We are building a strong staff of passionate, professional coaches who believe in our vision. Our staff includes current and former collegiate, club level and high school coaches. We are proudly coming to agreements with some of Southern Maine's top coaches. We will also provide pathways for passionate, young coaches to work through our system, earn national licenses, and grow through our SMFC Coaching Education Programs.
Greg CavanaughCoFounder/DIRECTOR OF COACHING
Greg Cavanaugh has spent the last 10 years teaching and coaching in Southern Maine Schools. He has served as the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Westbrook High School and Kennebunk High School, where he is entering his fifth season in the Fall.
As an educator, Greg has a master's degree and has taught special ed and general ed in the Yarmouth, Biddeford, Portland and now RSU21 schools. Greg believes in the relationship between education and sports. He values multi-sport athletes. Most of all, Greg subscribes to developing a pedagogy that focuses on the whole-child where performance skills and moral skills drive the process of success. Greg was named the SMAA Coach of the Year in 2019, was awarded the Charles Butts Award in 2015 by the Maine State Soccer Officials. He has worked with Recreation and Local Clubs to develop coaching curriculum for youth development. He has volunteered several seasons to coach youth teams with a focus on development. |
Paul RobinsCofounder/C.O.O.Paul Robins is the Founder of First Touch Sports and Winter Park FC based in the Orlando, Florida area. Paul began his work at FTS providing private sessions with four players. Paul's relationship building, dedication, and expertise quickly saw growth. Now, First Touch Sports enrolls over 350 players in their various developmental camps, programs and leagues.
In 2019, Paul added Winter Park FC to the FTS program. After developing 3,4, and 5 year old players the natural growth of the club blossomed. As Paul's reputation for providing quality, professional instruction grew, professionals from overseas have taken notice. Paul has recently added former Premier League player and Crystal Palace u23 coach, Richard Shaw, as Winter Park's Director of Coaching. Paul is committed to developing players technically and tactically with intensive attention to detail. He builds strong personal rapport with players, constantly find new technologies like Trace Up to improve performance. Paul's expertise and experience will be a massive addition to Southern Maine FC. |
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Will Pike
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Jeff Yaeger
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Head Coach at Saint Joseph's College, Will Pike headlines our inaugural class of SMFC coaches. Will enters his second season at the helm of the Nationally Ranked SJC Men's Program after boasting a 16-2-3 record in 2019.
Will served as an assistant at Saint Joseph's for five years (2012, 2015-18). He was the head assistant and goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2018, helping lead the two sides to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships. Will was the Director of Goalkeeping at Seacoast United for five years (2013-17) and holds a USSF)National "C" Coaching License. Healso served as an assistant coach at Husson University in 2013. During his time as an assistant coach for the SJC men's soccer program, Will has helped the Monks win three-consecutive GNAC Championships with an incredible cumulative 55-3-8 (.833) record – including a 28-0-2 (.933) mark in conference play – over the last three seasons and was a member of the 2017 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III New England Region Coaching Staff of the Year. |
Jeff Yaeger is a native of Presque Isle, Maine. He was 4 year starter in goal at St Joseph's College of Maine where he lead the Monks to their first conference championship in program history and named Senior Male Athlete of the Year in 2004. After graduating he moved to Colorado and spent one season with the Colorado Springs Blizzard of the Player Development League.
After returning to Maine he began his coaching career with Odyssey Sports 97 working with U12 boys and the club goalkeepers. In 2007 he joined the Monks coaching staff spending time with both the men's and women's team as an assistant focusing on goalkeeping. In 2014 he joined the Bobcats of Bates College men's and women's program, again working with goalkeepers. He also spent 2 years with the Portland Phoenix PDL team as an assistant working with a number of top level young players from all over the country. Jeff has spent time working with all ages of goalkeeper for both Seacoast United and GPS Maine and is looking forward to training young keepers with Southern Maine FC. Jeff lives in Gorham with his wife Michelle and two boys Lucas and Caleb. He is currently serving as the Coaching Director for Gorham Youth Soccer and coaching his son's in whatever sport they choose to play. |