Michigan Express FC

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 Michigan Express FC 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: Michigan Express FC 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.

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.

Saimir Rada
Hometown: Tirana, Albania
Soccer history: Middle School soccer preparation 1988-92, Member of Albanian National Jr. team 1990-91, Professional player “Tirana soccer club” 1992-95
Coaching history: “Partizani”(Albania) soccer club coach 1997-98, “Torlupara” soccer club(Italy) 1999-01, “Brighton soccer club” 2002-present.
Albanian License “A”, USSF Coaching license “D”, UEFA License “B”
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Winner of National championship (Partizani)
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 4v2v2
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Defend to win

Rob Williams
Hometown: Paw Paw, MI
Soccer history: 1990-1993 Siena Heights College Men’s Soccer Team; 2 time 1st Team All District 23, 1st Team All WHAC conference selection
Coaching history: USSF National ‘B’ coaching license; current head coach Brighton High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team; Brighton Soccer Club since 2002; over 15 years of club and high school coaching experience
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Inaugural CASL North Carolina trip with 87’ Express Team.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: 8v8 with 8 outside target players.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Discipline, organization, commitment, respect, hard work.

Jose A. Lopez
Hometown: Gijon (Asturias) Spain
Soccer history: Played youth soccer in Spain. Played high school, college and adult men’s soccer in the US.
Coaching history: Coached youth soccer (age groups u11 thru u17) for 15 years. I hold a USSF “B” license and a Futsal “Youth Level” license from Spain.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Playing in a men’s team with a few of the players that I had previously coached when they were twelve years old.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: “Joga Bonito” teaching how to play the beautiful game of soccer.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: To be a facilitator, that is to push soccer players closer to their potential.

Terry Giles
Hometown: Brighton, Michigan
Soccer history: Played club soccer in high school to get in shape. Played later in a league - as my wife refers to it - “old man soccer”. Have a National “D” Coaches license.
Coaching history: Have coached at various levels, boys and girls with the Brighton Soccer Club for the past 21 years.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Seeing a player execute a move that we worked on during practice.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: “Show Time”, the shooting game.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Have fun and try what we have practiced.

Troy Smail
Hometown: Brighton, Michigan
Soccer history: I got dragged into soccer because my kids played. I didn’t start playing until I was an adult.
Coaching history: I have been coaching in the Brighton area since 1989. Was Brighton High School Freshman team coach from 1999 to 2001.   I hold a D license.
Most memorable soccer/coaching moment: Making lasting friendships with parents and players. Competing in the Dayton Tournament; finished in the quarter finals with the ’88 Express; finished as runner up with the ’92 Express Black; won the tournament with the ’95 Express Black.
Favorite soccer practice game/drill: Double the penalty area and play 4v4. One team shoots on the big goal, the other team tries to score on 2 (or 3) small goals at the other end by dribbling through. Rotate direction of play every 5 or 6 minutes after a short rest.
Coaching philosophy in 10 words or less: Quote from Tony Waiters; “The game is the teacher.”