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Staff

KEVIN VARNADO

Kevin Varnado joined the SIMA staff in August of 2014 after spending the previous two years with South Carolina's United Battery Academy. Prior to his time with South Carolina United, Varnado was the Head Soccer Coach at Francis Marion University in South Carolina, where he worked for five seasons from 2007 to 2011. Varnado also served as an assistant coach at Francis Marion for five seasons from 2002 to 2006 prior to his appointment to the head coaching position. During his tenure there, Varnado won two regular season conference championships in 2002 and 2008 and won a conference tournament title in 2008. The 2008 season included an appearance in the NCAA National Tournament where the Patriots reached the regional semi-final. The 2008 and 2009 seasons saw Varnado’s FMU team ranked among the top 25 in the United States.

Prior to FMU, Varnado served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, St. Andrews University in North Carolina for one season. He has served in several capacities within South Carolina Youth Soccer’s Olympic Development Program (ODP). Varnado holds a USSF “A” coaching license and was a three-year letter winner and two-year captain as a player at St. Andrews University where he amassed first team all-conference honors.

Varnado is the SIMA Director of College Placement and a SIMA Staff Coach.

Kevin Varnado

SIMA Director

domenic pultrone

Domenic Pultrone joined the SIMA coaching staff in 2019 after coaching the Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the USL Championship League and the TSC Hurricanes where he was a Coach and Technical Director. Coach Pultrone previously worked with the Pierrefonds Soccer Association in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he was the Director of Development and Head Coach of the Elite U21F/U16MAA teams. Coach Pultone has worked with several clubs in Canada over the years including the Association of Regional Soccer Rive Sud, ACP Soccer Academy, Lakeshore Soccer Club, Lachine Soccer Club Elite, and the Lac St. Louis Lakers Elite.

Coach Pultrone currently holds a UEFA A License and is fluent in English, French, and Italian. Before their arrival at Montverde Academy, Coach Pultrone worked with goalkeeper Marc Kouadio (U17 Canadian National Team player) and Olivier Correa (Jacksonville University commit). In 2013, Coach Pultrone was awarded Competitive Coach of the Year while his Lac St. Louis team won the Regional Championships. His teams also saw great recognition and achievement in 2004 and 2006.

Domenic Pultrone

SIMA Director of Methodology

leo jimenez

Leopoldo Jimenez joined the SIMA program in 2017 and enjoys passing his experience and passion for the game to his SIMA student-athletes. Before joining SIMA, Coach Jimenez had a long 20-year professional career playing for teams in Venezuela, Spain, Colombia, and Russia while playing in the Copa America Paraguay in 1999, Copa America Colombia in 2001, Copa America Peru in 2004, and more. Coach Jimenez, a Venezuelan native, played 75 official matches with the Pro Venezuelan National Soccer Team. He was also named 2003 Soccer Player of the Year in Venezuela while captaining several successful teams.

Coach Jimenez has also been a radio special guest, TV soccer analyst, editor and columnist throughout his career to discuss soccer, the Venezuelan National Team and his professional career. Coach Jimenez currently holds a USSF “B” Coaching License from US Soccer and a Federation Venezolana de Futbol Coach C License.

Leopoldo Jimenez

SIMA Staff Coach

CARLOS PEDRAZA

Carlos Pedraza experience includes an extensive professional futsal career. At Montverde Academy, he enjoys practicing his passion for coaching and youth development. As a native of Caracas, Venezuela, Coach Pedraza began his football education at a traditional Spanish club in the City of Deportivo Galicia. After playing for the club at the Under 20 level, Carlos transitioned into his futsal career while attending the Universidad Santa Maria for his college studies. His experience as a futsal player include playing for some of the most prestigious professional clubs in Venezuela. 

Carlos holds a USSF “C” coaching license and a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration and Business from the Universidad Santa Maria and is a SIMA staff member working across all levels of the program to develop our student athletes technically, tactically, physically and socially for a life in elite sport.

Carlos Pedraza

SIMA Staff | Pre-Academy Director

Andrew Douek-Pirotte

Andrew Douek-Pirotte is an American-born, Argentinian-raised soccer coach with multimedia experience in sports journalism. He has been around the sport since early childhood becoming a young assistant coach, accomplishing later the highest youth and professional coaching badges within the Argentine Football Association (AFA) while also holding a UEFA B License from the Lower Rhine Football Association (German: Fußballverband Niederrhein, FVN). He also played basketball and volleyball at a college level in Argentina. As a sports journalist he was a member of Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos de Buenos Aires (CPD) voting as a jury for the most important sport awards in Argentina, and was also a part of the prestigious International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

While working in Europe he specialized in youth development and scouting. On top of his media content and design tertiary degrees he is a certified International Professional Scouting Organization (IPSO) scout, completed methodology courses with entities like the Spanish Players Federation (AFE) and training sessions from the biggest club talent developers such as Dinamo Zagreb. His scouting videos and recommendations have allowed young players attain scholarships in the US and switch from non-league clubs to professional contracts.

Soccer and continuous learning have always been his biggest focus in life and with his experience around the world including the DA MLS academy level, he looks to help the United States soccer achieve its potential through the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA) program.

Andrew Douek-Pirotte

SIMA Staff Member

JOSHUA NASCIMENTO

Joshua Nascimento joined SIMA Pre-Academy on 2021 and after leading youth teams he became a SIMA full-time staff member.

Joshua has experienced the life a student-athlete at the University of Tampa being a part of their soccer team from 2015 to 2018. He also was part of one of the top academies in the world playing for the Santos (Brazil) youth setup from U17 to U20.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance and Exercise Physiology and achieved work experience as a fitness instructor and soccer coach in Greater Orlando soccer academies plus an internship at the Santos FC youth academy Physiology Dpt.

Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English, he can also speak Italian.

Joshua Nascimento

SIMA Fitness Coach

DIEGO DA SILVA

Coach da Silva is originally from Tupã, São Paulo (Brazil). He joined the SIMA Program as a Staff Coach with a concentration on goalkeeping. Coach Diego Da Silva graduated from Faulkner University (AL) in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

As a goalkeeper in Brazil, Coach da Silva played at the youth level with Marilia Atletico Clube and Ole Brazil for three years. In the United States, Coach da Silva played for Montverde Academy, Faulkner University, and Birmingham Hammers (NPSL). During his time at Faulkner University, he achieved All-Conference First-Team, Team MVP, Scholar Athlete, and several Defensive Player of The Week awards.

Coach da Silva currently holds a USSF D License, Level III Goalkeeping Development from United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA). Before joining SIMA’s coaching staff, Coach da Silva was the Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Faulkner University.

Diego Da Silva

SIMA Goalkeeping Coach

Lucas marchetti

Lucas Marchetti joined the SIMA program in July 2022. He was born in Newark, NJ and raised in Orlando, Florida but embraces his full Argentinian roots. He grew up playing all throughout the state of Florida between Club and High School.

After High School, Coach Marchetti went onto play for Wake Tech Community College (Raleigh, NC) for two years where he then decided to come back to Florida to finish his studies. He is currently studying Human Communications at the University of Central Florida and is finishing up his final year. He is also currently doing his communications internship with the SIMA program's Social Media pages.

For over 5 years, Coach Marchetti has coached all ages and levels throughout the Greater Orlando Area between Club and High School and currently holds a USSF D License. He is planning to pursue the ATFA and USSF C Licenses soon. 

Lucas Marchetti

SIMA/ Pre-Academy Staff Coach | Media Associate

DAVID GRAYDON

David Graydon joined the SIMA program as a staff coach in August 2022. He grew up in Dublin, Ireland where he represented his national team from U14-U17. Graydon played at Manchester City Academy and Leicester City Academy before joining Montverde Academy for his junior and senior year of high school.

Graydon received a scholarship from Saint Louis University where he played for 4 years and received multiple honors such as Freshman of the Year, All A10 Team and All Tournament Teams.

David is currently in his last year of Bs. of Psychology and enrolled to keep his coaching education pathway.

David Graydon

SIMA Staff Coach

JAKE PESARCIK

Jake Pesarcik started his role with SIMA as a Staff Coach/Academic Affairs in August of 2023, he is also assisting in the College Placement process of SIMA players in an overall holistic effort in finding each player their next step right fit. Prior to SIMA, Coach Jake was the Head Men’s Soccer Coach/Administrative Assistant for the Social Work Programs at Anna Maria College (NCAA Division III) in Paxton, Massachusetts from March 2018 through July 2023.

In May of 2018, he graduated from Anna Maria College with a Master's Degree in Social Work (completed within the one-year - Advanced Standing Program), and has received a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in May of 2017 from Bloomsburg University of PA (NCAA Division II) in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and was a four-year goalkeeper for the men's soccer team.

Jake also obtained his United Soccer Coaches (USC) Premier Diploma, Advanced National Diploma, National Diploma, Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma, and his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D and C Licenses. Throughout the years, he has been employed and has volunteered at numerous youth soccer clubs, high schools, camps/clinics and college/universities across the United States. Coach Jake is originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Jake Pesarcik

SIMA Staff Coach

MIGUEL URIBE

Originally from Bogota, Colombia. Miguel joins Montverde Academy as the goalkeeper coach for SIMA. Miguel graduated from Southern Wesleyan University (SC) in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and concentrations in Management and Entrepreneurship. He then graduated from Anderson University (SC) in 2023 earning a Masters of Organizational Leadership.

As a goalkeeper, Miguel played at the youth level with Deportivo Merlo (Argentina) and Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia). He was then recruited to play collegiately in the United States for Southern Wesleyan University. In his four years he achieved:

(2017) NCCAA 1st team all region

(2018) NCAA 2nd team all conference

(2018) NCAA Conference Carolina’s player of the week (week 9)

In 2019, after graduating from Southern Wesleyan,  Miguel started his professional soccer career with the Greenville Triumph in USL League 1. He made his professional debut on September 7th, 2019, against the Richmond Kickers. His debut year they were first runners up in the USL League 1 Championship.

 

Before joining SIMA, Miguel was the goalkeeper coach at Anderson University (SC) for both men's and women's soccer programs as well as at Southern Wesleyan University for the women's program. He was also the goalkeeper director at CASA Pride Soccer Club where he coached academy teams as well.

In 2022, Miguel was the goalkeeper coach for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) in South Carolina.

Miguel currently holds a USSF C License and a Goalkeeping Level 2 Diploma from United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA).


 

Miguel Uribe

SIMA Goalkeeping Coach

JULIAN ANDRADE

Julian Andrade

SIMA Staff Coach