Meet The Coaches

Coaches Group Photo

HEAD COACHES AND STAFF

MIKE SURACE

Mike joined the camp in 2017 as the Packer Premier Head Coach and has been instrumental in launching this newer program geared for players ages 12-14. He is currently the Head Coach of the Norwalk High School Girls Varsity Team, in addition to also being an NJSA Travel Coach, an NJSA Premier Coach, an NJSA Travel and Premier Goalkeeper Trainer and a SoccerViza FC Premier Coach. He holds several USSF Coaching licenses – D National License, E License and a Youth Coaching License, in addition to being a USSF Grade 8 Referee. Mike played 4 years of soccer at Norwalk High School and continued playing all through University of Connecticut for the UCONN Soccer Club. During the school year, Mike is a High School Guidance Counselor at Norwalk High School.

LISA ANDERSON

Lisa has been with the camp since 2004, first as the parent of a camper and now as Director of Marketing & Operations. She picked up soccer at a young age and later played for her middle school team and in local summer leagues. Lisa was named the Nichols School Varsity Girls Team MVP in both her junior and senior year, setting scoring records and was selected to both the Niagara Frontier All Star Team and Empire State Games Team. Lisa also played Varsity Squash and Varsity Lacrosse and was later inducted into the Nichols School Athletic Hall of Fame. The first player from Nichols to be named a USWLA High School Lacrosse All American, she continued playing at Hamilton College, selected as a Regional All-American, in addition to playing intramural soccer and Varsity Squash. Lisa picked up soccer again in 2001 and still plays in adult leagues.

A Certified Athletic Trainer will be on site each day.

COACHES

BEN CZAJA

Ben is a Rowayton resident and began playing soccer at school in first grade. He recently graduated from Blair Academy in New Jersey, where he played on his school team. He has been with the camp for 1 year as a coach and now attends Lehigh University.

ALLY DEJANA

Ally’s soccer career began in Wilton as a Kindergartener and she currently plays on Wilton High School’s Girls Varsity Team, which she has been on since her freshman year. In addition, she also played for the NY Soccer Club and is now on the Academy Team. Ally was a CIT for 4 years and has been a coach at the camp for 1 year.

JASON FLYNN

Jason began playing soccer at age 2 in Stamford and recently graduated from Darien High School, where he was captain of the Varsity team his senior year. He was also the top goal scorer in 2016 in addition to being a referee for the town league and also a CFC player. Jason attends Northeastern University. He has been a coach at the camp for 2 years.

KERI GALLAGHER

Keri began playing soccer at age 5 in Stamford where she attends Trinity Catholic High School, captaining their Varsity Girls Soccer Team since her sophomore year. She also plays for CFC and at age 10, she represented the U.S.A. in the Gothia World Cup in Sweden. Keri was also selected to the Red Bulls Skills Team. Following in her Dad’s footsteps, she has been a CIT at camp for 1 year and a coach for 1 year. Keri also coaches in the Stamford House League and looks forward to playing college soccer in the future.

BEN HAYES

Ben began playing soccer at age 5 in Darien and recently graduated from Darien High School, where he was on the Varsity Team, in addition to playing on Everton and also CFC, where he was team captain last year. Ben has also been a referee in his free time and now plays intramural soccer at Wake Forest University. Ben has been a coach at camp for 3 years.

OLIVIA LEONE

Olivia began playing soccer at age 10 with NJSA and attends Brien McMahon High School where she has played Varsity Soccer for 4 years, acting as Co-Captain her senior year. She has also played for NJSA Blue Thunder and CFC Arsenal/CFC United ECNL. She has won several All-FCIAC awards (Honorable mention – 2015; 2nd Team – 2016; 1st Team – 2017; All State – 2017) in addition to being a Senior Bowl CGSCA Invitee and Chelsea Cohen MVP, both in 2017, capping off her Brien McMahon soccer career. Olivia is committed to the Women’s Soccer Team at Sacred Heart University.

CHRIS LOPEZ

Chris began playing soccer at age 3 in the Stamford Youth Soccer League and recently graduated from Stamford High School, where he played first JV and later Varsity Soccer, in addition to playing for the Stamford Hurricanes F.C. He now attends U. Conn. Stamford where he plays intramural soccer. Chris was a camper for 7 years and has been a coach for 2 years.

JOSE MARIA MARTINEZ MAGALLANES

Jose first began playing soccer as a young boy in Mexico City and played both J.V. and Varsity Soccer at Darien High School, in addition to participating on a Chelsea Piers Team. He now attends Berklee School of Music where he plays in weekend soccer scrimmages. Jose has been a coach at the camp for 2 years.

COLBY SCOVEL

A Rowayton native, Colby began playing soccer at age 6 in the town program and continued to play through high school for Brien McMahon. He now attends Virginia Tech. Colby was a camper for 3 years and has worked for the camp initially as a CIT and has now been a coach for 5 years.

BETH SQUICCIARINO

A resident of Norwalk, Beth played 8 years of house league soccer and currently attends Sacred Heart University where she is majoring in early childhood education. In her first year as a coach at the camp, Beth founded the very popular Staff Talent Show, always a big hit with our campers.

RILEY THOMPSON

A Rowayton resident, Riley began playing soccer at age 2 in the Rowayton Youth Soccer Program before joining Everton and CFC Chelsea and later the Brien McMahon Varsity Team. He now attends Clemson University. Riley was a camper for 4 years, has been both a CIT and a coach for the past 7 years.

LULU TRUJILLO

Lulu began playing soccer in the Rowayton Youth Soccer Program as a preschooler and continued playing in town, eventually joining the Brien McMahon High School Team J.V. Team as a captain and then the Varsity Girls Team. Now attending George Washington University, she plays co-ed intermural soccer.

REILLY WARBLE

A Darien resident, Reilly first began playing soccer in their town program at age 5. He currently attends Darien High School where is on the Varsity Team. Reilly was both an 8th grade and J.V. MVP and is also a certified referee.

ASSISTANT COACHES

CHARLIE BENSON

Charlie began playing soccer as a preschooler in the Darien Youth Soccer Program and currently attends Greens Farms Academy where he plays on the Varsity Team. He has been an assistant coach for the camp for 1 year.

MICHAEL COLONNA

A Rowayton native, Michael began playing soccer at age 4 in the town program and later joined NJSA Premier (UIS). He now plays Varsity for Greens Farms Academy. Michael was a camper for 3 years and has been an assistant coach for 1 year.

CHARLIE GEDNEY

Charlie began playing soccer at age 5 in the Darien Youth Soccer Program where he has also been a referee. He now attends Fairfield Prep. Charlie has been an assistant coach at camp for 1 year.

AIDAN MURPHY

A Darien resident, Aidan began playing soccer at age 3 with Blue Wave Kickers, before joining the Darien Travel Program and now CFC. He attends Greens Farms Academy where he continues to play soccer. Aidan follows in his uncle’s footsteps by attending camp for 4 years before becoming a CIT and is now an assistant coach.

IVAN WATKINS

Ivan first began playing soccer at age 6 in Great Barrington, RI, and currently attends The International School in Prague. He was elected team captain during the middle school international school tournament in Moscow and now plays for the Div. 1 Czech Football Team (FK DUKLA PRAHA.) Ivan’s mother is a Rowayton native and former Packer camper and Ivan has been a CIT for 2 years and assistant coach for 1 summer.

CIT'S (COACHES IN TRAINING)

The CIT (coach in training) program is for 15 year olds or candidates who have finished freshman year in high school. Former CIT's are eligible to become full coaches at the age of 16.