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COACHING STAFF
Johann Contasté
Director of Soccer
Bio - Highly innovative, passionate, data driven USSF A and World Football Academy (UEFA) licensed coach who has established an exceptional record of growth and a proven track record in holistic player and staff development for various academic and athletic programs within the United States and abroad.
Personal philosophy and methodology based on developing the brain. Soccer is communication (tactics), decision making (game insight) and execution (technique).
Johann is a native of Trinidad and Tobago and played collegiate soccer at Tusculum University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management. He holds his USSF A license and has served as Head Scout and Style of Play creator for the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. Known for his commitment to player development, Johann has established a remarkable record in holistic player and staff growth. With his USSF Technical Director License, Johann is renowned for his strategic approach to the game and his ability to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to reach their full potential.
In 2021, Johann founded the IDEA Toros MLS NEXT Fútbol Academy, an innovative academy dedicated to providing top-tier training and development opportunities for young soccer players. Under his leadership, the academy flourished, attracting talented players and earning recognition for its commitment to excellence in this elite national player development platform.
Personal Bio - "I am honored and excited to accept the position of Director of Soccer and Community at BUFC. Soccer has always been a significant part of my life, and I am eager to use my experience and passion to contribute to the growth of the sport in our community. I look forward to working with talented players, coaches, and parents while engaging with our vibrant community to create programs and opportunities that will inspire and develop the next generation of soccer players. I am also passionate about growth and excited to apply my expertise in the implementation and development of a unique player-centered performance environment."
Playing Experience - Aaron has been a student of the game since he began playing at 6 years old. He grew up in the Highline area playing with the infamous Highline Heat teams who boasted some of the top players and coaches to ever come out of WA State. He has travelled the world furthering his soccer education having done extensive residential courses at: FC Barcelona's FCBEscola, World Football Academy's at Feyenoord in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Benfica in Lisbon (Portugal), Valencia CF (Spain), 3four3 in Los Angles at LA Galaxy, 3four3 in Los Angles at Chivas USA
Coaching Experience - Aaron has an extensive track record for developing players by developing teams who understand to play the game in possession, out of possession and in between. His teams always play an attractive brand of possession soccer. He has helped develop hundreds of players that have gone on to play Sounders Academy, Reign Academy, represent WA State in ODP/EPD, ECNL and other top RCL players. His 2006 Mercer Island girls (from just 3 elementary schools) played RCL 1 and made the quarterfinals (4 consecutive years) of state cup playing one year up.
He has also instructed the annual EYSA Coaching Clinics to which over 400 coaches have attended over the years. He takes great pride in helping coaches understand how to use age appropriate tactical references to teach young players. He has been VP of Coach and Player Development at MIFC for 8 years, and served in the same capacity in EYSA for 2 years.
Licenses/Coaching Education – USSF "C "and United Coaches licenses
Personal Bio - Aaron resides in Mercer Island and is married with 3 children.
Aaron Byers
Director of Coaching
Girls 2010 Navy - BUFC
Playing Experience – Radcliffe grew up and played soccer locally on Mercer Island, and for several premier clubs in the area.
Coaching Experience – After a standout college career at Concordia University, he returned home and has been coaching for local clubs as well as Mercer Island High School.
Personal Bio – He brings enthusiasm and a strong understanding of the game, and a knack for teaching the technical aspect that is so important for youth development and enjoyment of the game.
Radcliffe McDougald
Girls Director
Playing Experience – Cristian is a local product with Chilean roots. He made his mark playing locally for Juanita High School, Alliance FC and Eastside FC. He returned to Chile to further his football education, playing professionally for Santiago Wanderes de Valparaiso. In 2005 he returned to Seattle and continued his career in the PDL, NPSL, and USL2.
Coaching Experience – Coaching has always been a dream of Cristian’s, and he began when he was just 15. A member of the IAS Academy coaching staff, he has also coached with MIFC. He loves to challenge himself with new ways to pass on his love of the game and the opportunity to develop players and help them see the opportunities soccer can bring to their lives.
Cristian Pintone
Boys 2008 - Newport
Boys 2002/2003 - Newport
Casey Gilbert
Boys
Playing Experience - Casey has played soccer since he was 9 years old. He started playing club soccer and high school soccer in Wisconsin before playing for two years in college at Cornell College in Iowa. He then made the move to Minnesota where he played for two years at Gustavus Adolphus College. While at Gustavus, he was fortunate to have played in two NCAA National Tournaments.
Coaching Experience - Casey has been coaching soccer since he was in High School. While at Cornell, he helped train a few youth teams as well as running the high school girls varsity soccer program at Anamosa High School. In Minnesota, he began helping with regional ODP trainings and evaluations, as well as becoming involved with Coerver Coaching. After graduating, he also went on to be the assistant soccer coach for the Gustavus Adolphus College Women's Soccer program. Since moving to Washington, Casey has been coaching with BUFC since 2017, and is most recently the head coach of the Select B09 team.
Casey's favorite part about coaching is seeing the improvement in a player or a team within training sessions and between games. He loves being able to isolate an aspect of the game and structure a training session around improving that skill and seeing the players reach new milestones as a result of their practice. He places a large emphasis on teaching players to think and make decisions real-time, regardless their age group.
Licenses / Coaching Education - Casey holds a USSF National "C" License and a NSCAA National Diploma
Personal Bio - Casey loves to spend time watching sports, mostly Wisconsin sports (Go Pack Go, Fear the Deer). He also enjoys going to Sounders games whenever possible, and playing himself in a men's league on Thursday nights. He also likes to spend time outdoors. Ever need a dog sitter? Casey is a big fan of dogs and will happily borrow people's dogs for a day or weekend at a time to hang out with and bring to the dog park.
Playing Experience - Kevin played collegiately for Bellevue Community College and Seattle University and played semi-pro with Seattle FC.
Coaching Experience - Kevin has an extensive amount of coaching experience having served as a youth soccer coach for over twenty-five years. He has been with BUFC for the past 8 years serving as a team trainer and Select Coach. He currently also coaches with our Premier Sister Club- Eastside FC and has coached several teams for EFC for the past fourteen years. In addition to his coaching Kevin provides private training and offers summer camps through KVG Soccer LLC.
Licenses / Coaching Education - Kevin holds a USSF National "C" License
Personal Bio - Kevin grew up in Seattle and currently resides in Bellevue with his wife. His three adult children all reside in the greater Bellevue area. During his time away from soccer he enjoys playing golf and cooking.
Kevin VanGaver
Girls 2007 Navy - BUFC
Girls 2006 - BUFC
Dylan Hargreaves
Girls 2014 - BUFC
Girls 2009 - BUFC
Playing Experience - Dylan has over twenty-seven years of playing experience having played for Eastside FC, Olympic Development Program, and Newport High School (1st team All Kingco). He continues to play currently on various over-30 teams.
Coaching Experience - Dylan began his coaching career with the G02 BUFC team in 2013. Under his leadership the team has won 6 summer tournaments and 2 Founders' Cup Select State Championships.
Licenses / Coaching Education - Dylan holds a USSF National "E" license
Personal Bio - Dylan grew up in Bellevue, WA and attended the University of Washington for undergrad and UCLA for graduate school. He currently resides in Bellevue with his wife.
Playing Experience - College Ball (Western Washington University, Pacific Lutheran University), 8 years of Crossfire Premier A, 4 Years of Varsity @ Mt Si High School, 3 Years of ODP
Coaching Experience - Private Soccer Trainer for 10 years, Assistant Coach - Mt Si High School Varsity, Camp Coach (Peter Fewing Soccer Camp, Sounders Camp, Northwest Soccer Camp)
Licenses/Coaching Education - USSF Grassroots 7v7, USSF Grassroots 11v11, USSF D License
Personal Bio – Born and raised in Redmond, Washington. Soccer has always been part of my life and I’ll forever be involved in the game. It has taught me so much, and I hope to give back at least half of what the game has given me. I look forward to this new ride and I’m excited to improve myself through coaching and learning experiences.
Nate Popp
Girls 2011 Gold - BUFC
Girls 2008 - BUFC
Coaching Experience - Finishing his third season with Bellevue United, Anastacio ‘Stas’ Rivera helped the boys 06 team win their NPSL division in 2017 and continued on with two further successful seasons, continuously developing their level of play and style with very high player retention. In the 2018 season he took on the newly formed B09 team, winning their first tournament and having a successful season in the top NPSL division.
He was also selected as a Washington Youth Soccer EPD assessor for the 2018/19 season.
Personal Bio - Anastacio ‘Stas’ Rivera’s love for the game runs in the family. His father was a professional soccer player in Mexico, his mother is now a soccer super fan, and his younger brother is an up and coming youth soccer star in the Washington area. Stas spends a lot of his time helping his brother continue to develop and achieve his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. He is also in personal growth mode himself, studying varying personal development podcasts and reading leadership development and soccer books. He also loves attending Sounders matches and follows European Soccer very closely, with his favorite teams being Manchester United, Dortmund and Barcelona. Outside of soccer he is an HR professional running the department for the Snohomish & Monroe Co-ops.
Anastacio "Stas" Rivera
Boys 2006 Navy - BUFC
Boys 2006 Gold - BUFC
Playing Experience - Coach Sangeeta played at Seattle University and was an Olympic Developmental Regional pool player as a youth player. She was in the same regional camp as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain.
Coaching Experience - Coach Sangeeta has also coached at many levels and ages at the premier level and was able to take her team to Amsterdam to compete at the renown Ajax.
Licenses/Coaching Education – Coach has her USSF credentials and has also taken coaching classes at Ajax in 2015.
Personal Bio – Sangeeta has a BA from Seattle University and a Minor in Communication Studies from the University of Washington. “Think positive, Dream big and go for your goals. Always put in 110 percent and you will achieve your potential!" is a motto she hopes to pass on to her students.
Sangeeta Gogri
Girls 2011 Navy - BUFC