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INTERNATIONALS GIRLS SOCCER CLUB A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE

INTERNATIONALS GIRLS SOCCER CLUB A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE

Coaches


KERI SARVER: Club and ECNL Director

Keri Sarver began training players at The Internationals Soccer Club in 1995 after a successful and multi-dimensional player career commencing at the youth level with the Internationals Soccer Club.

As coach for the Internationals, she has been recognized as USYSA Girls Competitive National Coach of the YearRegion II Girls Competitive Coach of the Yearand Ohio Youth Soccer Association North Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. She was also honored by Korrio as ISN Coach of the Year in 2013.

In addition to her club responsibilities, she served as the U19 Women's National Team Head Coach and the U20 Women's National Team Assistant.  Sarver helped to lead the US U20 WNT during the 2018 U20 World Cup in France.  She also served as a National Scout for the USSF Youth National Teams Program, a National Training Center Coach, and assistant coach for the US U18 Youth National Team. She has helped capture state, regional, and national titles for the Internationals.  She has also placed hundreds of college players and developed several US National/pool players from the club.

A standout player and student at the University of Maryland, College Park, Sarver still holds the university's offensive player records and was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team, which recognizes the top 50 players in the conference's 50-year history.

Her playing resume also includes the US Womens National Team Pool (1992-2001), U.S. Women’s Amateur National Team (1992-2003), U-19 and U21 National Pool, and Youth National Pool. She played semi-professionally as well as professionally for the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), having starred for the Washington Freedom in 2001, New York Power in 2002, and Carolina Courage in 2003.

Sarver holds her USSF National "A" License and NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma.


ZDRAVKO POPOVIC: Club Founder and Mentor


Zdravko Popovic 
is the President and Founder of the Internationals Soccer Club. Popovic has a vast amount of experience on the soccer field and in the director's office, experience that spans over four decades.

His accomplishments are truly too many to list. Some notable coaching highlights includes induction into the Ohio North Soccer Hall of Fame (2010) and winning state, regional, and national championships with Internationals Soccer Club. The USSF "A" licensed coach has also served as USASA National Women’s Coach (1998 - 2004), Super Y League ODP Regional Coach (2004), U.S. Youth Olympic Development State and Regional Staff Member, USASA Region II Women’s Select Coach (1990 -1998), United States Olympic Sports Festival Coach, State Select Coach for Ohio-North Women (1988 -1992), Director of Coaching and Development for Hudson Soccer Association (1400+ members, 1993 -1997), State Instructor for the United States Coaching School, and Head Boys Coach at Hoban H.S., in addition to involvement with various youth programs, camps, and clinics.

In addition to founding the Internationals, Popovic's contributions were instrumental to the development of the Greater Akron Amateur Soccer Association’s Women’s Division in 1980, and later the Girls’ Divisions. As a game official, he has held USSF State, NCAA National, and NPSL Professional Officials badges with experience at all levels, including youth, high school, college, and professional.

Aside from helping players fully develop their skills, he has also been recognized as High School Official of the Year eleven times, achieved "Hometown Hero" status from the Canton Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1996 for his outstanding work on the Internationals Soccer Tournament, was a finalist for the Positive Coaching Alliance National Double Goal Coach award, and was inducted into the OYSAN Hall of Fame.

Our Director of Coaching's lifelong dedication to the sport is shown through his passion for teaching the game (and life lessons through the game) to countless numbers of youth players in Northeast Ohio. Many of his players have reached the highest levels of the game – Internationals are represented U.S. National Teams, professional leagues, and at collegiate programs across the country, His influence can also be seen by the number of his former players that have continued to give back to the game long after their playing days have ended. Many former players are now coaching in community programs, premier clubs, and college programs. They can also be seen officiating or on the administration side of the game.



JARED ROSE: U15-19 ECNL Regional League Director 

Jared Rose joined the Internationals staff in August 2012. Rose is involved with the development and training of players in all age groups.

Rose has experience coaching at every level, including high school (three years), club (nine years), and college (three years). He has spent time with Pinecrest Premier Soccer Club, Carrollton HS, Hathaway Brown, and the University of Akron. He is best known for his time at UA where he served as an assistant coach for the women's soccer program from 2012-2015.  He currently serves as an assistant coach with the men's soccer program at Walsh University.

Rose was a also member of the Florida International men’s soccer team from 2002-2005, where he was a two time all-conference player.

Rose started his coaching career in 2006 as a student coach at Michigan State University, shortly after his career at FIU.

Rose holds a USSF National "B" license.  He can be reached at [email protected].




MARK PLATTS: U13-14 Director

Mark Platts brings considerable experience to the Internationals SC coaching staff.  He is the former head coach at Smith College (MA) and Point Park University (PA).  He also served as an assistant coach at Eastern Oregon University (OR) and Walsh University (OH).  His vast experience includes time as a Director of Coaching at several major youth programs including Northampton Soccer Club, Union County United, and Canyon Optimist Crossfire. 

He holds a number of major coaching certificates and licenses, including the USC Master Coach Diploma, University of Delaware Coaching Certificate, NSCAA Premier Diploma, Director of Coaching Diploma, Regional GK License, and the USSF “B” License.  He also has an All But Dissertation (ABD) on a PhD in Sports Leadership and Administration.  Platts can be reached at [email protected].

 




JAVIER IRIART: U15, U17 ECNL Regional League

Javier Iriart joined Internationals SC in the spring of 2021.  A native of Bath and graduate of Revere High School, Iriart is involved with the high school-aged teams at ISC.

Iriart began his coaching career at Bishop-Fenwick High School (Middletown) in 2007 where he helped the team win its first state championship in 2008.  Iriart was then named the head coach at Archbishop Alter High School (Kettering) in 2011.  During his ten years as head coach, the Lady Knights won two state championships (2016 and 2019), six district titles, five regional titles, seven league titles, and produced four All-Americans.  Additionally, Iriart was named Ohio Parochial Coach of the Year four times and amassed a record of 127 wins, 37 losses, and 20 ties.  While in the Dayton area, Iriart also coached premier club teams at Cincinnati United Premier (CUP) and Ohio Galaxies FC, winning the Ohio South State League (OSSL) in 2019 with the Ohio Galaxies FC Elite 01 team.  In the summer of 2021, Iriart was named as the head coach of the inaugural Dayton Dutch Lions FC Ohio Valley Premier League women's team made up of collegiate players ranging from Division I to Division III and ultimately finished second in the league.  After moving back to northeast Ohio in 2021, Iriart was selected as the head coach at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls where he currently works in addition to his position with Internationals SC.

Iriart holds the USSF "B" License and is currently enrolled in the USSF "A-Youth" course (expected 2022).  Iriart also earned the Advanced National Diploma and the Goalkeeper Diploma (Level 1 and 2) from the United Soccer Coaches Association.  He can be reached at [email protected].


RAMONA PAUL: Juniors, U9-U12

Ramona Paul has been playing soccer for 25 years and coaching for 17.  In that time she has worked with players as young as two years old through competitive adult soccer and everything in between.  She has experience in elite development environments, school teams, disability sports and community-based soccer, amongst others. She has been with Internationals SC for three years and grown exponentially during that time.

Paul has coached in the US, the UK, and Ghana with brief stints in Scotland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. She holds all FA Youth Award coaching badges from the UK and the USSF "D" License.  Paul was voted as IFDP Coach of the Year three times in a row and was shortlisted for the London FA Contribution to Women's and Girl's Football 2017 award.  As a teacher and a coach, Paul has gained knowledge in many continued professional development categories, from institutions like Arsenal FC and SV Gio, that address the mental and psychological sides of the game.  She has experience with injury prevention and mentoring as well as running events, camps, and coach education in partnership with the London and Ghana FA.

Far more accomplished as a coach than a player, Paul has funneled all of her passion into helping players reach their full potential on and off the field, to learn how to use their knowledge and experience to propel themselves through life and to gain perspective along the way that nurtures the idea of community and how it can be transformed through the game.



JAKE COOPER:  U13, U14 ECNL Regional League

Jake Cooper has impressive experience at the college and high school levels.  He is currently serving as an assistant for the women's soccer program at John Carroll University.  He spent four years as an assistant with for men's soccer at Notre Dame College.


He spent 14 years as the head coach for HS boys soccer at Shaker, Nordonia, and Orange.  Four of his players achieved All-Ohio honors.  He holds all-time coaching records for wins at Orange and led them to a final eight appearance in 2006.  He led Nordonia to its best season in school history in 2011. 

He has earned a plethora of honors for his work, including News Herald Coach of the Year (2006), Cleveland Division II Public School Coach of the Year (2005), and CVC Coach of the Year (2006).  

He possesses several coaching licenses, including the USSF "A" license, NSCAA Premier Diploma, and the
NSCAA Regional GK license.


JESSICA RADICE: Juniors, U9-U12

Jessica Radice started as a player with International Soccer Club in 2009 and continued playing with the club throughout high school until graduating in 2017.  She then continued her athletic career as the starting goalkeeper at Grand Valley State University for three years.  GVSU won the Division II National Championship in 2019 with Radice having a career high in saves after back-to-back appearances.  She earned multiple shutout records as well as an All-American honor during her junior season.

Radice has been involved with soccer through coaching Pinnacle classes from 2014-2017 and camps during her collegiate career.  She recently graduated in May and is now involved in both Pinnacle classes as well as goalkeeping.







DALLAS BOYER: Staff Coach

Dallas Boyer, who has earned both the USSF "C" coaching license and an NSCAA Regional Goalkeeper Diploma, started his coaching career with Internationals Boys and Internationals DA in 2006 and continued as a member of their staff through 2018.  He also served as director and coach for the Puma Elite Powered by Arsenal training program from 2014 to 2018.  He started as an assistant coach for women’s soccer at CSU in 2007 and continued in that role until 2017 when he was promoted to head coach.

As head coach, Boyer has been at the helm for the two best seasons in program history.  In 2018 the Vikings won the most conference and most overall games, finishing the highest in the regular season standings and reaching the Horizon League Tournament championship game for the first time in program history



MICHAEL PAYNE: Staff Coach/Goalkeeping Staff

Michael Payne, who has earned the USSF “A” license, has a plethora of coaching experience at the high school, club, and college levels. 

He was the head boys’ soccer coach at West Geauga HS (1997) and Hudson High School (2000-2010).  Under his expert tutelage, Hudson HS was a state and national championship in 2002 and a state semi-finalist in 2001 and 2003.  Payne received the Plain Dealer Coach of the Year, Akron Touchdown Club Coach of the Year, and the Ron Pinsenschaum Award thanks to the massive success he experienced. 

Payne has spent time with several clubs throughout Northeast Ohio, including Hudson United Soccer Club (2000-2010), Everest SC (2011-2013), Ambassadors SC (2014-2015), and International Soccer Academy (2016-2021).  He is the co-founder of the Ohio Goalkeeper Academy and formerly served as Ohio North Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff, goalkeeper coach, and coaching license staff. 

Payne also has experience as a men’s and women’s assistant and goalkeeper coach at Hiram College. 

He played collegiately at St. Louis University, making the NCAA Final Four in 1991.  He would go on to compete at the University of Akron from 1992-1996 and was inducted into the University of Akron Hall of Fame.  He was drafted by the Cleveland Crunch (NPSL) and spent time with the Hampton Roads Mariners (USISL), Cleveland Caps (USISL), and Columbus Invaders (NPSL).

Payne has been a physical education teacher in the Hudson City Schools for 25 years.  He recently earned National Board Certification status. 


BORO IVANOVIC: Technical Trainer

Boro Ivanovic has been involved with Internationals Soccer Club since the 1990s. He is one of our most technical coaches in the program and primarily works with our youth ages U8-U14 focusing on their technical development. Boro brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field as well as tremendous patience and great teaching ability. Coach Boro played professionally in his native Yugoslavia and was a member of the National Club Selection at U17.

Ivanovic has worked with many local youth soccer organizations including Bedford, Parma, Westlake, and Highland. Ivanovic also serves as a staff coach for Pinnacle Sports.



JOSH KAY: U13-19

Josh Kay began his coaching career with the men's club soccer team at the University of Akron from 2016 to 2019, the same team he competed with while in college.  Since then he has been a trainer with Force Sports Academy and Highland Youth Soccer, along with being on the coaching staff of the women's soccer program at Highland High School.  In 2019, Kay joined the Internationals Girls Soccer Club, where he is currently a staff coach.  In 2020, he was named the assistant coach for the women's soccer program at Case Western Reserve University.

Kay graduated from the University of Akron in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with concentrations in Coaching and Sports Management.  He currently holds a USSF "C" coaching license. 



  

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Internationals Girls Soccer Club

313 Medina Rd. 
Medina, Ohio 44256

Email Us: [email protected]
Phone : 330-284-2711
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