AMY GRIFFIN / executive director
A 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Griffin serves as Executive Director of Seattle Reign Academy. Griffin completed her 24th and final season as Associate Head Coach of the University of Washington Women’s soccer program in 2019. Amy also has extensive coaching experience within the US Youth National Team system, including assisting the U20 Youth National Team to a World Cup title in 2014. Griffin has also served as the Head Coach of the US Deaf National Team for the past three years. Amy holds her USSF “A” & Director’s Licenses.
NICCI WRIGHT / director of coaching
Nicci comes to the Seattle Reign with over 18 years of experience mentoring and developing youth, professional and national team players. During her time with Arlington Soccer, she has led teams competing in the US Soccer Development Academy, the Girls Academy, and the ECNL. Nicci has also coached at the professional and national team levels. She was the goalkeeper coach with both the Washington Freedom and Washington Spirit, while also serving as a staff coach with Canada Soccer at the U17, U20 and senior team levels. Nicci was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She holds her USSF “A” License.
AUBREY BUEHLER / pre-academy director
Aubrey joins Seattle Reign with over 10 years of experience along with a reputation for developing top youth players in a wide range of ages. Her love, reputation, and process for identifying, developing, and working with the younger age groups is well-known across the country. Most recently, she spent the last three years at Crossfire Premier, leading teams competing within the ECNL, ECNL RL, and RCL levels of play. Prior to that, she resided in Indiana where she was on staff for Indiana Fire Juniors before moving on to Indy Premier to serve as the Girls U8-U12 Director. Aubrey, originally from Waukesha, WI, competed at the collegiate level for the University of Tennessee-Martin (2009-2010) and Ball State University (2010-2013). She holds her USSF “C”, Grassroots 4v4, and Grassroots 7v7 Licenses.
ANNIE SITTAUER / director of operations
Annie graduated from the University of Washington where she was a member of the Women’s Soccer team from 2010-2014. During that time, she also played for the Sounders Women from 2012-2014. Upon graduation from Washington, she went on to earn her master’s degree in Sport Administration and Leadership from Seattle University in 2017. While earning her degree, Annie spent two years working in NCAA Compliance within Seattle University’s Athletic Department. Annie has been with Seattle Reign Academy since 2017.
CHELSEA BUCKLAND / head coach
Bio coming soon
REILEE IRELAND (DuPratt) / head coach
Reilee comes to Seattle Reign from Ohio, where she has worked mostly within the intercollegiate game. She spent the last 3 years as the head women's soccer coach of Ohio Dominican University. Prior to that, she was the assistant at Cleveland State University for 3 years. Throughout her collegiate experience she has also been involved in the youth game, working with Cleveland Force SC as well as Ohio ODP. Reilee graduated from Edinboro University in 2016 where she captained her team and helped lead them to the NCAA DII Sweet 16. She obtained her Master's in Sport Management in 2019 from Cleveland State University. She currently holds her USSF A Coaching License.
ALLIE GALOOB / head coach
Allie comes to the Seattle Reign Academy with a unique soccer journey - She played for the US Deaf Women's National team for 11 years and now serves with the team as a team manager. Galoob also works with U.S. Soccer Foundation as a Facilitator, teaching people about the importance of mentorship in sports and striving to make soccer more accessible for kids all over the country. She has her USSF “C” Coaching License.
OMAR JUAREZ / head coach
Omar graduated from Everett Community College (2013) and Northwest University (2015), where he was a member of the soccer programs. Upon graduation, he spent time playing for various semi & professional clubs, including Space United (NISA), Cultures United (semi-pro), and Paulista FC (Brazil, 2018). Since his playing days, Omar continued staying involved in the game by beginning his coaching career. He spent 6 years as the assistant coach for Everett Community College, and coached club soccer for FC Fuerza. Omar has his USSF “D” Coaching License, as well as his BFUT (Brazilian) “C” License.
ELLIOTT MILLER / head coach
Elliott graduated from Purdue University in 2017 where he captained the men’s soccer club and received his Bachelor’s in Movement & Sport Sciences and Psychology. In addition, Elliott gained experience coaching both the men’s and women’s club programs at Central Michigan University while earning his Master’s in Administration and as an assistant coach at Western Michigan University for the men's varsity program. Upon moving to Seattle, he has been heavily involved with Reign FC Academy and with Ballard FC of USL2 where he currently serves as the Youth Programs & Camps Director along with Club Operations Coordinator. Elliott is a current holder of the USSF “C” License.
NICK OYEN / head coach
Nick graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Sport Management and Business Administration. While at WSU, he played for and coached Men’s club soccer. Nick gained experience in youth coaching through internships and working with different local youth soccer programs. Currently, Nick also works for the Seattle Reign FC Front Office, as a member of the ticketing team.
DEREK SHARP / head coach
Derek joined the Reign in 2024 with over twenty years of experience coaching youth soccer. He played collegiate soccer at Lee University (1993-95), winning a Conference Championship (1994). As a student athlete, he was an Academic All-American (1993). He has served as a coach for competitive youth, middle school, high school, ODP and college club soccer (Univ. of Tennessee). At TSC Hurricane for fourteen years as a staff coach, he served the club as an ECNL Staff Coach (2018-19) and a DOC for a club satellite. After moving to Washington, he served as an educator for WYS, a Technical Director for a local RCL club and a staff coach at XF. Derek received the honor of OPC Girl's Coach of the Year (2018) and holds the following licences: USSF A-Youth; USSF NYL; USSF DOC; USSF Instructor L1 & L2; USSF Coach Educator GL & D.
FERNANDO SANTANA / athletic trainer
bio coming soon
DOUG SWEANEY HERRICK / goalkeeper coach
Doug played goalkeeper for St. Mary’s College of California (NCAA Division I) and later played at various professional levels (MLS, USL, abroad). He has coached at a variety of levels over the last 8 years, most notably he spent two years as the goalkeeper coach for Reign FC for the 2017 and 2018 NWSL seasons. Doug graduated with a Masters of Counseling Psychology in Spring 2020.
MEGAN KUFELD / assistant goalkeeper coach
Megan graduated from the University of Washington as one of the top players and students in the history of the program. In Megan’s sophomore year she was the Presidential Medalist while focusing on molecular and cellular biology in the honors program. During her senior season, Megan broke the school's shutout record previously held by Hope Solo. Megan has played professionally in both Norway and Sweden, as well as in the W-League for the Sounders Women. Megan is currently working at Seattle Genetics as a Research Associate in Antibody Discovery after 2 years assisting at Fred Hutchinson’s Cancer Research Center, and previously served as a GK coach with Seattle United.
DAGMAWI ABERA / asst coach
Dagmawi “Mawi” played for Shoreline Community College in 2019 and 2021. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching roles, beginning as a youth soccer training at TOCA, and volunteering to assist the men’s varsity team at Shoreline Community College. His dedication and passion for the game quickly earned him an assistant coach position with the team. Mawi was previously a head coach for Sound FC. Currently he is in the process of obtaining the USSF D coaching license.
STEPH VERDOIA / assistant coach
Verdoia graduated from Seattle University in 2015, where she was a standout on the pitch and in the classroom. Verdoia was named to the All-WAC First Team in 2014 and 2015 and was twice named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Verdoia became the first female student-athlete to be drafted by a pro sports team from Seattle U when the Boston Breakers of the NWSL drafted her in 2015. Verdoia spent two seasons with the Breakers before retiring to coach and beginning law school at UW.
BREE ROWE-BORTH / asst coach
Rowe-Borth graduated from University of Oregon in 2011, where she was a 4-year scholarship athlete for the Women’s Soccer team. After graduating, she made the Reign FC training roster in 2013, and was called up to play in two matches during that time. Bree has been coaching in the Seattle area since 2013 and has her USSF C coaching license.
JOCELYN CHARETTE / asst coach
Jocelyn Charette is a NCAA Division II National Champion, All-American, SSC Freshman of the Year, GNAC Newcomer of the Year, GNAC player of the year, and recipient of Seattle Pacific University’s Falcon Award for Excellence, an award given for outstanding achievement in athletics and academia. During her collegiate experience she completed nursing school, then went on to play professional soccer in Europe. She resides and works in Seattle pursuing her doctorate of nursing practice degree at University of Washington. She currently holds her USSF D coaching license.
JUSTINA MACDOWELL / asst coach
Justina is a former assistant coach with University of Northern Colorado Women’s Soccer program where she helped the bears win the 2021 Big Sky conference championship, while currently working on her master’s degree in sport psychology. Justina was a member of the Seattle Sounders women 2007-2013 and graduated Western Washington University where she earned two time All-American and All-conference honors as a midfielder/forward. Justina holds a USSF “B” license.