Ambassadors Coaching Staff
Bill Lawrence – Club Director – Head Coach
94/95 Boys, 95/96 Boys Blue
Bill grew up playing competitive soccer in the U.S. youth system, which led him to play varsity soccer at the University of Connecticut for four years and captain the team to a Big East Championship in 1989. He then turned toward coaching youth soccer, beginning in North Carolina with the ’81 Raleigh Spartans whom he coached for two years and led to a State Cup win and participation in the regional tournament. Bill spent the late ‘90s and early ‘00s overseas, working as a sports evangelist in Uruguay, organizing and coaching youth soccer leagues among the urban poor. He then moved to Manchester, England, where he worked with a ministry to homeless men called “Street Soccer”, coached the men’s 1st team at Manchester Metropolitan University for two winning seasons & began working with Ambassadors as a coach educator. Bill has served as a coach educator in England, South Africa, Ohio & Spain. He joined AFC as Club Director in 2009 and has worked as assistant coach for the Cleveland City Stars and the Malone University Men’s Team. Bill holds UEFA “B” coaching license.
Steve Kasiguran – Head Coach
97/98 Boys, 99/00 Boys, 00/01 Boys
Steve has over 30 years of experience training & developing young soccer players. He has led four high school teams to championships, twice receiving Coach of the Year honors in the Western Reserve Conference. He has coached at the premier club level in the Cleveland area for 17 years, and his teams have experienced good success, winning tournaments in & out of state, including a few state cup championships. Steve’s player development philosophy focuses on technical proficiency & tactical understanding, an approach that has served his players well as they have gone on to collegiate and professional levels.
Jason Bibza – Head Coach
95/96 Boys White, 96/97 Boys
Jason grew up in Grove City, PA, where he played goalkeeper at Grove City College, making the ECAC playoffs 1995 and leading the PAC conference in all goalkeeping categories. Jason has coached high school soccer at Sharon High School and Mercer High School in Pennsylvania, as well as his current position as varsity girls’ head coach at Aurora High School – a position he’s held since 2005. Under his direction, the Aurora girls have amassed a record of 68-39-18 and the Record-Courier named Jason their Coach of the Year in 2005. In addition, Jason served as the Director of Coaching for Aurora United for 4 years and has earned his USSF National ‘C’ License.
Caleb Eernisse – Head Coach
99/00 Girls
Caleb grew up playing soccer in Europe and Africa as a missionary kid. He played soccer at Taylor University, where he started every game of his collegiate career. He went on to play two seasons for the Cascade Surge, a semi-professional team in Salem, OR. While at the Cascade Surge, Caleb played under the direction of current MLS coach Martin Rennie. After that he moved to Thailand for a year, where he played professional soccer in the second division for Chiang Mai F.C. Caleb has years of experience coaching and developing youth players from all over the world, working with boys & girls teams from the U9-U18 age level.
Zach Bauguess – Head Coach
00/01 Girls, 97/98 Girls White & Silver
Zach is a product of the AFC program, having played for the club from the U14-U19 age levels. He also played four years of soccer for Cornerstone Christian Academy, finishing in the top-12 of Ohio schools during his junior and senior years, and presently serves as the head coach of the CCA girls varsity team. Zach holds a USSF National ‘D’ license and has coached with Ambassadors for the past 8 years in Ohio, California, Colorado, Oregon & Washington. In addition, Zach has spent time in Haiti studying the youth soccer structure as well as serving as a coach educator in South Africa.
Caleb Fortune – Assistant Club Director & Head Coach
98/99 Girls
Growing up in south-east London, Caleb has been playing soccer from a very young age. Caleb played consistently in local leagues and throughout his high school years. He then captained one of his college teams, going on to win the County Cup championship. Caleb has multiple coaching qualifications from England and holds his USSF National ‘C’ License in the United States. His experience also includes coaching in various community projects throughout London, notably a program with Charlton Athletic, a professional team that competes in The Championship League in England.
Kent Manson – Head Coach
97/98 Girls Blue
Kent is one of the only Americans to ever play in Japan’s domestic league, the J-League. Kent signed into Kashiwa Reysol’s youth system at age 16 and played with the club for three years. Kent has also been a player under current MLS coach Martin Rennie while at the Cascade Surge of the Premier Development League. As a coach, Kent has earned his USSF National ‘C’ license and has led two club teams to state championships.
Steve Sivik – Head Coach
Steve was a member of the 1994 State Championship team during his senior year at Mentor High School. Upon graduating, he went on to play Division 1 college soccer at Northeastern Illinois University and then returned to Mentor High School in 2005 as assistant coach to the Varsity Boys Team, a position he maintains at present. In 2007, the Mentor High School team finished as regional finalists. Steve has also coached multiple youth teams ranging from the U10-U18 age levels in the Greater Cleveland area since 2007.
Keaton Kasiguran – Head Coach
96/97 Girls
Keaton grew up in the Cleveland area, playing club soccer for Cleveland FC, where he was coached by his father Steve. Keaton was also a part of the Ohio North ODP State teams during his club years and won a state championship in 2004 at CVCA. Keaton then went on to play at Messiah College where he played in four NCAA Div. III Final Fours and won three NCAA Div. III National Championships. Upon graduating, he began coaching in soccer camps for Messiah College as well as the Naval Academy. Keaton is currently pending a USSF ‘D’ license.
Trip Roney – Head Coach 02/03 Boys,
Ast. Coach 95/96 Boys Blue
Trip attended and captained the Ohio Wesleyan Men’s Soccer Team for 4 years and later served as an assistant coach during their run to the 1999 National Championships. As a coach, he brings over 20 years of experience from rec, travel, high school & premier level teams. Trip has also served as an administrator for the Cleveland City Stars and the co-founder, president & director of player development of the Kenston Futbol Club. Trip has coached & developed players who have competed at the state, regional & national level of play.
Jon Freeman – Asst. Coach
00/01 Girls,98/99 Girls, 97/98 Girls
Originally from England, Jon has been working with Ambassadors since 2009 by helping lead summer camps and participating in the Confederations Cup playing tour in South Africa. Jon moved to the States in the summer of 2012 to work in the club full-time. Jon grew up playing soccer since from a very young age and his passion for playing soon grew into coaching. He attended the University of St. Mark and St. John in Plymouth, England, where he graduated with a BA Honors in Coaching and Physical Education. During his time studying, he also coached the university women’s team and acquired his FA Level 2 Coaching License.
