Mark Steffens - Head Coach
Mark Steffens returns as the head coach for the Charlotte Eagles in his 16th year. Mark has led the Eagles to the USL-2 Championship match seven times, and has won the championship in 2000 and 2005. The Eagles have qualified for the playoffs an unprecedented 12 of 15 years under the direction of Steffens. Earning USL-2 Coach of the Year honors in 2008 for the second time as the Eagles claimed the Regular Season Championship, and was also awarded the honor in 2004. The United Soccer Leagues recognized Steffens for his amazing record and commitment to the community in 2007 as he was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame.
Mark’s soccer career experience is quite extensive. He played professioanlly for the New York Appollo and the New York United in the American Soccer League. His coaching history goes back more than 20 years, and features his professional experience as the Head Coach of the New York Express of the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1986-87. He was the assistant coach for the Express in 1985-86 and for the New York Arrows (MISL) in 1983-84. Prior to coming to the Eagles, Steffens was the Head Coach of Chaminade High School, a perennial powerhouse private soccer program on Long Island, NY. Mark holds an "A" coaching license with the USSF and is a graduate of The King’s College in New York with a degree in Physical Education.
Mark and his wife Diane have three daughters, Jennifer, Christy and Sarah, and nine grandchildren. The Steffens’ currently reside in Waxhaw, NC.
Steve Shak - Assistant Coach
Steve Shak returns for his sixth season as a player and assistant coach with the Eagles. Since signing with the Eagles in 2007, Shak has been an anchor for Charlotte’s defense. A USL-2 First Team Selection in 2007 and 2008, Shak was also named a finalist for 2008 USL-2 Defender of the Year. A native of Cerritos, CA, Shak played for four years at UCLA from ’96-’99, leading the Bruins to the 1997 National Championship and the 1999 Final Four. As a junior in 1998 he was named a candidate for the Hermann Trophy (NCAA National Player of the Year). A member of the U.S. Under-23 National Team, he appeared in all six matches when the team took home the bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games.
After a successful collegiate career, Shak was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2000 Major League Soccer Draft by the New York/New Jersey Metrostars. He played in 23 games in his rookie year, recording one goal and one assist. After three seasons in the MLS with NY/NJ and Colorado, Shak was then acquired by the USL-1 Minnesota Thunder where he played one season leading the team to the USL-1 Championship and earning a USL-1 Second Team Selection. He had a brief stint in Sweden with Bodens BK in the Swedish Superettan (2nd Division) before signing with the USL-1 Virginia Beach Mariners midway through the 2004 season. Before joining the Eagles Steve enjoyed three seasons with the Mariners where he was captain of the team during the 2006 season.
Steve holds a USSF B License. He and his wife Kari reside in Charlotte, NC and have three children: Jaeda, Kalea, and Rio.
Kevin Sephton - Assistant Coach
Kevin Sephton is in his nineth season as Assistant Coach for the Charlotte Eagles. Originally from Liverpool, England, Sephton moved to the United States in 1998 to Tampa, Florida. While in Tampa Kevin coached Jesuit High School, making it to the state finals three years and winning the state championship two out of those three years. During that third year, Sephton’s team was ranked #1 in the nation. Coaching at every level of the game, Sephton carries his USSF "A" License. Kevin moved his family to Charlotte in 2001, where he has been the Director of Coaching for club powerhouse Charlotte United Futbol Club and has been involved with the Eagles since 2003. Kevin currently resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife Elaine and daughter Angela.
Patrick Daka - Assistant Coach
Daka is in his sixth year as an assistnat coach for the Charlotte Eagles He also played with the Eagles for six years and served as team captain for the 2008 team. His nickname is "Tricks" because he is a magician with the ball at his feet, a great dribbler and passer.
Daka is from Haraare Zimbabwe and played for the Zimbabwe National Team, U-23 Olympic team and in the Zimbabwe Premiership. Daka graduated from Western Baptist College where he earned countless honors including NAIA All-American, College Male Athlete of the Year, NCCAA National Championship Most Outstanting Offensive PLayer and All-Conference honors.
Daka is very respected for his coaching both at the youth level and professional level and is director of the Eagles Academy. He currently resides in Charlotte with his wife Blessed and son Seaon Tendai.
Ryan Souders - Goalkeeping Coach
A native of Wheaton, Ill., Souders joined the Eagles in 2010 after competing for Bridges F.C. in Chicago in 2009. Prior to returning to the pitch, he served as the goalkeeping coach for the Cleveland City Stars Reserve Team and as an assistant at his alma mater, Wheaton College, in 2008. He served as an assistant at Gordon College in 2007.
A graduate of Wheaton College, Souders helped lead the team to the 2006 Final Four with stellar goalkeeping, and has gained coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels.
He spent the 2010 off season as a goalkeeping coach at Davidson College.
Katrina Courtright - OrthoCarolina Sports and Performance
Katrina is a Certified Athletic Trainer in the Ballantyne Physical Therapy Clinic for OrthoCarolina. She graduated from Bryan College with a degree in Athletic Training and used her summers during college as an Athletic Training intern with the Charlotte Eagles. She began her time with the Charlotte Eagles as a volunteer since 1994. She was also a part of the away camp coaching staff for the last five years. She traveled with the Charlotte Eagles men’s team to Colombia in September 2008 to serve as their Athletic Trainer during their time there.
Charlotte Eagles Medical Staff
Dr. Michael S. Guerriero, D.C.
Dr. Guerriero is the clinic director of Pro Active Chiropractic in downtown Matthews, NC. He graduated Cum Laude from New York Chiropractic College in 1999, and is a certified provider/instructor for the Active Release Techniques and a certified provider for TotalBody Modification. He is the team chiropractor for the Charlotte Eagles and Lady Eagles and has treated at the Ironman World Championships. Dr. Guerriero has treated athletes at all levels: professional, olympic, collegiate, high school and youth just beginning to enjoy sports. Dr. Guerriero relates, "I love getting athletes back in action because when I was a young athlete, injuries not effectively treated medically kept me on the sidelines too often. It is not all about sports for me though. It is a tremendous feelign to see the look on a older gentleman’s face when his hands work well enough to do card tricks again, or when a patient tells me her knee does not hurt anymore so she can go for walks with her husband again. These are the reasons why I love what I do."
John D. Temple, MD - OrthoCarolina
As a member of the physician staff at OrthoCarolina, Dr. Temple is trained to treat general orthopedic conditions as well as more specialized sports-related conditions. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Winthrop University and his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery and his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. He then completed his fellowship in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Sports Medicine Clinic in Los Angeles, where he worked with the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, Sacramento Kings, Anaheim Ducks and the University of Southern California Trojans.
George Collins, PA-C - OrthoCarolina
Working alongside Dr. John Temple, George practices in OrthoCarolina’s Matthews office. He provides medical coverage for the Charlotte Eagles professional team and Lady Eagles W-League team, and assists many surrounding high schools and universities. Mr. Collins is also the Physician Assistant Department Chief at OrthoCarolina. Originally from New Hampshire, he now makes his home in the Matthews community with his wife Shellie and two boys, Brian and Matthew.
