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Grissom Men's Soccer

A Tradition of Excellence
Grissom Men's Soccer has moved to http://grissomsoccer.org/ ( Why? )
Grissom Men's Soccer Facebook page
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Grissom Men's Soccer up through 2016 season

Varsity Head Coach Josh Shields

Coach Shields currently coaches with United Soccer Club, coaching the ’99 and ’01 United Boys teams. He previously coached with Blast FC in Fairhope Alabama.

Coach Shields is originally from Starkville Mississippi. Before graduating from Starkville High School he played club soccer with Central Jackson Soccer Organization out of Jackson Mississippi. The ’88 team that he was a part of won 4 back-to-back state cups in MS.

After graduation coach Shields originally took a basketball scholarship to East Mississippi Community College, which he played during his freshman year. After his freshman year he decided to go back to his first love of soccer and played two season for EMCC’s men’s soccer team where he was a two-time All-State player.

After two seasons at EMCC coach Shields joined the University of Mobile’s soccer program. As a two year starter Coach Shields was a part of a successful Mobile program that went 33 – 7 – 3 and won two consecutive conference championships during his two years with the program. As a junior Coach Shields helped lead his team to a NAIA final four tournament appearance in 2010. As a senior, Coach Shields helped the program maintain the number ranking as the top team in the nation for most of the season as a part of a back line that only allowed 5 goals during the regular season before getting upset in the round of 16 of the National Tournament.

Coach Shields gained semi-professional experience while playing NPSL for Chattanooga FC in 2011 and the Mississippi Storm during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

He is currently working towards his second degree in Math and Secondary Education with aspirations to teach and continue coaching at the high school level.

Coach Shields married Kelsie Ruff Shields, Grissom Lady Tigers Asst Varsity Coach, in October, 2014.

Assistant Coach Greg Arndt

Coach Arndt has been with the Grissom soccer program since 1984. Coach Van Horn is the fifth head coach he has worked with. While he leaves the technical coaching to the head coach, he takes care of everything else, including physical training, scheduling, player stats, and keeping O'Halloran Field in good shape. He rounds up teams from as far away as Utah to play in the Southern Soccer Challenge as well as scheduling competitive varsity and JV matches in Tennessee and Georgia. The Grissom Soccer Program would never be where it is today without the selfless years of commitment of Coach Arndt.

Faculty Sponsor Amanda Skinner

Amands Skinner is now Faculty Sponsor for Grissom Men's Soccer. As such she is the coach in the eyes of the AHSAA and must be at at all varsity and JV games, or find a substitute. She also serves as a liaison between the coaches and the administration, and is responsible for all paperwork and administrative tasks.

JV Head Coach Leonardo Santin

Leonardo Santin was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Coach Leo holds a Brazilian Professional Coaching License Levels A, B and C.

After many years playing for clubs such as E.C Taubate, Moreira Sports, A.A Francana, and Sao Jose F.C. Coach Leo decided to move to U.S, to play College soccer and obtain a college degree in Sports Management. He played for Northwest College in Wyoming, and in 2011 moved to his alma matter Union University (NCAA DII) . The third place in the NCCAA championship, and the scored goal in the regional’s semi-final, were some of the best moments playing overseas. As mentioned before, his coaching career began shortly after his graduation, as a professional assistant coach of a former A.S Rome goalkeeper, Julio Sergio, in the same club as he started to play, A.A. Francana. Coach Leo also worked as assistant coach for Botafogo-SP Professional Team, in the first division of the most competitive championship in Brazil.

It was with F.C Barcelona-B team, along with Coach Jordi Vinyals, that Coach Leo learned the philosophy that made F.C Barcelona's Youth Academy one of the greatest of all time, and gave him another great coaching certification, and great experience to develop players.

Nowadays he is coaching at a NCAA Division I program at Alabama A&M University, and also working at United Soccer Club as assistant coach for U8, U9, U14 and U17.

JV Assistant Coach Josh Beverly

Coach Beverly has played soccer since he was six years old. He played for Mobile United as a striker but switched to middle fullback/sweeper when he started W.P.Davidson High School and has played that position ever since. While there, he received best defensive player two years and another year won most improved player. Coach Beverly played intramural at University of South Alabama and remained in a men's league in Mobile, AL until he moved to Huntsville 3 years ago. Coach Beverly is married and works as a System Engineer. In his limited spare time, he enjoys rock climbing, weight lifting, whitewater kayaking, montain biking, wake-boarding and racquetball.

Goalkeeper Coach Doug Bailey

Doug Bailey coaches both Varsity and JV Grissom goalkeepers.