john "shedzy" sheridan

Sporting Iowa Executive Director

As Co-Director of Sporting Iowa Academy, Shedzy shares a passion for elevating soccer to its highest level.

Shedzy joined the Urbandale Soccer Club in August 2001 and brings a semi-professional playing and coaching background spanning over 20 years. During his time in England, Shedzy served as a staff member at English Professional Club, Walsall FC’s Centre of Excellence and was also instrumental in the introduction of an innovative development program for youth players at Leamington FC. 

As a staff member for the Iowa ODP program, Shedzy has been responsible for the program’s oldest girls teams including the '89-'99 teams team. During this time, he has built relationships with many college coaches across the country that has helped in the placement of many student athletes to college soccer programs.  

• USSF ‘A’ License
• NSCAA Premier Diploma – Pass with distinction
• English FA Coaching Certificate
• ISA Licensing Instructor

Rich bywater

Sporting Iowa Technical Director

Born in Yorkshire, England. Rich represented Yorkshire school boys. Along with having spells at Exeter City F.C. and competing semi-professionally for Frickely Athletic F.C.

Rich came to America to coach for Challenger Sports British Soccer, where he worked for five years. Rich attended Western Texas College both as a player and as an assistant coach until he transferred to Grandview University.

Rich earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from Grandview University where he was part of the program that reached the national quarter finals two out of his three years.

• USSF ‘B’ License
• Level 2 F.A. Coaching Certificate
• USSF Grassroots Instructor

Tim dobberfuhl

Sporting Iowa Boys Director

Tim has been coaching with JUSC/Sporting Iowa since 2008.  Tim grew up playing soccer in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio and Dallas, TX.  Tim played for many clubs and at many different levels within the US Club system.  Most recently, Tim earned a BA in Art and was a four year starter/two year captain for Central College (Pella, IA) and has since made Iowa home with his wife and two kids.

• USSF ‘B’ License
• ISA Licensing Instructor
• USSF Grassroots Instructor

whitney sharpe

Joined Sporting Iowa as a full time staff member in January 2015 after playing professionally for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, Ajax FC in Amsterdam, Netherlands. During her two seasons with Ajax, Sharpe became the player with the most minutes played, and helped her team to win the KNVB National Championship in 2014.

Prior to her professional career, U15-U20, Sharpe was a part of the US National Team earning titles such as NSCAA Adidas All-American in 2006 and 2007, and First-Team Parade All-American in 2008. Sharpe represented the United States in tournaments in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and domestically. Sharpe was also a part of the Region II ODP team from 2005-08 gaining both national and international experience.

Heading into college, Sharpe was ranked the No. 16 national recruit by Soccer Buzz and played her first two college seasons at UCLA under coach Jill Ellis. She helped the Bruins win the PAC 10 in 2008, and appear in back-to-back NCAA Final Four tournaments in 2008 and 2009. Sharpe spent her junior season at Texas Tech University under Tom Stone where she sustained a season ending injury, but was named to the All-Big 12 Newcomer Team and All-Big 12 Second Team. Her senior season was with Loyola Marymount University where Sharpe was the team captain and named to the Second-Team All-West Coast Conference, and West Coast Conference All-Academic Team.

In high school, Sharpe helped lead the West Des Moines Valley Tigers to four-consecutive state championship titles as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals and 36 assists. Sharpe was a three-time member of the All-State Elite Team, and two-time Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Iowa.

• USSF 'C' License

corbin stone

• USSF 'A' (1996) and National Youth Licenses (1997)
• High School Boys (7 years)
• DOC Club: 10 years
• Club Coaching: 30 years
• College: 10 years, Division III men, Division I women
• ODP: State (IA, VA, DC), Region I and II
• 7 Coach of the Year Awards at high school, club, and college level

molly ford

Professional Club Coach

Molly joined the JUSC crew back in Fall of 2017 after moving to Des Moines that Fall.  She grew up in NorthEastern Wisconsin playing Soccer all year around following in the footsteps of her older brothers.  She's played soccer from the young age of 5 through her Senior year of college.  She has an adorable black chow/retriever named Luna, who loves to play some soccer in the backyard and ruin countless soccer balls.    

Coaching:

• USSF 'D' License
• NSCAA National Coaching Diploma
• USSF Grassroots License
• Decorah United Soccer Club (IA) - 2010 to 2012 & 2015 - 2017
• Presentation College (SD) - Assistant Coach (2013 -2015)
• Luther College Women's Soccer (IA) - Assistant Coach (2015 - 2017)
• Decorah High School Girls Soccer - 2016 season

Playing:

• Appleton West High School '09 (Appleton, WI) 4-year Varsity, 2-year Captain
• Appleton Soccer Club (WI) 2001 - 2005. Premier Team (Strikers)
• N.E.W Club (WI) 2005 - 2010. Premier Team
• Luther College Women's Soccer 2009 - 2012. 
• Luther College Captain 2011 & 2012 

jamie mcquillan

Professional Club Coach

Manchester England, FA level 2 & FA Youth module award, 

Bachelors degree in the science of sport (football/soccer) Myerscough College national champs babyyyyyy, coached at Rochdale U16 EDS, WDMSC & Sporting Iowa. played at Blackburn rovers and stockport county youth academies & retired at the grand old age of 21 to come and live in the USA a year later.

• USSF 'D' License

trevor neary

Professional Club Coach

Trevor Neary was born and raised here in Des Moines, and grew up playing for Soccer West and Northwest Soccer Clubs. A 2011 graduate of Des Moines Roosevelt, Trevor went on to play at William Penn University in Oskaloosa where he was a four year letter winner and two time member of the Academic All-Conference award.

After his time at William Penn, Trevor got his coaching start with Mahaska County Soccer Club, before moving back closer to home with JUSC. Trevor has also had the honor of returning to Roosevelt to work with the boys program as an assistant (2016-2018) before taking over the girls program as head coach in 2019. Trevor currently also works with the Iowa ODP 2006 Girls. 

Trevor lives in Waukee with life-partner Emily and enjoys long walks on the many Iowa state beaches in the vicinity.

• USSF 'D' License
• Iowa High School Coaches Certification

chris rennie

Professional Club Coach

Chris arrived in the United States in 2005 from Edinburgh, Scotland where he played at the highest competitive level. After enjoying a very successful college playing career at Iowa Wesleyan, Chris moved to Des Moines in 2009 and became apart of the JUSC/ Sporting Iowa coaching staff. Chris resides in Grimes with his wife Jenna and two sons Jack and Liam.

Playing Experience

• Falkirk F.C, 2000 - 2002
• Allow Athletic F.C., 2002 - 2003
• Iowa Wesleyan University, 2005 - 2009

Coaching Experience

• Grand View University , 2010 - present
• Iowa OPD Staff/ Goalkeeper coach 2014 - present
• Drake University, 2015-2017
• Des Moines Menace (PDL) 2016-2017

Coaching Education

• United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma (In Progress)
• United Soccer Coaches Advanced National GK Diploma
• USSF 'D' License

ryan rink

Professional Club Coach

Ryan Rink began playing at the age of 6 with the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association starting with the recreational program and later moved onto select teams. Rink continued playing at Central College in Pella, Iowa for two years then decided to become student assistant coach for the Central College Women’s team.

Rink was also an assistant coach for the Pella High School boys team and the Pella Soccer Club. Rink graduated from Central College with a degree in Exercise Science – Health Promotion.

Coaching Experience

• Professional Coach- Cedar Valley Soccer Association 2010-2012
• Professional Coach- JUSC 2012-current
• Des Moines Christian High School Boys Head Coach- 2013-2014

Coaching Education

• United Soccer Coaches College Coach Professional Development Certificate
• United Soccer Coaches State Youth
• United Soccer Coaches Youth Regional
• United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level 1
• (2) United Soccer Coaches High School Diplomas
• United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma (In Progress)
• USSF National  "C" License

Amanda rush

Professional Club Coach

Amanda is a native Iowan, born and raised here in Des Moines. She graduated from East High School where she was a four year letter winner in soccer, and went on to play in college at Grand View University.

Amanda starting coaching with WDMSC in 2017. She also served as an assistant coach at East High School.

She has a cute dog named Bella and her hobbies include: playing soccer, traveling, and half marathons. 

• Grassroots License
• USSF 'D' License

sam weeks

Professional Club Coach

Sam was born December 14th, 1989 in St. Albans, England. He moved to Des Moines in 2000 and graduated from Valley High School, where he was a four year letter winner in soccer. Sam went on to play college soccer at Grand View University, where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management.

Played all 4 years for Grandview First Team

Played 4 years at Valley HS (1 x State Champ, 1st Team All-Conference)

Played 1 season for DM Menace PDL

Currently have USSF C License

Coach at WDMSC for 7 years

1 year Head Boys Coach at Indianola HS

2 years Assistant Girls Coach at Valley HS