Click the image to view the full image
ADAM
DECLERICO
Adam grew up in Sarasota, FL and played club locally. He was apart of several very successful programs and played ODP during high school. He received a full athletic scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan in the toughest Division II conference at the time. His Leadership and abilities helped him to be selected as Captain during his junior and senior years. His accolades includes First Team All-Conference and All-Region. After college he chose to play in Italy for Acilia AS, then Chicago Fire U-23s. After Chicago ended, he came back to Sarasota and got into coaching, which included Assistant Coaching at Eckerd College, Director of Competitive Boys at FC Sarasota and Data and Analysis Coach with Sarasota Metropolis. He currently holds a C license, and in queue for his USSF B.
Adam’s vision of what a soccer player should be is very clearly outlined in the Next Generation Soccer Academy plan. He has worked with players over the years using unique methods that help with ball mastery, enhancing soccer IQs and leading them down the right pathway for college. His passion for the game has helped over 30 players become collegiate players. His organization, concepts and attitude will bring players forward, exposing them to Next Generation opportunities.
JOHN
DAMICO
First and foremost, John is a die-hard La Liga fan, a passion he cultivated while living in Madrid, Spain with his family 2015-2016. With two children currently playing youth soccer, John is excited to be a part of a club strategically designed to develop and empower young athletes. For 25+ years, John has founded, funded, and consulted for multiple successful businesses within the service, financial, healthcare, and gaming Industries. His experience will help ensure Next Gen successfully advances its core mission to become the best player and ‘coach centric’ elite youth soccer club in Florida.
“The greater danger for most of us isn’t that our aim is too high and miss it, but that it is too low, and we reach it.” – Michelangelo
OUR DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR OF COACHINGROY HILL
Roy joins the Director team with an extensive soccer background, both playing and coaching. He began playing as a young boy, eventually entering West Ham United at the age of 13 and played 14 games with the first time. In addition, he went on to play semi-professional with Yeading FC, Hillingdon Borough FC and Chalfont St Peter FC. He has previously held Director roles at various soccer organizations. In his coaching career, he has won many competitive league titles and multiple state title runs. in Previous roles, he oversaw large Academy age training groups, working alongside National team level coaches. He currently holds license for UEFA “B” (license taken in England), International Coaching Association License (USA) and USSF “D” License, 9v9 and 11v 11 and Grassroots. He is beloved by his wife Kim.
OUR COACHES
This page will be updated and we will provide updates via emails. So don't forget to sign up for our newsletter!
ACADEMY COACHJOHN 'JT' TAYLOR
ACADEMY COACHGREG ATKIN
ACADEMY COACHMARISA MERLINO
Marisa Merlino, fondly know as “Coach Reese,” grew up in Northfield, New Jersey, where her love for soccer began at four years old. With no girls soccer leagues in her small town, she was forced to play on an all boys team until she was 13 when she moved to Sarasota and finally began to play with the girls for Sarasota Storm. Marisa was the only freshman to make the varsity soccer team at Riverview High School and transferred to Sarasota High during her junior year where she captained her senior year. Marisa attended Polk State College in Lakeland on a full athletic scholarship where she started her freshman year and was Captain by her sophomore year leading the team to an undefeated season.
Most recently, Marisa volunteered at Sarasota High School as the Girls Varsity Assistant Coach during the 2018-2019 season and coached the U14 girls team for FC Sarasota during the 2019-2020 season. Marisa enjoys playing co-ed softball and soccer, snowboarding with her husband in Colorado, volunteering at First Step for the mothers and infants program and being an amazing boy mom to her soccer-loving, 5-year-old son, Liam.
As a coach at Next Gen, Marisa hopes to encourage, support and empower young women, while coaching them to their fullest potential. As a soldier of its mission, she believes Next Gen is a place where elite athletes can be serious and dedicated to their craft while also being a family for the Sarasota soccer community.
ACADEMY COACHREGGIE THOMAS
Edy “Reggie” Thomas comes to NextGen with a fantastic passion for the sport and players. He has enjoyed professional stints in Brazil with clubs Nacional A.C and C.A Juventus. Last year he joined the USL 2 side Sarasota Metropolis FC where he was often a starter. He speaks 3 languages and is excited to take his abilities to the next level at NextGen. His Coaching experience includes Nacional A.C / Aux U-14 (2013) / U-15 (2014), Nepean City-Ottawa Canada Clinica with U-15 in Brasil, Head Coach (2015) and FC Sarasota for the last 2 years.
ACADEMY COACHROY HILL
Roy joins the Director team with an extensive soccer background, both playing and coaching. He began playing as a young boy, eventually entering West Ham United at the age of 13 and played 14 games with the first time. In addition, he went on to play semi-professional with Yeading FC, Hillingdon Borough FC and Chalfont St Peter FC. He has previously held Director roles at various soccer organizations. In his coaching career, he has won many competitive league titles and multiple state title runs. in Previous roles, he oversaw large Academy age training groups, working alongside National team level coaches. He currently holds license for UEFA “B” (license taken in England), International Coaching Association License (USA) and USSF “D” License, 9v9 and 11v 11 and Grassroots. He is beloved by his wife Kim.
SPORTS PERFORMANCE
This page will be updated and we will provide updates via emails. So don't forget to sign up for our newsletter!
SPORTS NUTRITIONISTBONNIE LONDON
Bonni London began her career as a personal trainer in New York City in the early 1990’s, motivating and challenging people to achieve their health and fitness goals. During this time, she realized her passion for nutrition and acquired her Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She has provided nutritional services as an accredited, registered and licensed dietitian since 1999.
Bonni’s work experience includes a decade of long-term healthcare and physician concierge services before beginning her own private practice. Other professional experience includes Past President of the Manasota Dietetic Association, visiting lecturer at Parkinson’s Place, and media industry expert for ABC TV 7 Suncoast news and appearances on radio station WSLR 96.5 and Suncoast News Network.
Bonni, a working single mother of twins, demonstrates what is possible when you are determined and goal oriented. Her passion is to utilize the latest research, separating fact from fiction, to educate patients to take care of their bodies. She stays up to date by attending the latest cutting edge nutritional conferences in New York and Miami. As an authority on lifestyle coaching, Bonni will ensure that you have all the tools to achieve your goals.
MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACHJOSH KOZUCH
Josh is a former college baseball player who immediately found his passion in Mental Performance for athletes. He received his Master’s from Barry University in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. His goal is to make sure NextGen athletes have a positive experience through playing sports, utilizing methods like imagery, relaxation techniques and biofeedback.
He currently lives in Sarasota and works as the Mental Performance Coach for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization with their High A, Double A and Triple A divisions.
OUR ADMIN
REGISTRARSTACEY MONROE
COLLEGE RECRUITING COORDINATORPENNY PEARCE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
