LRFC Coach Bios

Nick Sherwood, LRFC Director of Coaching, USSF "A" License as well as a National Youth License. A little rock native, combines 20 years of playing experience at the club, high school, and collegiate level, with 10 years of coaching experience at the club, Olympic Development, and collegiate level.  He played four years at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), being named team captain his junior and senior seasons. From there he spent five years as the assistant coach for UCA, helping the program make three trips to the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four appearance in 2002. He is a staff coach for the Olympic Development Program and has coached youth soccer for the past 10 years.

Brittany Axford, LRFC Assistant Director of Coaching, USSF “B” License as well as a National Youth License.  As a Little Rock native, Brittany combines 20 years of playing experience at the club, high school, ODP, and collegiate level, with 6 years of coaching experience at the club, Olympic Development, and collegiate level.  She played three years at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and one year at William Carey (WCU), where she helped lead the team to conference championship.  From there she spent six years as an assistant at several colleges and universities, helping each program to some of the most successful seasons in their program’s history.  Brittany has earned her B.S. in health science and her M.S. in counseling psychology.

 Sean Dunbar, LRFC Assistant Director of Coaching, USSF "B" license, National Youth License.  18 years coaching experience including recreational, classic club, ODP & high school teams in both NWA and central Arkansas, played locally LRFC (formerly Riverdale Soccer Club) '82 - '90, Catholic High School (3 Championships) '86-'90,  founding board member of the Arkansas Central Soccer Association est. 2002. My primary goal is to ensure that players are having fun while developing their talent as well as developing a respect and appreciation for the game.

Tina Banham, began her sixth season at the helm of the University of Central Arkansas’ women’s soccer program in 2006. She guided the Bears to a school record 12 wins last season, led UCA to its third appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, and guided the Bears to a #3 ranking in the NCAA II South Regional Poll. Named the 2002 GSC Coach of the Year for leading the Bears to a 10-9 record and a #5 ranking in the region. Banham came to UCA from Lambuth University, where she served as head coach of the women’s program from 1998 to 2000. Prior to Lambuth, Banham spent two seasons as the assistant women’s soccer coach and head women’s tennis coach at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C. While at Coker from 1989-1993, earning All-Conference (1989-93), All-District (1992-93), All-Region (1993) . A four-time CVAC Player of the Week in 1993, Banham was named team MVP in both her junior and senior seasons and was selected to play in the NAIA Umbro/NSCAA Women’s Senior Bowl in 1993. During her senior year, Banham served as head varsity boy’s soccer coach at McBee (S.C.) High School, creating the school’s first program from scratch. In addition to directing the UCA Soccer Academy the past three summers, Banham has directed camps throughout the region for Lambuth, Dulin (Tenn.) Sports Academy, Fort Pierce (Fla.) High School, the YMCA’s Youth Sports Program, and has served as a clinician at the University of South Carolina soccer camps.

Jeremy Bishop,  Assistant Soccer Coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2009-). Starting the soccer programs  at Lyon College in Batesville, AR (2002-2008). Started the soccer programs at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, KS (2001). Graduate Assistant Coach at UCA (1998-2000). Head coach at Central Arkansas Christian High School (1999-2000). ODP Arkansas State Head Coach (2006-2008). Harding University- BA in Kinesiology (1997), UCA- MS in Kinesiology (2000). USSF "C" License. Grew up playing soccer at Riverdale Soccer Club before it became LRFC.

Freddy Delgado, USSF "A" license 2005. Freddy enters his second season at the helm of the UALR women's soccer program. In his first season with the Trojans, Delgado helped lead the team to their third consecutive berth in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. He compiled a record of 8-11-2 overall and a 4-6-1 mark in Sun Belt play. Delgado earned his first career win on Aug. 29, 2008 as his team defeated SEC member Mississippi State 2-1 in overtime. Delgado was named UALR head women's soccer coach on April 15, 2008, bringing with him seven years of coaching experience in the Sun Belt Conference. Delgado came to UALR after seven seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Delgado joined the ULM program in 2001 and was an integral part of the Warhawks' success and growth before his departure. During his time at ULM, Delgado's guidance helped produce 26 All-Conference selections, four Academic All-Americans and a school-record 14-6-2 season in 2004.A standout at Regis University from 1993-97, Delgado began his coaching career at his alma mater, where in four years as an assistant coach (1997-2001) he helped guide the women's program to the 1999 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season championship and a conference tournament title in 2000. During his time at Regis, Delgado also served on staff of the Colorado Olympic Development Program from 1997-2001.Delgado gained additional experience as the head coach of the Colorado Rush U-16 boys team from 1999-2001, and served as the club director of the NELSA Soccer Association from 2001-2008.

Rick Friday, USSF National "C" License, and a Personal Training certification from the American Council on Exercise. Played soccer for 24 years , 18 years of which has been at a competitive level. Started playing for the Olympic Development Program when at 14 years old and played 3 years. In High School I played both classic soccer and started for Cabot High School all four years. Made a select team put together by Eurosport my junior year to play in Europe for a summer. Went to the University of Central Arkansas to play on scholarship and played for 3 years there. Majored in Exercise Science and Minored in Nutrition. Have been coaching soccer for 6 years and competitively for four of them.

Ian Goodman, graduated from University of Central Arkansas in ’07 and will be attending medical school at UAMS in fall ’08. He has served as the LRFC goalkeeping coach during the 2007-2008 season. While at UCA he attained All Gulf South Conference 2nd team (2004 and 2005), Defensive player of the week honors six times, and Gulf South Conference All-Tournament team in 2005. He also served as team captain during his final year at UCA. His high school years were spent in Arkansas where he played for LRFC ’85 and Russellville High School. He was all-state three years during high school, Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year (2003), and was team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was selected to the ODP Region 3 regional pool in 2000 and the ODP Region 3 regional team in 2002.

Heather Gray, USSF National “D” License, graduated from Harding
University with a degree in Public Relations and a masters in
Communications. She played collegiate soccer, on scholarship, at
Harding for four years (’98 – ’02) and was the graduate assistant for
one year (’03). While at Harding; four year starter, center midfield,
team captain for three years, “Most Valuable Player”1999, First Lady
Bison to earn All-Gulf South Conference honors, 1998/1999 All-Lone Star
Conference Teams, 2002/2003 All-Gulf South Conference Teams. Heather
played club soccer for Dallas Sting and was captain for four years. She
attended Plano East High School and was voted “Most Valuable Player”
1998. District 17 All-Conference First Team 1998.

Nick Harbert, USSF National "C" License, NSCAA Professional Development Certificate. Entering 6th year as LRFC staff coach.  Little Rock Catholic JV coach in 2007, 2008.  Little Rock Central Varsity Boys coach in 2010. Played club soccer for Oklahoma City Spirit and OSC while growing up in Oklahoma. Moved to Little Rock when 14 and played for Little Rock Heat, which has since merged with LRFC. Arkansas High School All-Conference freshman year, All-State sophomore and senior years. Played for UCA in 2001 before transferring to Univ. of Arkansas Graduated in 2005 from Univ. of Arkansas with degree in Communication and minor in German. Spent summer of '04 in Germany on study abroad, where he trained with SV Arget, the local team. Played on Rogers, AR Hispanic league champions, Zacapa, in '04 and has since played in amateur leagues in Little Rock and Colorado.

Justin Hawkins, USSF National “C” License and National Youth License. Central Baptist College – Head coach of Men’s and Women’s Soccer 2005 – present. LRFC staff coach 2009 – present. Conway United Soccer Association – Director of Coaching – 2006 – 2007. ODP state staff coach – 2004 – present. Conway High School – Head Coach of Girl’s Soccer from 2005 – 2009. Arkansas State Soccer Association – Technical Director – 2005.   Staff Coach for Conway United Soccer Association 2004 – 2007. Greenbrier High School  - Head Soccer Coach 2002 – 2004. NCCAA Central Region Coach of the Year 2007 and 2008. Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer Team National’s 2008. Central Baptist College Men’s Soccer Regional Champions 2008. U11 Boys State Champion 2010. U13 Girls State Finalist 2009. U12 Girls State Finalist 2008. U18 Girls State Finalist 2007. U18 Girls State Finalist 2006. U14 Girls State Finalist 2005. U18 Boys State Finalist 2005. U18 Girls State Finalist 2004. U13 Boys State Finalist 2004. U12 Boys State Finalist 2003.

Jerry Howard, USSF "D" License, Classic soccer coach for LRFC since 1989. Arkansas ODP coach for 4 ½ years, 1 year coaching High School soccer in Little Rock. Director of Player Development for Riverdale Soccer Club 2000-2001. Born in Dallas, TX, grew up playing in various Classic, Premier, and High School leagues in the DFW area for 18 years. Member of the Texas Longhorns Soccer Club Touring team, which played and trained in England and Scotland. Played in various Men's Amateur leagues in Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas; with one year semi-pro Indoor Soccer experience in St. Louis, MO. In 1990, recognized with the "Certificate of Appreciation" by the City of Little Rock for coaching youth soccer. '89 U16 State Champions, represented Arkansas at Region III Tournament in Tulsa,OK. '91 U-16 State Cup Finalist, '94 U11 State Cup Champions & U12 Division State Cup Finalist, '02 U11 State Cup Champion's, '03 U-12 State Cup Semi-Finalist, '06 U10 State Cup Semi-Finalist, State Cup Finalist '07, State Cup Finalist '08

Hewlett Huggins, USSF "C" license and NSCAA Level 2 Goalkeeping certificate. Former ODP coach for State of Arkansas. 5 years coaching recreational and 9 year’s classic. Youth soccer in UK. Former Arkansas men’s amateur league player. Recreational State Championships U12B (1993), U14B (1994) & U14B (1997). Classic State Championships U12B (2003), U13B (2004), U14B (2005), U15B (2006), Premier League North Champion (Fall 2005).

Ryan Lawrence, USSF National "C" License, Ryan is a 1999 graduate of Fayetteville High. He played on the '99 State Championship soccer team and was named MVP of the Championship game and All State that same year. Ryan played college soccer Oral Roberts University in 1999-2000 before transferring and to UCA 2001-2001. Both schools won conference championships and made appearances in the NCAA tournament. Ryan was a two time All Conference Team  and All Conference Tournament Team performer. The 2002 UCA team set records as they won their Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Ryan graduated from UCA in 2004 with a B.A. in Spanish.  Ryan will teach and be the head coach at Catholic High School this coming Fall. 

Chris McNaughton was named UALR assistant women’s soccer coach on July 29, 2009, after spending the previous three seasons as the head coach at Lyon College. McNaughton led Lyon College to a second-straight winning season in 2007 (9-8-1) before losing to eventual NAIA National Champion Martin Methodist College in the semifinals of the TranSouth Athletic Tournament. In 2008, the Pipers put together a 12-5-2 record and tied for second in the conference with a 4-1-1 mark – the highest finish in the program’s history. The Pipers once again advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament and received votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll for eight of the last nine weeks of the season. Prior to taking over at Lyon College, McNaughton was the assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from 2002-05. In four seasons at Ottawa University, McNaughton helped lead the women’s soccer team to three-consecutive KCAC postseason tournament championships (2002-04) and three-straight KCAC regular season titles (2003-05). The Lady Braves made four-consecutive NAIA Region IV appearances, while the men’s program won the 2004 KCAC postseason tournament title on its way to the first Region IV Tournament appearance in school history. In his seven years of coaching experience, he has helped develop 25 All-Conference, four All-Region and two All-America selections, as well as eight TranSouth Athletic Conference Scholar Athletes. McNaughton was a five-time NAIA Academic All-American at Ottawa University, graduating in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in management information systems. He went on to earn his master’s degree in business administration from Ottawa University in 2004.After starting at Missouri Valley College, McNaughton went on to earn KCAC All-Conference honors during his playing career at Ottawa University (1999-01). As a prep, McNaughton earned All-State, All-District and All-Conference honors at Harrisonville (Mo.) High School. He is a member of the NAIA Champions of Character and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and earned his premier diploma from the NSCAA in 2009.

Doug Mello
Head Men's Soccer Coach, Hendrix College
Arkansas ODP Staff Coach
Former USSF Region II Head Coach
Named United Soccer League Coach of the Year in 1995 for leading the Des Moines Menace to the USL Final Four
Has served as Iowa NSCAA state coach and Midwest region staff member
Served seven years as ISYSA state coach in charge of the boys and girls Olympic development program
Coached at the professional indoor level with the Tallahassee Scorpions in the EISL
Recent inductee into the Siena Heights University Hall of Fame
Holds the highest NSCAA coaching license (Premier Diploma)
Named District Coach of the Year nine times and Regional C.O.Y. four times

Andrew Ngundue
USSF "C" License. Born in Cameroon.
Playing Experience
Played soccer at all levels for over 30yrs.
4 times State Selection
3 times Junior National Selection
2 yrs college and semi pro soccer
Playing Awards
5 times State Champs and 3 Times Amateur Champions
Coaching Experience
Amateur and Classic Soccer over 7 years
Coaching Awards
3 times Men Amateur Champions
4 times State Champions
2 times SuperClubs, CCC and CASA Champions
1 time GIT, Winrock, and Blitz Invitational Champions
3 Times BCB Finalist
2 Times Red River Finalist
1 time State, GIT, Hurricane, and Thunder Friendship Cup Finalist

Steve Porter, Playing: Signed schoolboy forms for Cardiff Fity FC as a youth player Represented Welsh Schoolboy U.18's Represented Welsh Universities Played semi-professionally in the Welsh League Played semi-professionally in the USISL Coaching: 7 club state championships with 2 teams - Arkansas A's (girls) and Lakewood Impact (boys) 1 high school state championship (NLR '98 undefeated, ranked #7 by USA Today) State ODP coach for over 10 years USSF 'C' License USSF National Youth License Has conducted coaching clinics for ASSA and Lakewood LPOA University of Central Arkansas Graduate Assistant Coach 1996-1997 Selected to coach in 2 high school All-Star games (2005 and 2007) Education: BA (Hons) Sport and Human Movement Studies from University of Wales, Cardiff Institute MS Kinesiology from University of Central Arkansas

Pat Reed,  USSF national “D” license (2006). Pat grew up playing youth soccer in eastern Oklahoma. Played 3 years of high school varsity soccer and captained state semi-finalist team his senior year in 1987. Attended the U. S. Air Force Academy and played 4 years of competitive intramurals, graduating in 1991. Pat began coaching youth soccer in Cabot in 1998. He’s coached both boys and girls in the U-5 through U-10 age groups at the recreational level. He coached Cabot’s first year U-11 classic boy’s team to a 3rd place finish in the 2007 Tulsa Thunder Friendship Cup (silver division) and the 2007 Arkansas State Soccer Association’s President’s Cup silver division championship.  He began coaching the ASC 96 boy’s classic team in August 2007.   That team’s accomplishments include: the NWA Lightning Clorox Cup Champions (2007), finalist in the Capital City Cup (2007, 2008), Germantown Invitational Tournament champions (2008), Ozark Cup Finalist (2008) and ASSA President’s Cup Finalist (2009). 

Jacob Rutledge, USSF“E” licensed, NPSL FC Tulsa Thunder (Fall season 2009 – Spring season 2010), Central Baptist College: men’s varsity soccer (2008-10),Union University: men’s varsity soccer (2007),Arkansas State Senior All-Star (2007),Bentonville High School (7A) Starter  (2007),Springdale High School (5A) 2-Year Starter (2005 Soph - 2006 Jr.),Played club soccer 1999 to 2007,Regional competitor 2004-2005-2006,FC United '89 U15 (2004),AR Comets '88 U17 (2005) (Played up a year),LRFC '89 U117 (2006),Arkansas ODP '89 Team, State Champion Club Soccer: (AR. Sting U11-U12) 2000 & 2001, FC United '89/U14,2004, AR Comets '88 (played up) 2005, LRFC '89 2006,Team Co-Captain FC United '89 (2002-2003),Springdale City Champions, Men's League 7v7 2005,Club and private youth trainer for small side tactics and individual skills , attended 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa and training with local South African teams.

Lynn Snodgrass, USSF "C" License 2004. She began coaching in 1989. Took up coaching again in 1995 at Hendrix College with the men's and women's program. Coached with LRFC at the recreational level for 2 years then moved to the Classic level. In the Fall of 2001, the U11 CASA Finalists and the U11 Jaguar Champions. 2002 Winrock Champions and the Presidents Cup State Finalists. In Fall of 2002, CASA Finalists, Jaguar Tournament Champions and Super Clubs Tournament Finalist. In the spring of 2003, Ft. Smith Express Kick Off Champions and President Cup State Champions. In the Fall of 2003, McDonalds Cup Finalists and Germantown Invitational Tournament Finalists. In the Spring of 2004, Blues City Blow Out Champions and Presidents Cup State Champions. In Fall of 2004 team was Capital City Cup Champions and Memphis Labor Day Champions. In the Spring of 2005 Arkansas State Champions. Spring of 2006 returned to coaching younger girls and took the White Academy team. We were Finalists in the Winrock Tournament. Named ASSA 2003 Girl Coach of the year and also named 2002-2003 ASSA Female Classic Coach of the year. Playing experience began in 1977. Played in Broken Arrow Oklahoma on a recreational team from U8-U12. Played classic soccer for Broken Arrow Soccer Club and played with Avalanche Express for 4 years. As U14's, U15's, U16' and U17's team won State Championships. Played Premiere Soccer for Sheffield United and team won State Champions as U19's. Lettered as Freshman in high school and played for the Varsity and Junior Varsity team at Broken Arrow High School. Named to Oklahoma State Select team in 1989. Played for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock from 1990 to 1994. In 1990 team placed 12th in the Nation NAIA. UALR moved to Division 1 NCAA. Currently playing in the Women's 7v7 league in the Fall and Spring, the Men's 7v7 Summer League and a women's team 11v11 that goes to tournaments throughout the year. Currently a member of the SOWS. (Society of Women's Soccer), representing the state of Arkansas as the only women's team.

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