Our Team Members

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Andre Vieira

Academy Staff Coach

Coach Andre grew up and has lived in the heart of the Ironbound all of his life. He spent his youth career playing for Den of Lions SC in Newark, NJ.

Craig Smillie

Director of Programs

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David Barbour

Girls Technical Director, FC Copa Academy Millstone

“Success is no accident. It is the hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love of what you are doing.”

Dr. Vincent Codella

Academy Medical Doctor

Dr. Vincent Codella serves as both the Academy Medical Director of FC Copa Academy as well as the Official Team Doctor for both the UWS and NPSL New Jersey Copa FC teams.

Jonathan Yazo

Director of Administration

“Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard”

Marty Berman

Director

Marty has been the Varsity Soccer Coach at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange for the past 24 years.

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Andrew Santos

Director of Operations, Director of Futsa

Coach Andrew is an alum of FC Copa Academy and now joins us as the Director of Operations and as Director of Futsal.

Craig Stolarski

Technical Staff Coach

Coach Craig brings over 35 years of experience as a player and coach to FC Copa Academy.

Dimitrios Vassiliadis

Marketing Manager

Coach Dimitrios, a full-time staff member at FC Copa Academy, has 4 years of coaching experience at many different levels under his belt.

Hector Escobar

Technical Staff Coach

Coach Hector joined FC Copa after an impressive nine-year head coaching tenure with his East Brunswick United FC team.

Lennard Visman

Technical Director FC Copa Brooklyn

Coach Lennard joins FC Copa with over a decade of experience as a coach, having previously served as Director of Coaching for DTS.

Matty Berman, CPT

Director of Strength and Conditioning

"It’s been a special opportunity to come back and coach at the club that helped me so much throughout my youth career. Working alongside my mentor, Coach Roberto, and the entire staff as well as having great groups of players and families continues to make this experience special."

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Billy Englishby

Boys Technical Director

"We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” - Archilochoslike

David Atkinson

Director of Programs FC Copa Brooklyn

Atkinson joins FC Copa after serving in senior positions at New York-area clubs over the past seven years.

Dr. Thomas DiPaolo

Doctor of Physical Therapy | DiPaolo Physical Therapy

Dr. Thomas DiPaolo is a graduate of Mercy College in New York, holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is licensed to practice in NY and NJ.

Jef Thiffault

Director of Club Development & Communications

Jef Thiffault joins FC Copa Academy as Director of Club Development and Communications with an impressive background in American soccer administration.

Lori Berman

Vice President, Director of Education & Academic Guidance

Coach Lori plays a vital role in player development at FC Copa Academy. She has been influential in preparing and assisting over 200 FC Copa Academy alumni for the transition to playing college soccer across all levels.