach and a U.S. Soccer National Training Centers Girls Staff Coach.
Most recently, Krieger was Director of Coaching at McLean Youth Soccer. He has a USSF A License, a NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, and bachelor and master degrees from Frostburg State.
Mannix is currently the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team Fitness Coach. A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he has a Master of Science in Sports Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from The George Washington University.
Teren, who holds a USSF B License, takes over the Under-15 team after spending the last year as a D.C. United Academy assistant coach. He has also been assistant coach of the Baltimore Bohemians of Premier Development League and has experience with the Maryland Olympic Development Program and Pipeline Soccer Club in Baltimore, Md. He relocated to the area after one season with Brentwood Soccer Club in Tennessee in 2011. Teren played collegiately for the College of Charleston and attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Mieklejohn returns to the area from Rhode Island, where he was goalkeeper coach for the University of Rhode Island in addition to the director of goalkeeping for the Rhode Island ODP and Rams FC from 2013-14. He has previous U.S. Soccer Development Academy experience as goalkeeper coach for the Concorde Fire (Atlanta, Ga.), and he was also goalkeeper coach at Georgia State from 2011-12. Mieklejohn played collegiately at James Madison.
D.C .United Academy 2015-16 Staff
Nolan Sheldon, D.C. United Director, U14 and U11 Head Coach
Dan Walsh, D.C. United Academy Manager
Tom Torres, U18 Head Coach and Head Youth Scout
Ken Krieger, U16 Head Coach
Gus Teren, U15 Head Coach
John Bello, U13 Head Coach
Dave Sanford, U12 Head Coach
Patrick Mannix, Lead Sport Performance Coach
Zach Thornton, Director of Goalkeepers
David Mieklejohn, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeping Coach
Athletic Trainer: Katrina DeGuzman
Equipment Manager: Isaac Langley
Academy Staff Coaches:
Jeff Carroll, Ronald Cerritos, Jeff Hajek, Chris Hudler, Kody Slayton
