Brighton Soccer Club

Joseph Andrew Callahan
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Soccer history: Professional 95-96 Columbus Invaders; 97 Indiana Twisters;
98-01 Detroit Rockers; 06-Present Detroit Ignition; Westerville South High School
Coaching history: 93 to present – trying to figure out the mystery of children that play sports
Most memorable soccer moment: A player understanding value in making a guest feel welcome.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: Running or rat ball
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: “Play hard and have fun or make sure I am.”

Robert Barnes
Hometown: Canton MI
Soccer history: Michigan Magic State Cup champs, Canton High School, Schoolcraft College.
Coaching history: 2005-present Brighton Soccer Club U10 – U13 ; USSF “E” License; NSCAA Youth National License
Most memorable soccer moment: Winning the state cup. Coaching the u12 girls to a tournament win after playing in 30 minutes of extra time.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Play smart, play hard, play physical.

Mike Howell
Hometown: Brighton
Soccer history: Played soccer for 20 years; Brighton 84 Express, 84 Michigan ODP, Western Michigan University, Detroit Arsenal
Coaching history: 4 years coaching experience, all with Brighton Soccer Club
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: First practice ever with Brighton 97 Express, at the U8/U9 level and asking myself what am I getting into….
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 1v1 to goal - I love 1v1 drills and creativity players come up with on their own.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Together we stand, united we fall: everything as a team.

Mark Howell
Hometown: Brighton
Soccer history: Goalkeeper; ’82 ODP team 4 years; Brighton High School Varsity 4 years, captain senior year; collegiate play at Western Michigan University.
Coaching history: Novi Soccer Club 2004-2007 U-17 and U12; Head Coach Brighton High School JV Boys 2004-2006 seasons, Assistant Coach Brighton High School Varsity Boys 2007-current; currently hold “E” license
Most memorable soccer moment: Saving Landon Donovan’s PK in a shootout at ODP semifinals to win the game!
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 3v3, goals 25-30 yards apart, 2 teams play to 10, loser does “fitness”…high intensity game that all ages of players seem to thoroughly enjoy!
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Character, discipline/respect, hard-work, and FUN!

Mitch Howell
Hometown: Brighton
Soccer history: 89’ Brighton Express 1998-2000; 89’ Vardar Boys 2001- 2005, National Champion runner up 2 years, Regional Champion 2 years/ 2 years runner up, State Cup Champion 3 years; State Cup MVP Goalkeeper 2003; Brighton High School 2002-2005, Varsity captain 2005, State semi-finalists 2005, 3rd team all state Goalkeeper; Schoolcraft 2006, 1st team All-Region Goalkeeper, Regional Championship runner up.
Coaching history: Brighton Soccer Club 2008; Livonia Wings Soccer Club Goalkeeper Coach 2007
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: 2005 High school Regional Semi-finals against East Kentwood. Won 2-1 with 5 seconds left in the game.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 2v2 small sided skills training. allows players to work on touches in a confined space.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Work hard and have fun.

Diane Redman
Hometown: Valparaiso, IN
Soccer history: I didn’t start playing soccer until I was an adult, but once I started I couldn’t stop. I play 3-4 times a week on women’s and coed teams, coach, ref and am the referee assignor for Brighton
Coaching history: I’ve been coaching U9-U12 players in Brighton for 13 years. I have my National D license.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: During a game at the Dayton Tournament one of my U9 boys did a rainbow. He had been working on it all year and asked if he could try it during the game. He executed it perfectly, beat the defender and crossed the ball. We didn’t score from the cross but it was a great moment.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: The one the players always ask for: the shooting game.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Giving players the skills and passion to play soccer for the rest of their lives. (That’s 15 words Diane!)

Matt Johnson
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Soccer history: 10 years professional including San Diego Sockers, Cleveland Force, and Detroit Ignition.
Coaching history: Experience at the Club, High School, and Professional levels. Including a Minnesota U19 State Cup and USA Cup Champion (Keliix-Intra).
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: They’re all memorable.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: The game itself is usually the best teacher - I like to play a lot of small sided games.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way.....Turn.

Kevin Oakley
Hometown: Highland, MI
Soccer history: Collegiate level- Western Michigan, High school- Brother Rice, Club soccer- Michigan Wolves/ Vardar III
Coaching history: Have been on staff at numerous camps, coached for Huron Valley Soccer Club.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Winning state championship at Brother Rice.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 3 v 3 to big goals
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Have fun, get better.

Alex Lubyansky
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Soccer history: University of Michigan Goalkeeper, Detroit Arsenal Goalkeeper
Coaching history: "D” license, 5 years goalkeeper coaching, 1 year with U15 Brighton boys
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Trying out for FC Dynamo Kiev.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: No-holds barred soccer.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Respect yourself, your teammates, your community, and the game.

Jeff Vandemergel
Hometown: Brighton
Soccer history: 4 years Brighton varsity soccer, KVC player of the year, 1st team all-conference 2 years, 1st team all-region, 2nd team all-state and team captain 2 years; Schoolcraft College co-captain freshman year, 1st team all-league, 2nd team all-region, went to nationals; captain sophomore year, 1st team all-league and all-region.
Coaching history: 15 years coaching experience; asst. at Schoolcraft College for 1 year, JV coach at Brighton High School for 3 years, asst. varsity coach Brighton boys 8 years, asst. varsity coach Brighton girls 5 years, club coach 5 years, Class “C” license.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Playing in Nationals my freshman year at Schoolcraft College; girls state finals at Brighton High School.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: To influence the true meaning and love of the game.

Floyd Walters
Hometown: South Bend, IN
Soccer history: Always been a coach
Coaching history: 14 years travel soccer
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Winning Indoor Nationals with the U9 girls.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 1 v 1
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Come ready, play hard, have fun.

Jay Louis-Prescott
Hometown: Brighton
Soccer history: 15 years adult leagues
Coaching history: 24 years high school boys and girls, 12 years club boys and girls
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Watching a player score his/her first ever goal.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: The players love "the wall game".
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Work hard, have fun and you will succeed.

Shannon Manning
Hometown: Northville, MI
Soccer history: University of Michigan (4 years); “State Select” (2 years); Northville High School; various club teams since 1985.
Coaching history: Michigan Hawks (4 years, U9-U13); coaching my kids’ teams in local recreational leagues (4 years, U6-U9); USSF “D” License
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Scoring a goal against Penn State to secure a tie with 1 minute left in regulation time…and watching in horror as a Penn State player took a ridiculous shot after the kickoff that landed in the upper corner of the net!
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: Playing on smaller fields with big goals.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Try your hardest and have fun.

Paul Kato
Hometown: Jos, Nigeria
Soccer history: Played 4 years at Spring Arbor University; 2 Year All-America, Most Valuable Player, four year Leading Goal Scorer; played 5 years of professional soccer, 2 years All-Star team, voted League Outstanding Defender
Coaching history: Four years Kalamazoo TKO, four years Head Coach Portage Northern High School, five years Olympic Development Program coach, five years Head Coach Mason High School, two years Director of Coaching Portage Soccer Club, eight years Director of Coaching Brighton Soccer Club
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: First contract as a professional soccer player.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: Trash talking my players at practice!!
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Preparation and hard work make champions!