OUR COACHES
OUR COACHING STAFF ARE ALL FORMER PROFESSIONAL OR DIVISION 1 PLAYERS WITH EXTENSIVE COACHING EXPERIENCE AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.
COACH – Parnell Hegngi
Coach Parnell Hegngi has been coaching in the D.C. area for the last 6 years and is currently coaching at Bethesda Soccer Club and the Elizabeth Seton High School Girls Varsity Program with Coach Brendon Gregoire. He is a D.C native who graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in 2008 as an All-Conference and All-Metro player. He played for Coach Judah on the DeMatha Varsity teams and with the first Development Academy (now MLSNext) teams in the D.C United U18 Academy team. He then played for Ohio State University and graduated in 2012 as a Big Ten All-Conference player before playing professionally in the German reserve leagues for 3 years. He has returned to D.C. and began his coaching journey working as the Associate Head Coach of the DeMatha Varsity Soccer Team for 4 years, as well as the Technical Director of the DeMatha Soccer Academy and Seton Roadrunners FC for 5 years. He has since joined the Bethesda Soccer Club coaching staff and holds his UEFA C License. He combines his passion for coaching with his work as a cybersecurity client service manager. He is enrolled in the Masters in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management at George Washington University.
COACH – BRENDON GREGOIRE
Coach Brendon Gregoire is the Girls' Director of Seton Roadrunners F.C. and the Head Varsity Coach at Elizabeth Seton High School. As a 2007 DeMatha Catholic High School alum, he has been part of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) community. He has been coaching in the surrounding metro area for 10 years. As an All-Conference and All-Metro student athlete, he was part of the National Championship program, winning 3 WCAC Championships while on an unbeaten streak of 67 games. Like Coach Hegngi, he played for Coach Judah on the DeMatha Varsity teams and with the first Development Academy (now MLSNext) teams in the D.C United U18 Academy team and U20 Men’s team. He is also a 2011 graduate of Towson University, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in finance and played Division 1 soccer. Coach Brendon is a 2015 MBA graduate from the University of Maryland. He joined the Elizabeth Seton High School soccer program in 2019 and was voted WCAC Coach of the Year in his first season while coaching the Varsity team to their first-ever WCAC Championship appearance. Coach Brendon then founded the Seton Roadrunners F.C. club to help better promote and facilitate a pipeline for young ladies to develop as high-quality student-athletes. He combines his passion for coaching with his work as an Auditor at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
COACH – ALEXIOS RODRIGUEZ
Coach Alexios Rodriguez has been committed to coaching and developing soccer players for over the past year. A Silver Spring native, he began his soccer journey as a standout player at DeMatha Catholic High School, where he earned All-Conference recognition. His success at the high school level paved the way for a collegiate career at Saint Francis University (PA), and then a professional career in Germany and New Zealand.
Transitioning into coaching, Alexios Rodriguez began his coaching career in New Zealand for FC Twenty 11, where he was a coach and personal trainer for players in the U9-U12 Level. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Coach for the DeMatha Catholic High School Varsity soccer program and Head Coach for DeMatha Soccer Academy (DMSA) teams in the PG County area. He holds his USSF grassroots licenses with the ambition to continue his licenses with UEFA with the plan to develop and inspire young ambitious soccer players to play at the next level.
COACH – JUDAH COOKS
Coach Judah Cooks has coached and developed players for the last 20 years. He is a D.C. native and coached Coach Parnell and Coach Brendon on WCAC Championship-winning teams at DeMatha Catholic High School. Before his coaching career began, Coach Judah was a recognized talent in the greater Washington, DC metro area. He is a graduate of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. While at Walt Whitman, Judah was a three-time Parade All-American (1993 to 1995) member of the U-17 and U-20 U.S. National Teams. During the 1993 U-17 FIFA World Championship in Japan, Cooks scored four goals for the United States. He then went on to play at the University of Maryland and was selected to the All-ACC team in 1998. Coach Judah scored 12 goals in 52 games in three years at Maryland. He was then selected to the MLS Pro 40 and joined the D.C. United team in 1998. From 1998 to 2001, Coach Judah was a member of the D.C. United squad, including the 1999 MLS championship team. He scored two goals in 26 appearances for the club. From 2001 to 2003, Cooks was a Milwaukee Rampage, Miami Fusion, Atlanta Silverbacks, Syracuse Salty Dogs, and the Charleston Battery member. Coach Judah holds a USSF B license. He started coaching in 2004 at National Cathedral School and served as an Assistant Coach at DeMatha Catholic High School from 2005 to 2009. Most recently, Coach Judah served as the Technical Director at Washington Capitol FC. From 2005 to 2011, he was the Special Projects Coordinator and a coach with the D.C. United Youth Academy. He then took on the Girls' Director of Coaching role at Weston FC in Miami, Florida, and was appointed Weston FC Technical Director. He now serves as the Director of Coaching at Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club.
COACH – JOseph Salem
Coach Joe has been coaching and developing players for the last 12 years. He is an Akron native who was a first-team All-District player at St. Vincent—St. Mary High School. He played college soccer at the University of Tulsa and was a first-team All-Conference USA player and a MAC Hermann Trophy nominee during his time with the program. During his time with the program, the Golden Hurricane won 3 consecutive Conference USA regular season and tournament championships, participating in the NCAA tournament each of those conference championship-winning seasons and advancing to the Elite 8 in 2009. Coach Joe then played in the USL Premier Development League with the Des Moines Menace before continuing into the NASL Pro League with the Puerto Rico Islanders. Coach Joe began his coaching career working as an assistant coach with the Case Western Reserve University and University of Louisville soccer programs. He then worked with the Cleveland Force Soccer Club and served as the Director of Business Development within the Club. He earned his MBA from the University of Louisville and holds a USSF C License. Coach Joe came to the DMV after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director at Canisius High School and the Head Varsity Soccer Coach for their boys' program. Coach Joe worked as the Associate Head Coach with the DeMatha High School Varsity Soccer program as well as the Director of Player Development with DeMatha Soccer Academy. He currently serves as the Director of Player Development at the Seoul Sports Academy.
COACH – SIMON BIRNSTAD
Coach Simon is a Norwegian-American citizen born and raised in Washington DC around Soccer culture. In high school Simon played 4 years of varsity soccer for the Wilson tigers. As a senior Simon made DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) all-star team and recorded the lowest Goals Against Average in the All-Metropolitan (All-Met) Region. Collegiately Simon played for the UDC firebirds for 4 years and graduated with a 3.9 GPA and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Sustainability. Simon’s favorite goalkeeper is Iker Casillas!
-USSF D license
-USC Level 1 Goalkeeping License
-Equinox Tier 3 Certified Personal Trainer