You are likely visiting my Gofundme through our connection with the beautiful game and specifically my passion for coaching.

What am I fundraising for?

US Soccer's National C License.

My love of the game and its impact on my life cannot be overstated. I began playing when I was very young, but only much later in life did I see what I could do if I tried, both as a player and a coach.

In high school, I wasted my chances to become the best version of my young self. Life had to teach me all the things I was too stubborn to learn from others.

Still, it's been a scenic, wonderful, yet bumpy ride.

When I moved to Portland in 2007 I fell in love with the Rose City. At the same time, I was falling from the peaks of my spontaneous life and I was dangerously close to the bottom, almost completely lost to my friends and family.

I was already waking up in parks so I decided I would sleep where pickup soccer was happening the next morning. It was difficult, but it became a spiritual practice.

Slowly I began setting goals to do and be better for myself and those around me.

Soccer has always lifted my mind, body and spirit. It's become more than a vehicle for improving myself. Soccer is the path itself, where I came from and where I am still going.

Coaching the game and sharing soccer with others has given me more pride and joy than I ever thought possible.

"I would love to coach my own team one day." ~my 11-year-old self.

I love soccer and coaching because that's where I make great relationships.

My friends, my teammates, we work hard together.

We win and lose together. We laugh, cry and laugh some more.

As kids, No matter what our homes were like growing up, the color of our skin, and no matter how much money our parents had, we were a team and the game was ours to enjoy together.

Now as a coach with almost 8 years of experience, working with children as young as 2 years old at Portland Indoor, directing Timbers Youth Camps and 4 seasons of high school soccer for boys and girls, my passion for sharing the game continues to grow.

I currently coach at Columbia High School in White Salmon. I am also the Visiting Team Liaison for all Timbers and T2 home games. Seeing the game both at the high school and professional level is so rewarding, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

...except maybe a million dollars. I'd have to think about that one.

If you didn't know, coaches don't get paid that much.

The time, resources and energy that coaches put into a team can easily surpass a season's pay two and three times over. Without the support of my family, it would be impossible to consider.

We coach because it's one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. I go to work happy and I leave happy knowing I get the chance to inspire the youth in my community.

Many people want to coach, but can't imagine making so little and giving so much. Each season comes with its emotional toll, but it's right where my heart belongs. I feel blessed that my life has afforded me the demeanor and passion for coaching youth soccer, striving to make more than great players, but great people.

If you would like to help me fund this next step, you would become part of this journey that continues to humble me.

Your support would mean that you value what I bring to my community as a coach and that you believe in those that believe in themselves.

"Pass me the ball and I'll put it in the back of the net."

The goal of $2000 is to cover the cost of the C license course which is $1850. The rest will help some with travel/hotels during the two in-person meetings over the 4-month course. Anything over that I would put towards quality training gear.

This is the course I would be joining.

US Soccer's National C License - https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/4/details/12892

Many of the participants would be returning student-coaches from the D license course I attended last year and they are an inspiring, driven group.

Thanks for reading and should you decide to help me reach this goal, I thank you with all my heart. See you on the field in the future!

Onward!