San Antonio FC today announced the SAFC Pro Academy staff for the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, with highly accomplished coach Alen Marcina joining as the newest member of the Academy staff.

Headed by SAFC Pro Academy Director and San Antonio FC first-team assistant coach Nick Evans, the program’s 2018-19 coaching staff is supported by returning coaches Tim Chestney, Jeremiah Narvaez, and first-team captain Ryan Roushandel, as well as Director of Goalkeeping and first-team assistant coach Juan Lamadrid.

“We are delighted to welcome Alen Marcina to the staff and to continue relying and building on last year’s group of coaches,” Evans said. “We are proud to have a staff with years of experience at all levels of the game to maximize the potential of the best youth players in the San Antonio area.”

Marcina joins the Academy after spending over five years as head coach in the North American Soccer League and Premier Development League. The Canada native previously led the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) to a 2014 Championship, and most recently spent the 2018 season with the Des Moines Menace (PDL), leading the club to a regular season title with an unbeaten 13-0-1 record. Marcina also previously served as head coach for Rayo OKC during the 2016 NASL season.

A native of Wales, Evans was named SAFC Pro Academy Director shortly after its inception in late 2016. Evans holds a United States Soccer Federation A license and is currently working towards completing the U.S. Soccer Academy Directors Course.

After years of involvement in Texas youth soccer, University of the Incarnate Word Hall of Famer Tim Chestney returns for his second year as an Academy coach along with Jeremiah Narvaez, who formerly served as an assistant coach at UIW, St. Mary’s University, Trinity University, and spent time as Technical Director of Alamo Heights Fort Sam Houston Fire Soccer Club.

San Antonio FC first-team captain Ryan Roushandel will enter his third year as an Academy coach, while assistant coach Juan Lamadrid returns for his second. Roushandel has played professionally for five clubs since 2009 and was recently named one of the Top 50 Players in 50 Years by Georgia Soccer, while Lamadrid brings 12 years of playing experience at the professional level as well as nearly a decade of coaching experience at all levels, including with the Chivas USA (MLS) youth academy.

“The growth of the academy over the last few years has been fantastic,” SAFC Technical Director Darren Powell said. “We’re happy to see more and more players from the San Antonio area benefiting from the opportunity that the SAFC Pro Academy provides. Nick Evans has put together a great program with a very qualified staff, and we want to continue this growth over the next few years.”

The SAFC Pro Academy is a fully-funded program dedicated to identify and train players in the San Antonio area to provide a pathway to become a player for the SAFC first team, national teams, and/or opportunities in college soccer. Entering its third year, the academy expanded to four age group teams that compete in the Development Academy, the top tier of youth soccer in the United States. The teams are made up of over 80 full-time players from the Greater San Antonio area, ranging from birth years 2004-07. The program also incorporates its Elite Training Program to identify and offer training opportunities to players who are not within the age range for its DA teams.