Erwin Diaz

A proud Washington, D.C. native, Erwin Diaz is a distinguished former player and dedicated coach with a deep passion for the game.

Diaz spent over six years playing for Bethesda United, where he helped the team win two Maryland State Cup championships in 1995 and 1996. He later continued his career at the University of Maryland, playing a key role in securing an ACC Championship and contributing to the team’s 2005 NCAA Championship win. His talent earned him spots on both the U.S. U20 and U17 National Teams, where he competed in the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

After his college career, Diaz played semi-professionally in Spain for two years before returning to the DMV area to coach at the very clubs that helped shape him.

With over a decade of coaching experience, Diaz is committed to developing the next generation of players. His leadership recently guided his youth teams to back-to-back President’s Cup State Championships in 2023 and 2024 and a Regional Cup title. Diaz holds a USSF B Coaching License and is currently pursuing both his USSF A License and UEFA B License, underscoring his dedication to excellence in coaching and player development.

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Kenny Ames

Coach Ames holds a USSF National D coaching license and a USSF grassroots refereeing license. He earned a BA in English and Creative Writing at George Washington University, studied Principles of Coaching, and took courses at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. He received his MA from the Johns Hopkins University in Government and Communication, graduating summa cum laude and winning the prestigious Rep. William Clinger Award.
Coach Ames’s coaching experience includes several years at MSI, where he was selected as Coach of the Year and received an honorable mention. He has worked with children as young as six, developing them into travel players by emphasizing ball control, passing, teamwork, and endurance. His teams have routinely performed well in league and tournament play, winning their division in the Heritage Cup and Cannon Cup in 2025 and finishing runner-up in the Mid-Atlantic Cup in 2026. In addition to coaching, Kenny is an accomplished referee. He has refereed the Regional Cup and ODP Cup. He has refereed at the State Cup in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as at the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions. Kenny continues to referee for EDP, various college showcase tournaments, and adult soccer in UPSL, EPSL, and other leagues.
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Joan Molist

Professional Experience

• 2024 – Currently. Project Director of Ekkono Futbol USA
• Feb. 2023. Professor of the Ekkono Identity Course, Finland
• July. 2023. Barça Academy USA Camps Head Coach
• 2022 – 2023. Pohjanmaan Jalkapalloakatemia Ekkono Camps Head Coach
• 2020 – 2022. Director of the Methodology Department at Ekkono Osaka Academy • 2019 – 2023. Technical Director of F.C. Osona Sud (Catalan FA Club)
• 2019 & 2023. Ekkono coach at Eerikkilä SHA-Ekkono Winter Camp
• 2013 – 2019. Coach in a Catalan FA Clubs (U.E. Centelles, Fundació U.E. Tona)

Education

  • University Degree in Sports Science at Universitat de Vic
  • ERASMUS at Edge Hill University, Liverpool, UK
  • Nacional C (Catalan FA.)

    Languages

    • Catalan – Native
    • Spanish – Native
    • English – B2
    • Japanese – A1
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Dan Murphy

Coach Dan Murphy has 15 years of experience as a youth soccer coach focused on player development. He began his coaching career in 2009 at Cristo Rey Jesuit School in Baltimore, MD serving as a Volunteer Assistant Coach.

He later went on to serve as Assistant Coach for the Baltimore Bays US Soccer Development Team at the u13-14 level, to Baltimore Armour USSDA U18/19, and Pipeline.

Dan later served as an Assistant Coach for Baltimore Celtic 2003 Premier for three seasons, helping the team reach three straight National Championship appearances and three straight National League Titles. The team obtained multiple #1 National rankings.

Most recently, he has served as Head Coach of Washington Capital United’s 2005 and 2006 Boys Teams, respectively, where he has coached for the past 3 seasons.

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Nick Njuki

Grew up in Montgomery County (Quince Orchard High School). Nick traveled to many countries as a youth and experienced various footballing cultures. His experience playing youth sports and, ultimately, college soccer has led to his desire to help others achieve their goals in football.

  • Bethesda Soccer Club Alum
  • RFC U18
  • James Madison University 2010-2013
  • NCAA Sweet Sixteen
  • CAA Champions
  • Trials in Spain
    • UD San Pedro
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Abou Ceesay

Coach Ceesay has a diverse background and experience as a player and coach. As a native of Gambia, he was among the youngest to play in the Gambian league and on the Under 17 National Team. During that time, he traveled to compete in other African countries such as Senegal, Mail, Guinea Conakry, and Ghana. He was a member and player of the D.C. Gambians Soccer team for over 20 years. He received various awards during his tenure, including being the leading goal scorer and best player in the tournament. For the past few years, Ceesay has coached the Young D.C. Gambians team in multiple tournaments nationwide, leading to championship wins in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. With his experience, Ceesay will help further develop the Bethesda Soccer Club teams and lead them to championship success in their regional competitions. He currently coaches U8 boys and U9 Girls at Bethesda.

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Zach Weidman

Weidman joins Bethesda after previously spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of the Cumberlands. During the spring 2021 season, Weidman led the Patriots to their first Mid-South conference title and an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals. UC finished the spring with a No. 6 ranking in the final national poll, the highest ranking in program history.

Primarily responsible for the goalkeepers, he directed the unit to one of their most successful seasons between the posts. In the spring 2021 campaign, the keepers recorded nine shutouts (seventh-most in NAIA) and 14 wins, the most since 2010 for the program. At UC, he coached an NAIA All-American and 15 All-Conference performers.

A native of Concord, Mich., Weidman played at Spring Arbor University. He played four seasons with the Cougars and boasted a .833 record as a goalkeeper. While at Spring Arbor, Weidman served as the men’s soccer representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and was the team’s NAIA Champion of Character.

Weidman holds his USSF D License and a CoachTech Analytical Analysis Diploma.

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Parnell Hegngi

Coaching Experience

Enrolled in UEFA ‘C’ License from Germany

TuS Wesfalia Wethmar Youth Teams

Luener SV Youth Teams

DeMatha Catholic High School Varsity Associate Head Coach: 4 Years

DeMatha Soccer Academy Technical Director: 4 Years

Washington Capital United U15-U19 Age Group Director: 2 Years

Playing Experience

Bethesda Mavericks

DeMatha Catholic High School Varsity: All-Met, All-Conference

The Ohio State University: Big Ten All-Conference

Played Professionally in Germany: SC Westfalia Herne, Luener SV, Rot Weiss Essen, Westfalia Wickede

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Arel Moav

Arel has been with Bethesda for almost two years. He joined in the fall of the 20/21 season playing as a fullback for Bethesda’s U18s. He has worked at our juniors soccer camp since the spring of 2021. He currently works as an assistant coach for Bethesda’s U8 white and green as well as U9 academy 2 and 3. Arel currently holds a USSF Grassroots License.

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Yaya Fane

AS A COACH

2019-2021: Lower Merion Soccer Club U11 & U15
2018: Assistant Coach at Girard College in PA

AS A PLAYER

2021: Current playing for Maryland Bobcats in NISA
2021: Maryland Bobcats Team player of the year
Philadelphia Lone Stars player of the year 2015-2016 &2017-2018
2017-2018: Selected in Best XI in Eastern conference, Regional and National in (NPSL) 2018-2019: National Runner up with Reading United PA
2014-2019: Philadelphia Lone Stars
2004-2007: Played for Ivory Coast National team U15-17

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