Select/XL Coaching Staff





Tyler Bjork

Aaron Byers

Aaron has been a student of the game since he began playing at six years old. He grew up in the Highline area playing with the infamous Highline Heat teams who boasted some of the top players and coaches to ever come out of WA state. Aaron has traveled the world furthering his soccer education.

In addition to many years of playing and coaching, Aaron has also instructed the annual Coaching Clinics to which over 1,200 coaches have attended over the years. He takes great pride in helping coaches understand how to use age appropriate tactical references to teach young players. Aaron served as VP of Coach and Player Development at MIFC for ten years and served in the same capacity in EYSA for two years.

Awards/Certifications:

• FC Barcelona's FCBEscola
•  FC World Football Academy's at Feyenoord in Rotterdam (Netherlands) Expert License
• Benfica in Lisbon (Portugal) Expert License
• Valencia CF (Spain) Pro License
• 3four3 in Los Angeles at LA Galaxy
• 3four3 in Los Angeles at Chivas USA
• USSF and United Coaches credentials    

Coaching Philosophy: Aaron has an extensive track record for developing players by developing teams who understand to play the game in possession, out of possession and in between. His teams always play an attractive brand of possession soccer. He has helped develop hundreds of players that have gone on to play Sounders Academy, Reign Academy, represent WA state in ODP/EPD, ECNL and other top RCL players. His 2006 Mercer Island girls (from just three elementary schools) played RCL 1 and made the quarterfinals four consecutive years of state cup, playing one year up.

Emjay Byers

Renato Cardenas

Renato was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Seattle. Following his brothers' footsteps, he began playing soccer at a very young age, instantly falling in love with the game. After graduating high school, playing various clubs, Renato decided to continue playing for Bellevue College. With the support of his family, he continued to pursue his passion of playing, eventually turning it into a career.

Experience: 10+ years playing, 6+ years coaching.

Playing Career:

• MIFC Select player - 3 years
• PAC NW Premier - 3 years
•  EFC Premier - 1 year
• Bellevue College 1st year - Conference All-Star Team

Professional Experience:

• 6+ years coaching with IAS in various MIFC and EYSA programs including;
• Spring Academy 
  
• Winter Sharpness 
• Micro Soccer 
• MOD Clinics 
• Futsal 

Awards/Certifications:

• USSF 9V9 certificate

Coaching Philosophy: Renato's intent as a coach is to educate and prepare players for their future through various lessons soccer brings. He is fully committed to helping kids reach their goals and hopes to pass down his passion for the game.

Willy Cardenas

Willy played professional soccer in Peru's premier division, as well as for the USL Sounders after moving to the Pacific Northwest. With his deep and rich background in the sport, he has brought passion, knowledge and technical enrichment to the Mercer Island/Eastside soccer community through IAS for the last several years. Willy has become a cherished and well-known coach with multiple premier and select teams in the area. He also has a son who plays premier soccer.

Experience: 30+ years playing, 7+ years coaching.

Awards/Certifications: 

• USSF C License, International Academy of Soccer (IAS).

Coaching Philosophy: Willy never thought he was going to be a soccer coach, but is grateful that he found his way. He really loves what he does and strives to pass on this love and passion to each and every one of the players he works with. Willy believes that every player is unique and has different skills to offer and does his best to bring the potential out of each of them. He enjoys getting to know all of his players and loves seeing them coming together as a cohesive team during the season. Willy doesn't ask for players to be great at everything, just to try their best during each practice and game. Willy believes that a focus on player development is key at the youth level.

Francois Delafosse, MIFC Trainer

Francois's career as a player was made in France, from the top youth soccer level to semi-pro level, National 4. He spent 25 years playing semi-pro in France and has been training players and coaching youth soccer for years.

Awards/Certifications: 

• Coaching Diploma
• USSF A License
• Youth Soccer National

Coaching Philosophy: Francois draws upon the skills he gained as a player to teach youth about a game that is constantly evolving. He uses his experience to provide the tools, skills and appropriate levels of training to best develop each player.

Annacy Dyer

Experience: Annacy was born and raised in the Bay Area in California. She played competitively through high school and continued to play at UC Davis while earning a Bachelors in Human Development. Annacy spent seven years teaching at the high school level and coaching the girls soccer team. She moved to Washington in 2019 with her husband and daughter and joined MIFC's Select coaching staff in 2020.

Elliot Fauske

Elliot's goal is to build community through soccer. He has lived in Mexico and Brazil and speaks Spanish and Portuguese. In addition, Elliot has been fortunate to have travelled to over 30 countries and has seen how football connects people from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. He seeks to instill passion for the game through encouraging individual creativity within a framework of sound tactical fundamentals.

Playing Career:

• 6 years Professional Indoor Soccer for the MASL/MISL (2 with Tacoma Stars, 4 with Rochester Lancers)
• 4 years for Seattle University (MVP senior year)
• PDL Championship with Kitsap Pumas in 2011
• Mead High School in Spokane (MVP Senior Year)
• Premier and ODP through high school

Professional Experience:

• Youth select soccer for ages U8-U17 for several years before joining MIFC full time in 2016
• Head Coach - Mercer Island High School Junior Varsity 2018
• Pro Camps Director for Western New York Flash 2015

Awards/Certifications:

• USSF "E" license (I am signed up and will have my "D" license completed by the end of June)
• WFA Football Fitness/Braining Diploma
• WFA Football Tactics/Action Analysis Diploma
• NSCAA Level 1 Futsal Diploma

Coaching Philosophy: Elliot's priorities through sport are respect, hard work and fun. Players should respect parents, referees, teammates, opponents and coaches. Players should learn through sport how rewarding hard work can be. And ultimately, it should be fun. Some of Elliot's best memories and closest relationships have come through soccer and he hopes to create an environment that affords the same opportunity for his players.

Aimie Inthoulay

Radcliffe McDougald

Playing Experience – Radcliffe grew up and played soccer locally on Mercer Island, and for several premier clubs in the area.

Coaching Experience – After a standout college career at Concordia University, he returned home and has been coaching for local clubs as well as Mercer Island High School.

Personal Bio – He brings enthusiasm and a strong understanding of the game, and a knack for teaching the technical aspect that is so important for youth development and enjoyment of the game.

Victor Ramos

Hadji Sow

Cristian Pintone

Cristian is a local product with Chilean roots. He made his mark playing locally for Juanita High School, Alliance FC and Eastside FC. He returned to Chile to further his football education, playing professionally in Chile's 1st division league. In 2005 Cristian returned to Seattle and continued his career in the PDL, NPSL, and USL2.

Cristian has been coaching select teams for MIFC and other local clubs in several different age groups for over ten years. He has also been a major influence with younger players on Mercer Island through his coaching in the recreational "MOD" clinics, Spring Academy and other coaching clinics.

Awards/Certifications: 

• US national "C" License
• Director - IAS Academy 
• Coaching staff - IAS Academy

Coaching Philosophy: Coaching has always been a dream of Cristian's and he began his coaching career at the age of 15. "I love to challenge myself with new ways to pass on my love of the game and the opportunity to develop players and help them see the opportunities football can bring to their lives."

Danny Rogers

Coaching Experience - Rogers has previously held positions with MLS LA Galaxy Academy as it's U12 Head Coach. Prior to LA Galaxy, Rogers spent time with FC Barcelona USA and Total Futbol Academy. Aside from his Tactical Director role, he will also head coach the Boys 2010 group as they prepare for competition at Benfica (Portugal) in November.

Coach Danny has a storied coaching career having coached with Brian Kleiban at overseas events in Barcelona where they played notable academy opposition like FC Barcelona, Ajax, Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid. In 2018, he coached at the Prospects Cup where his BU12 LA Galaxy side squared off with Manchester City, C.D. Guadalajara, Real Madrid and other MLS competition.

Joel Mallari

Experience: 13+ years playing, 11+ years coaching
Playing Career: Four year, 3 sport letterman (Tennis, Wrestling & Soccer) in Oak Harbor High School.
Professional Experience & Credentials:
    National “D” License Certification, 11v11 & 7v7
    B2013 Titans FC Bellevue Assistant Coach – B2012 WPL Washington Cup Champions
    B2014 Titans FC Eastside Head Coach - 2022 Sounders Cup Champions, 2022 ISC Gunners Cup Champions,  2022 Labor Day Classic Champions
    B2013 Titans FC Eastside Head Coach – 2022 Sounders Cup Champions, 2022 ISC Gunners Cup Finalists
    B2009 Offsides Head Coach – 2019 Sound FC Labor Day Futsal Cup Champion
    Owner & Director of Offsides Soccer Academy

 Coaching bio:  Coach Joel Mallari grew up in Oak Harbor, WA.  He started playing soccer at the age of 4, where he started to excel at the sport, breaking scoring records, winning several tournament most valuable player awards and also playing on the Select Whidbey Islanders travel team.  He also has played all kinds of sports growing Coach Joel Mallari grew up in Oak Harbor, WA.  In High school, Joel was a 3-sport letterman in Tennis, Wrestling & Soccer and had offers to play sports on the collegiate level until he got a knee injury his senior year of high school which ended his competitive career.  Coach Joel began his coaching career 11 years ago as a parent volunteer for the YMCA and Sno-King Associations for his both of his children's sports teams.  He currently coaches for the Premier soccer club Bellevue United FC and holds several Coaching Certifications and a U.S. Soccer's National D Coaching License.

Kevin Van Gaver

Kevin grew up in South Seattle. He and his wife have three adult children. Kevin loves being on the pitch with the players. When he's not coaching soccer, you'll find him in the garden, the kitchen, or on the golf course.

Experience: 25+ years coaching - Girls and Boys, 3v3 Micro through 11v11.

Playing Career:

• Youth soccer (age 5-18 years)
• High School - O'Dea/Cleveland, Class of '79
• Bellevue Community College
• Seattle University
• FC Seattle

• USSF C coaching license
• Lifetime Achievement Award- Lake Hills Soccer Club