MEET OUR TEAM
Our Elite FT Team Loves the Game and Loves Coaching
To ensure the best experience for our program participants, staff training is our top priority! Our ongoing staff education program is called The Elite Way! This program is designed to ensure our entire staff is engaged in identical training methods and philosophies. Our program creates a training style similar to the KNVB (coach’s education program in Holland). All coaches teach the same style, so regardless of which trainer is on the field, they are teaching The Elite Way!
ELITE FT OFFICE TEAM
JUSTIN MCMILLIAN
OWNER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Started Elite FT: 2002
Hometown: Granite City, IL
High School: Granite City High School (HS All-State)
Club Team: Granite City Elks
College: SIUE; Western Illinois (College All-American, Conference Player of the Year)
Favorite Elite FT moment: Celebrating 15 years
Experience: Played for Indiana Blast (Rookie of the Year), St. Louis Steamers (Rookie of the Year), St. Louis Illusion (1st Team All-PASL), and Illinois Piasa
ROXIE STRANGE
SOCCER PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Year joined Elite FT: 2015
Hometown: Granite City, IL
High School: Granite City High School
Club Team: Elks, Granite City Select
College: Lewis & Clark Community College, McKendree College
Favorite professional athlete: Yadi
Experience: Head Women’s Soccer Coach- STLCC- Florissant Valley, Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach – McKendree College
DAVE FERNANDEZ
HEAD SOCCER DIRECTOR
Year joined Elite FT: 2020
Hometown: Granite City, IL
High School: Granite City South High
College: St. Louis University
Favorite thing about training athletes: The challenge to connect & establish a level of trust
Experience: Over 30 years of experience running soccer programs. Professional player, SLU National Champion, Granite City 4 time state champion
CRYSTAL GEDRIS
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR OF THE ANNEX
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: Independent team – O’Fallon Express
College: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Favorite Elite FT moment: After one of my first training sessions with a group of 6-7 year olds, one little girl asked me if I could be her coach every day.
BOB MCMILLIAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Year joined Elite FT: 2011
Hometown: East St. Louis
High School: East St. Louis Senior High
College: Concordia University
Favorite professional player: Justin McMillian (I loved watching him play for The Steamers)
Experience: Retired from American Water Company after 43 & 1/2 years
ELITE FT DIRECTORS AND COACHES
JUSTIN JUDISCAK
POLICY & PROCEDURE WRITER
Year joined Elite FT: 2004
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: Independiente FC
College: Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, University of Missouri – Kansas City, SouthWestern Illinois College, University of Evansville
Favorite professional player: Albert Pujols
DAVID COLE
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2015
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: Metro United
College: Belhaven University (2012 National Champion Team) & McKendree University
Favorite Elite FT moment: The Holiday Camp every year
JOSH BOYD
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2009
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Metro FC
College: Blackburn
Favorite Elite FT memory: The 10 year anniversary of E-Fest
CHRIS FANNING
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2015
Hometown: Troy, IL
High School: Triad High School
College: St. Louis University
Favorite thing about training athletes: Watching them improve and grow as players
PAUL DANIELS
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2013
Hometown: Alton, IL
High School: Alton High School
College: Culver Stockton College
Favorite professional athlete: Paul Pogba
ROB LUGGE
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2012
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: Independiente FC
College: McKendree University
Favorite professional athlete: Larry Bird
PATRICK AMUNDSEN
ELITE FT DIRECTOR & COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2013
Hometown: Peoria, IL
High School: Dunlap High School
Club Team: Sporting FC/CISA
College: Bradley University & Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville
Favorite Elite FT moment: Retaining the over-30 Cup Championship
ELITE FT COACHES
SYDNEY MOORE
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2015
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: BFC & St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College: Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville
Favorite professional athlete: Ronaldinho
KELLI KINNIKIN
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2018
Hometown: Belleville, IL
High School: Belleville West High School
Club Team: BFC, Knights, and WC St. Louis
College: South Western Illinois College & Fontbonne University
Favorite professional athlete: Mia Hamm
KENNETH BOND
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2018
Hometown: Glen Carbon, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Glen Ed
College: Illinois State University
Favorite Elite FT memory: My first Holiday Camp
ANDREA FRERKER
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2016
Hometown: Maryville, IL
High School: Collinsville High School
Club Team: Lou Fusz
College: Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville
Favorite Elite FT memory: Holiday Party Team Competitions
CONNOR WRIGHT
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Glen Ed
College: University of Missouri
Favorite thing about training athletes: Parents coming in and telling me how much their child has improved and how much fun they have at training
EMMA KNOEBEL
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2017
Hometown: Maryville, IL
High School: Collinsville High School
Club Team: Sporting STL
College: McKendree University
Favorite Elite FT memory: Playing Capture the Ball at Holiday Camp as a kid
TARA KENNEDY
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2014
Hometown: Waterloo, IL
High School: Gibault Catholic High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College: McKendree University
Favorite thing about training athletes: Getting to see their growth and development as a player
DEREK SMITH
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2017
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Glen Ed
College: Lewis and Clark
Favorite professional athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo or LeBron James
NOLAN KUMMING
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Favorite Elite FT memory: Training with Justin McMillian as a kid
KIARA STEWART
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2018
Hometown: Okinawa, Japan
High School: Mascoutah High School
Club Team: Gateway FC
College: St. Louis University
Favorite thing about training athletes: They love to engage in a running race with me just for fun
MORGAN WILSON
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2017
Hometown: Bethalto
High School: Civic Memorial High School
Club Team: Sporting STL
College: Southwestern Illinois College
Favorite thing about training athletes: The youth age have so much energy and can brighten your mood instantly
COURTNEY KENDRICK
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Jonesboro, IL
High School: Anna Jonesboro Community High School
Club Team: Southern Illinois Sting, Hawks, and Pekin Pride
College: University of Southern Mississippi; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
MEGAN PAWLOSKI
ELITE FT COACH
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OLIVIA OLSON
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Adrenaline FC
Favorite Elite FT memory: The private training sessions
NOAH HENRY
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Godfrey, IL
High School: Alton High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College: Quincy University & Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite professional athlete: Mohamed Salah
CAMERON MCNEIL
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
High School: De La Salle Collegiate
Club Team: Vardar Academy
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite professional athlete: Neymar
TAYLOR IMMING
ELITE FT COACH
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BLAKE HAGLER
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Highland, IL
High School: Highland High School
Club Team: Premiere Soccer Club
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite Elite FT moment: One of the kids was trying to guess my age and guessed I was 38
TOBY YBARRA
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
High School: O’Fallon Township High School
Club Team: St. Louis FC Academy
Favorite thing about training athletes: Watching the athletes I train regularly progress and get better
DALLAS EICKEN
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Auburn, IL
High School: Auburn High School
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite thing about training athletes: Helping them master their soccer skills
NICOLE LEPPING
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Neenah, WI
High School: Neenah High School
Club Team: Rockets
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite Professional Athlete: David Beckham
JENSEN SCHOCH
ELITE FT COACH
Year joined Elite FT: 2018
Hometown: Winter Park, FL
High School: Eureka High School
Club Team: Lou Fusz
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite Elite FT memory: Watching a goalkeeper I was training struggle with a specific diving technique and finally on the last try they were able to do it perfectly!
THOMAS HYTEN
ELITE FT COACH
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CHRIS MOORE
ELITE FT COACH
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SYDNEE CARROLL
ELITE FT COACH
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CJ CERNA
ELITE FT COACH
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ELITE FT COACHES AND GOAL KEEPERS
ZOE BROCHU
ELITE FT COACH & GOAL KEEPER
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
High School: Pickering High School
Club Team: FC Durham Academy
College: McKendree University
Favorite thing about training athletes: Helping them get better so they love the sport even more
JULIA SCHEITER
ELITE FT COACH & GOAL KEEPER
Year joined Elite FT: 2017
Hometown: Collinsville, IL
High School: Collinsville High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Favorite Elite FT memory: Our Summer FootGolf party
GRANT TOBY
ELITE FT COACH & GOAL KEEPER
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: Glen Carbon, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher and Glen Ed
Favorite Elite FT moment: Leading a goalkeeping camp
MICHAEL HOELTING
ELITE FT COACH & GOAL KEEPER
Year joined Elite FT: 2017
Hometown: Edwardsville, IL
High School: Edwardsville High School
Club Team: Glen Ed
College: Millikin University
ISABELLA HENDERSON
ELITE FT COACH & GOAL KEEPER
Year joined Elite FT: 2019
Hometown: St. Peters, MO
High School: Fort Zumwalt East
Club Team: St. Louis Scott Gallagher/Sporting JB Marine
College: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Favorite thing about training athletes: Teaching them so they are always learning new things and becoming better athletes