Sporting CT's aim is to provide top coaching for all our teams. We strive to provide highly credentialed staff to ensure our players have the best experience on and off the field. Our coaches are reviewed by the Sporting CT Board of Directors to ensure we are providing top quality coaching to all our members.
GORAN VASIC | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(goran@sportingct.com)
Teams: 2007 Girls and 2007 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS
USSF "A" National Coaching License
USSF "B" National Coaching License
CSHOF - Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame Inductee - Class of 2020
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2007-2011 NORTH BRUNSWICK SOCCER CLUB (North Brunswick, New Jersey), Training Consultant.
2001-2005 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SOCCER CLUB (Washington Township, New Jersey), Coach
Coach of U-11 WT-LIGHTNING and U-13 WT –BULLDOGS, Two NJ state number one youth soccer teams
2000-Present GORAN VASIC PRO SOCCER ACADEMY, Founder & Director
2008-09 NEW JERSEY IRONMEN (Newark, New Jersey), Assistant Coach
1998-01 CLEVELAND UNITED (Cleveland, Ohio), Director and Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2007-09 NEW JERSEY IRONMEN (Newark, New Jersey), Major Indoor Soccer League Captain and player/coach
2006 MILWAUKEE WAVE (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Major Indoor Soccer League
2001-06 PHILADELPHIA KiXX (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Major Indoor Soccer League
2000-01 MISL Champions, Twice led MISL in assists
1999-00 PITTSBURGH RIVER HOUNDS (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), USL A-League
Team leader in points, goals and assists
1998-01 CLEVELAND CRUNCH (Cleveland, Ohio), National Professional Soccer League
1998-99 NPSL Championship
1999 NPSL Newcomer of the Year Award winner
Elected to NPSL All-Star Team
1997-98 HOUSTON HOTSHOTS (Houston, Texas), Continental Indoor Soccer League
1997-98 CISL Rookie of the Year
1988-97 RED STAR BELGRADE (Belgrade, Serbia)
Began playing for one of the best youth teams in the world at age of seven and stayed with them for the next nine years.
At the age of 17, I become a professional soccer player playing for first division teams in Serbia and former Yugoslavia.
ANDREI POPESCU | BOYS & COLLEGE PATHWAY DIRECTOR
(popescu8@hotmail.com)
Teams: 2004 and 2008 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS
USSF B National Coaching License
USSF Licenses: 11vs11, 9vs9, 7vs7, 4vs4
USFF Futsal State License 2
United Soccer Coaches - Director of Coaching Diploma
USC Futsal Level 1 Diploma
USC Key Moments In The Game
USC Defending Principles Of Play
USC Sports Psychology & Mental Individual Skills
USC - Creating Talent Diploma
CCEP (Connecticut Coaching Education Program) - High School Coaching Certificate
AIC Level 1 of the NFHS Coach Certificate Program
NFHS Fundamentals Of Coaching
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Sporting CT (2016 - Present)
LEAD SOCCER - Advanced Training Center Program (2014 - Present)
Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach at Cheshire Academy (2022 - Present)
CoachPopescu.com (2005 - Present)
CT SOL GVSA (2017 - Present)
Ginga FC (2013-2016)
Brazil CT (2010-2016)
Everson Soccer Academy (2005-2016)
Wallingford Youth Soccer Club (2008-2016)
Guilford Youth Soccer Club (2008-2016)
Madison Youth Soccer (2008-2012)
Hamden Youth Soccer Club (2010-2014)
Woodbridge Youth Soccer Club (2012-2014)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Quinnipiac University Men's Soccer
Ulster County Community College
IMG Soccer Academy
LANGUAGES
English
Spanish
Romanian
RECOGNITION / AWARDS
Quinnipiac University NCAA D1 Men's Soccer - Full Athletic Scholarship
CSHOF - Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame Inductee - Class of 2020
HIKMET ASLAN - HEAD COACH
Teams: 2006 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS
2000 NSCAA National Diploma, Amherst College, MA
1995 Technical Director, Turkish Soccer Federation, Ankara, TURKEY
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2017-Pre. Head Coach, Kingswood Oxford School-Boys Varsity Soccer Team, W. Hartford, CT
2017- Pre. Coach, MYS Sporting CT 2005 Boys,and 2002 Boys Premier Team, Middletown, CT
2014-2017 Coach, FSA FC United U18/19 Boys, U13-Boys, U23 Men’s Team, Juniors U10/11, CT
2008-2011 Instructor, Teach a for-credit soccer class at Manchester Community College
1999-2005 Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Hartford, W. Hartford, CT
2003-2004 Assistant Coach, U-17 Boys ODP Team, CT
2000-2003 Coach, FSA Premier Club U-14 Boys Team, Farmington, CT
2001-2003 Coach, U-14 Girls and U-13 Boys, Glastonbury Club teams, CT
1996-1999 Coach, Boys Varsity and Boys JV Soccer Team, Watkinson School, W. Hartford, CT
1994-1995 Assistant Coach, Petrol Ofisi Sports, Pro. Youth Soccer Team, Ankara, TURKEY
1993-1994 Coach, Petrol Ofisi Sports Club, Amateur Soccer Team, Ankara, TURKEY
1982-1986 Coach/Player, Hacettepe University Men’s Soccer Team, Ankara, TURKEY
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2004-Present Player, Southern New England Amateur Soccer League (SNEASL)
1984-1988 Turkish National Team Player, TURKEY
1980-1995 Professional Soccer Player, TURKEY
9 Division I Teams, 4 Division II Teams
1982-1984 Amateur National Team Player, TURKEY
1980-1982 Youth National Team Player, TURKEY
RECOGNITION / AWARDS
1994 Golden Boot/The highest goal scorer of the year, TURKEY
1993 Fair Play Award, TURKEY
1985-1988 Outstanding Soccer Player award, TURKEY
1985 League MVP/The Best Soccer Center-Forward of the year, TURKEY
DYLAN HOGAN | HEAD COACH
(
)
Teams: 2008 and 2009 Girls
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D license
Heads up: concussion in youth sports
IYCA Youth Nutrition Specialist
IYCA Certified Speed and Agility Specialist
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Sporting CT 2017-present
Everson Soccer Academy 2015-2017
Brazil CT 2015-2017
Wallingford Youth Soccer club 2015-2017
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Southern Connecticut Men's Soccer, CT
Wallingford Warriors state and region 1 champions, CT
Lyman Hall High School, CT
CFC Wildcats, CT
Brazil CT Futsal, CT
RECOGNITION / AWARDS:
2014 Boy's All Housatonic Team and Senior Bowl selection
Lyman Hall High School Co-Captain 2014
SCC Allstar Academic Team
HECTOR BALLESTEROS | HEAD COACH
Teams: Sporting CT 2010 Boys & 2004/05 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D Coaching License
AFA LICENSE (Argentina Futbol Asociacion Level 3 under U14)
CPR Certified
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
SPORTING CT (USA) 2018 -PRESENT
SOL (USA) 2018- PRESENT
MIDDLETOWN MAGIC (USA) 2016-2018 2007 BOYS STATE CHAMPIOM
DFA (USA) 2015-2016
PSE (USA) 2013-2015.
CFC (USA) 2010-2012
Soccer Plus CT (USA) 2008-2010
FSA SOCCER PLUS (USA) 2006-2008
Estudiantes la Plata (Colombia) 2010-2018 coaching clinics every summer
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Millonarios Youth system (Colombia)
Seleccion Bogota (Colombia) National Champion
Barcelona DC. 3 Division (Colombia) Marcas champions, Copa el Tiempo champions, Copa Coca Cola Champions, Copa el Tabora Champions, Copa de Campeones champions
CCSU
Academia Bogota de Futbol 2 Division Profesional (Colombia)
Equidad 2 Division Professional team (Colombia)
ROCCO CHRISTIANA | HEAD COACH
Teams: Girls 2010 and 2004 Girls
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D Coaching License
10+ Years Of Coaching Experience
GK Level 1 Diploma
Certified VertiMax Trainer
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
10+ Years Of Coaching Experience
East Hampton Varsity Head Coach
CCSU Women's Club Hed Coach
EMILIE HERNANDEZ | HEAD COACH
Teams: 2013/14 & 2007 Girls
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF Grassroots Coaching License
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
2+ Years Of Coaching Experience
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Former ECNL players
Former EDP player
Former ODP player
RECOGNITION / AWARDS:
Won 2 State High School Championships
DANIEL FERRARI | HEAD COACH
Teams: Sporting CT 2009 and 2008 Gold Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D Coaching License
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
8+ Years Of Coaching Experience
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Semi-Pro Soccer League in Argentina
GUSTAVO VILLAGRA | HEAD COACH
Sporting CT 2012 and 2013/14 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D Coaching License
CPR Cerified
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Argentinian Youth League
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
LANGUAGES:
Spanish
English
HELDER GUEDES | HEAD COACH
Teams: 2013/14 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D Coaching License
USSF Grassroots Coaching (7vs7, 9vs9, 11vs11)
CPR Certified
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
15+ Years Coaching At The Youth Level
Wallingford Youth Soccer (Girls)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
U20 Junior A Division
AJ CORTES | ASSISTANT COACH
Teams: Assistant For 2012 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D National Coaching License
USSF Grassroots Coaching License
USSF 11vs11, 9vs9, 7vs7 and 4vs4
US Center For Safe Sports Training Certificate
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
10+ Coaching Experience
Wallingford Youth Soccer Club Head Coach
Sporting CT Assistant Coach
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Wallingford Youth Soccer Club
South Central Premier
Maloney High School Soccer
AWARDS
Boys All Conference Selection
Captain At Maloney High School
LANGUAGES:
English
Spanish
Portugese
EMILY DALY | ASSISTANT COACH
EDUCATION
Master of Science in Management - University of Hartford, Honors Graduate (Graduated May 15th, 2021)
Bachelor of Art in Sociology and Bachelor of Art in Criminal Justice - University of Hartford (Graduated 2018)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Long Valley Recreational Soccer (2014-2017) (NJ)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
University of Hartford Women’s Club Soccer team (2015-2018)
West Morris Central High School (2010-2014)
North II, Group III State Sectional Title 2011, 2013
Morris County Tournament Champions 2011, 2012, 2013
Penn State University Summer Soccer Camp- Attendee 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
PDA (Players Development Academy) NJ
Long Valley United Club (travel) Soccer- 2008-2014 (NJ)
JAMES ADU | ASSISTANT COACH
Teams: Assistant for 2011 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF D License
USSF 11v11, 9v9, 4v4
Safe sport certified
Certificate in Sport Science: strength, performance exercise, nutrition and injury prevention
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Sporting CT Assistant Coach 2020 Till Present
Coaching and training youth soccer
5+ years personalizing soccer training sessions
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
New Haven Men’s League (Boulevard)
Semi-pro league in Ghana, West Africa.
Regional and National school tournament in Ghana and the UK
Ghana National Olympic Football Development Program
Youth Shooting Stars Academy
KEVIN BENZI | ASSISTANT COACH
Teams: Assistant For 2013/14 Boys
COACHING CREDENTIALS:
USSF Grassroots Coaching License
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
3+ Coaching in MYS Travel Program
2+ Years Coaching in MYS Park and Recreation League
