Our Trainers

OUR TRAINERS

Alex Sanchez
Director of Coaching and Manager of Soccer Development

Alex Sanchez joined the CYSC coaching staff over 20 years ago. Since 2021 he has been the CYSC Director of Coaching. In this role, Alex not only coaches CYSC teams, but also acts as a mentor to the coaching staff, sharing his tactical knowledge of the game, and training and coaching strategies. In addition to coaching youth soccer, Alex is in his first year as the Assistant Coach of Boys' Varsity Soccer at Horace Greeley High School. When Alex is not on the field, he is a personal trainer and nutritional consultant at Alex's Fitness located in Chappaqua, a business he began in 2001, where he conducts strength training and conditioning sessions for individuals and small groups ranging in age from 8 to 80 years old.

Alex hails from Argentina, where he received his FIFA Youth and Professional Diploma ("A" license) from the Argentinian Soccer Coaches Association. Alex also earned a NSCAA regional diploma, a National Diploma, and a High School Diploma. Alex played soccer at River Plate Fútbol Club Academy in Argentina.

Alex Torres

Alex Torres is in his 8th year as a coach for CYSC. He has played soccer since the age of 5, beginning in his hometown club in Perú. After coming to the US at age 12, Alex played for different clubs in Westchester. He worked as a referee, and then began coaching soccer in 2005, coaching for various travel clubs in Westchester. He has also coached soccer at the French American School and the Westchester Day School, and served as the Assistant Coach for the Mamaroneck Varsity Girls' Team, the Assistant Coach for the Briarcliff Varsity Boys' Team, and the Assistant Coach for the White Plains JV Girls' Team.

When Alex is not on the field, he works as a personal trainer and runs after-school youth development programs. Alex holds a USSF C license, National Youth License and NSCAA (United Coaches) Goalkeeping Level 1 and 2 certification, and he has completed a USSF Brazil Workshop and USSF Spain Workshop.

Angela Russo

Angela Russo has deep connections to Chappaqua and its soccer community, graduating from Horace Greeley High School as a 4-year Varsity Soccer starter. During her time at Greeley, the Girls’ Varsity Team brought home their first two Section titles. A multi-sport athlete, Angela attended Tufts University School of Engineering, spending her 4 years competing in diving for the NESCAC League. She returned to Chappaqua and is entering her 19th year teaching chemistry at Horace Greeley High School.

Angela has coached soccer for 17 years, and has been a part of the CYSC coaching staff for over a decade. She is currently the Head Coach for the Horace Greeley Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team, which won the League title in 2022. While she mainly coaches high school girls, she has coached both girls and boys from U9 through high school over her coaching career. She is excited to continue working with the future Chappaqua soccer!

Camp Shropshire

Camp Shropshire, a resident of Chappaqua, has been involved with CYSC as a dad and coach since 2010. He had the pleasure of coaching his daughter and son through their CYSC careers, and has coached several high school-aged teams along the way. Prior to that, he was a coach with Greenwich Soccer Club. Camp graduated from Colgate University, where he played soccer for the NCAA Division I Raiders. He is currently the Head Coach of Boys' Varsity Soccer at Horace Greeley High School, coaching with fellow CYSC trainer Alex Sanchez. Camp has been a coach at Greeley for 10 years, six as a head coach, during which his teams have earned the All-League title three times.

Camp holds a Premier Coaching Certificate with United Soccer Coaches, as well as USSF D license. He teaches eighth grade social studies in Port Chester, New York.

Diego Escandell

Diego Escandell has played soccer since he was 5 years old, serving all youth categories in his native Uruguay. Once in University, he began his studies related to the sciences of movement, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and then a postgraduate degree in Motor Pedagogy. From there, Diego continued to study and research the improvement of well-being and human performance. From 2000 to 2004, Diego was hired by the Uruguayan government to advise the Olympic team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He has participated in numerous training and evaluation projects for individual soccer players as well as professional teams.

In 2016, Diego came to the States, where he coached the Boys' Varsity team at Putnam Valley High School. In his second year of coaching there, the team entered the second round of playoffs for the first time in over 10 years. In that same year, he also began working at a youth soccer academy in Putnam Valley, serving as the Coach of two teams and the Director of physical development to further complement and improve players' soccer skills. In his time off the field, Diego directs an online neurosciences and wellness project, a proposal to help people reach their maximum potential.

Eduardo Porcel

Sometimes a video-biography can say more than words ever can. Enjoy (and make sure you watch until the end)!

Mick Hennessy

Michael (Mick) Hennessy has enjoyed coaching for CYSC for more than 17 years. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Mick immigrated to the United States to attend college on a soccer scholarship. During his four years at Mercy College, Mick was distinguished in his playing career being nominated to the ECAC All Conference and New York State first team selections. He was recognized as the ECAC MVP in his junior year. After college, Mick played for the Queens-based New York Shamrocks and later with the USL Westchester Flames.

Mick earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Mercy College and a Master Degree from Long Island University in Counseling and Human Development. He has worked for more than twenty years as a middle school counselor. After earning his coaching credentials from the FIFA sanctioned Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Mick developed a philosophy of soccer coaching that views team sports as an opportunity for personal growth and exploration. The game in his view is a metaphor for life. The lessons we learn playing soccer will shape the relationships we have with people around us. Mick is still waiting to meet the person who said they regret playing the beautiful game.

Paolo Govea

Paolo Govea, who was born in Lima, Perú, has played soccer since the age of 5. From the age of 7 onward, he played for various travel and elite clubs around Westchester County, gaining attention from clubs in Europe and South America. Paolo moved to Italy at age 16 to train with U19 teams such as Parma, Atalanta, Roma, Lazio, Torino, Florentina and Genoa. While living in Europe for 2 years, he had the opportunity to go to Spain, Switzerland and Russia and to play and train with Atlético de Madrid, Getafe, Locarno and Kuban Krasnodar. At 18 years old, he returned to Perú to play for Alianza Lima.

Paolo's experience in an elite and competitive professional environment gives him an incredible base of knowledge and skills, which he looks forward to spreading to our young players.

Sal Oliveto

Sal Oliveto has been a trainer with CYSC for the past 12 years. At Pelham Memorial HS, Sal captured All State and All American honors in 1988, as well as having the distinction of being Section 1's leading goal scorer. As a striker for Concordia College, Sal averaged 10 goals per season in 1989 and 1990. After college, Sal returned to his high school soccer roots, coaching the Byram Hills Boys' and Girls' Varsity teams from 1993-2000, where he coached the teams to multiple league and section championships and was awarded Coach of the Year three times. His boys' team reached the State Final Four in 2000.

Sal additionally served as the Varsity Girls' Assistant Coach and Head JV Coach for Bronxville High School Soccer in 2001, helping the girls win both the league and section championship that year. He coached the Westlake High School Varsity and JV Boys' Soccer teams from 2002-2006, leading the JV team to an undefeated record in 2002 and a near-perfect record in 2003, leading the varsity team to the league championship in 2005 and 2006, and receiving the Coach of the Year award in 2005. Sal served as the Varsity Girls' Head Coach and Mentor at Valhalla High School. He is currently the Head Coach of Boys' Varsity Soccer at Westlake High School. Sal holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Masters in Special Education, and has taught Physical Education for 27 years.

Shawn Podell

Shawn Podell has been a CYSC trainer for over 12 years, coaching teams from U9 through U14, and celebrating divisional wins over 15 times. Among other accomplishments, Shawn coached the GU13 Thunder to the Final 8 in the NYS Cup (2018) and the GU13 Comets to 1st Place in the Hershey Memorial Day Challenge (2019). Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Wellness and Exercise Science from Western Connecticut State University and a Masters in Physical Education from Manhattanville College. He is NYS certified in Physical Education (K-12), is a personal trainer, and serves as the CEO of Ultimate Training Soccer.

A long time soccer player, Shawn played for Westfield State College. He has also been a volunteer coach for an adaptive intramural program at Mahopac High School and at the Special Olympics in Brewster.