LDGA CAMPS

 

STAFF

Ron Apollon (Director)                                                                                                       

had a brilliant career at New York Institute of Technology where he set a school record by saving 9 of 12  penalty kicks. He went on to star at the semi pro level for several teams in the New York area. He also played for a couple of seasons for the Atlanta Magic USISL Indoor professional team.

Ron holds the USSF “A” and the National Youth coaching licenses and has coached several teams as well as goalkeepers in the Atlanta area during the past 13 years. He is currently the Technical Director of the Georgia Rush Soccer Club and a Community Coach for the Pace Academy Girls Varsity team in Atlanta, GA. Ron has been a staff coach in Georgia’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) since 1997 and heads the ODP goalkeeping department . His coaching career also includes stints as Director of Goalkeeping at North Atlanta Soccer Association, Director of Coaching (Girls) at Metro North Youth Soccer Association, Staff Coach at Tophat Soccer Club, Men’s Goalkeeper Coach at Georgia State University, Assistant Men's & Women's coach at Oglethorpe University and GK Coach at Georgia Perimeter College Women’s team. Ron has coached at several camps including the MNYSA Striker/Keeper Camp, the Warner Soccer Camps,and at Star Goalkeeper Academy camps.

Hope Handley (Assistant Director)
is currently the Head Coach at Auburn University Montgomery in Alabama and a member of the Region III ODP Goalkeeping Staff. She previously was the Director of Goalkeeping for AFC Lightning Soccer Club and the GK coach for Glory United FC. In addition to her club and college duties, she was a member of the Georgia ODP goalkeeping staff for three years working with the '89, '93 and '90 girls’ teams. Hope was a four year starter at Virginia Tech and earned various honors, including All-Mid Atlantic Region Team. She then coached at the Division I and II collegiate level at both American University and at the University of Tampa. Hope was a member of the Atlanta Silverbacks W-league team in 2005 and 2006. Hope holds a USSF "C" coaching license and a NSCAA Goalkeeping License.

Additional Staff Coaches

Patrick Mitrovich just completed a brilliant 4 year career at at Winthrop college in South Carolina and is currently playing for the  Fredricksburg Gunners in the USL. In his freshmen year he was awarded the 2005 Big South Conference Freshman of the Year. As a Sophomore, he was named to the Big South 1st team All American and was ranked 19th in the country for Goals Against Average. Patrick is a former standout at Walton HS as well as the GA ODP 1987 Team.

Russ Stroud is currently the Women’s GK coach at Kennesaw State University. Russ played collegiate soccer at Yale University after a brilliant club career at United Quest and West Gwinnet Soccer Club in GA. He holds several school records at Duluth High School and was the starting GK for the GA ODP 1982 team.

Melissa Barnesis the Women’s GK coach at UNC Wilmington. Barnes, a native of Prospect, KY., played in and started 70 games in goal for the Lady Paladins from 1998-2001 and was recently named to the Furman Women's Soccer All-Decade Team. Melissa, who graduated from Furman in 2002 with a B.A. in Spanish, served as head varsity girls' coach at Spartanburg Day School in 2002 and 2003 before joining the University of South Dakota coaching staff in 2004.

Jonathan Harveyis in his third year as the assistant women's soccer coach and goalkeeper coach for North Georgia College & State University.   He played his collegiate soccer at Oglethorpe University. Following college Harvey joined the Navy, where he served for 5 years, including 2 combat tours in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Jon holds coaching licenses from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (National Goalkeeping Diploma Level III) and the United States Soccer Federation "C" license. Jon is also a GA State ODP coach and currently works with the 1992 Girls.