Bill Ajram ~ Executive Director / Staff Coach
[email protected]
Bill has over 25 years of professional coaching experience. He founded FC United and has transformed the organization into one of the most recognized and competitive clubs in our state and within our region. Player development and promoting technically sound and tactically proficient players is his top priority.
Personal
Bill was born in Colombia, South America and moved to Cedar Rapids at the age of 12. After successfully helping pioneer the high school varsity programs in Cedar Rapids as student at Washington High School, he went on to attend the University of Iowa and then the University of Calgary (Canada), where he was a member of the University of Calgary Men's Soccer team, a member of the University of Calgary spirit and stunt team, and played soccer in the Alberta Canada Premier League and Premier Division.
Professional
Bill earned a BA with a concentration in economics and completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Bill became a community banker for 25 years in Illinois and Iowa, becoming the President & CEO of Linn County State Bank and actively participated in community banking initiatives as a Director for the Community Bankers of Iowa.
Playing Experience
University of Iowa (club)
University of Calgary, Canada
Alberta (Canada) Premier League
Coaching Experience
FC United
Iowa ODP
Iowa D-Camp (Boys Camp Director)
Washington High School (Varsity Women Head Coach)
Mississippi Valley Conference - Coach of The Year (2X)
Notable Experiences
Bill has also held positions at several FIFA Wold Cups. He was delegated as an official ambassador and became the official interpreter for the Bolivian National Team at the 1994 Men's FIFA World Cup. At the Women’s FIFA World Cup he worked as an official World Cup Ambassador at the 1999 and the 2003 World Cup.
2003 FIFA World Cup - Ambassador
1999 FIFA World Cup - Ambassador
1994 FIFA World Cup - Ambassador & Interpreter
Licensing
National 'C' License
National 'D' License
NSCAA Goal Keeping License (I)
NSCAA Goal Keeping License (II)
NSCAA National Youth License
7v7 & 9v9 Grassroots
NSCAA Professional Development Certification.
Personal
Married to Michelle and together have 3 children. All 3 of their children have participated in the FC United program as players and subsequently as youth coaches.
Amber Matthews ~ ECNL Director / Director of Operations / Staff Coach
[email protected]
Personal
Amber was born in England, and moved to Spain at the age of 1. She lived in Spain for 12 years , before moving back to England. She started playing soccer at the age of six, where she fell in love with the beautiful game.
Playing Experience
Amber had the opportunity to play for both Chelsea FC, and West Ham United FC at the professional level. Matthews also had the honor of representing her home country of England in the Gothia Youth World Cup in 2008.
Amber has played for 3 different WPSL teams throughout the United States, and reached the WPSL semi-final with Atlanta United in 2016.
She attended Young Harris College, claiming captain duties from her sophomore year through her senior year.
Licensing
National 'C' License
National 'D' License
Football Association (FA) Level 1 coaching
Football Association (FA) Level 2 coaching
11v11 & 9v9 Grassroots
Professional
She completed her Masters of Business Leadership at William Penn University, where she also served as the Graduate Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at William Penn University.
Amber has also coached at the youth level for various club including Sporting KC and Atlanta United.
In addition to coaching duties at FC United, she is the Director of Operations and club Registrar.
Kat Bering ~ Girls Academy Director (U8-12) / Little Strikers Director / Staff Coach
[email protected]
Personal
Kat is from London, Ontario (Canada). She has over 25 years of coaching experience, working with a number of age groups ranging from U6 through U23, both boys and girls. She has been actively involved in soccer in Iowa since arriving in 1999. At the club level she has coached 2 Iowa State Cup Championship teams, 1 US Club Midwest Champion, and 1 National Finalist.
Coaching Experience
While Kat has extensive experience at the club level, she has also successfully coached at the high school, and collegiate level.
University of Northern Iowa (UNI)
Head Coach / Asst Coach / Goalkeeping Coach
Dike New Hartford
Girls Head Coach
Denver High School
Boys Head Coach
Playing Experience
Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
Soccer - 2 years
Basketball - 2 years
Greece National Team Tryout (2004 Olympics)
London Ontario Premier League
Kat has the unique ability to motivate players and demonstrate a passion for teaching and mentoring. Her passion is to help players reach their potential.
Gabriel Akpalo ~ Staff Coach & Facility Manager
[email protected]
Personal
Gabriel was born and raised in Togo (West Africa) where he played his youth soccer.
Playing Experience
Gabriel has extensive experience and played soccer at a very high level, including national team experience in Togo. He has competed with several teams in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Iran, and the United States.
Licensing
USSF 9v9 Grassroots
Gabriel has the unique ability to motivate players and demonstrate a passion for teaching and mentoring. Gabriel is focusing his passion into coaching and is working on pursuing his USSC D License.
Monueir Moodie ~ Staff Coach
[email protected]
Personal
Monueir was born and raised in Jamaica where he played his youth soccer. He accepted and pursued an opportunity to compete and study at Mount Mercy University where graduated with a degree in Finance and Marketing.
Collegiate Playing Experience
While at Mount Mercy, he earned Conference Defensive Player awards, became a team Captain on their national qualifier team and a 2-year Academic All-American in 2015 and 2016.
Licensing
National 'C' License
National 'D' License
11v11 & 9v9 Grassroots
Coaching Experience
FC United
Iowa ODP
Steve Robertson ~ Boys Academy Director (U8-U12) / Staff Coach
[email protected]
Steve is a life-long resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has been a coaching fixture in Iowa for over 30 years ranging from club to high school, college and ODP.
Coaching Experience
Cornell College
Co-Head Coach (women soccer)
125+ collegiate wins
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) coach of the year (2X)
Kennedy High School
Co-Head Coach (Men's varsity) from 2004-2016
State Championships Semi-finalist (4X)
Mississippi Valley Champions (multiple)
Metro Championships (multiple)
Coach of The Year (MVC and Metro)
Kennedy High School Hall of Fame
Brandon Besong ~ Staff Coach
Personal
Brandon, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, comes from an experienced background in playing club soccer for Heartland and Eastern Iowa United, and was a member of one of the most decorated youth soccer teams in Iowa, helping lead them to multiple State Cup championships. Brandon played his high school soccer locally at Washington High School.
Brandon earned his bachelors in Accounting and his Masters in Business Administration. Following his graduation, he decided to return to Cedar Rapids and accepted a position as a Risk Management Specialist.
Collegiate Playing Experience
Missouri State University (D1) where he earned a starting spot as a freshman.
During his time at MSU they won 3 out of 4 MVC regular-season titles and he was an MVC All-Conference and All-Region standout his last two years at MSU.
Jason Carlson ~ Staff Coach
Outside of FC United. Jason Carlson is currently the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Upper Iowa University, following five years between Florida and North Carolina at NCAA Division II institutions.
Coaching Experience
Upper Iowa University
Men's Head Coach
Jason led the Peacocks to 39 wins over four seasons (2013-16) and a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Central Regional in 2015.
Jason also has extensive experience at the club level and with the Olympic Development Program and currently plans to continue coaching the team heading into next season.
Josh Davis ~ Staff Coach
Outside of FC United, Josh is currently the Upper Iowa University’s new head women’s soccer coach. Davis joins the Peacocks after a year and a half at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, a NAIA institution in Goodwell, Oklahoma.
Davis led the Aggie women’s soccer program, which played in 2019 for the first time in university history, through the spring of 2021 before serving all of the 2021-22 year with the team.
Prior to his time at OPSU, Davis was the associate head coach at the University of North Dakota for the 2018 season. The University of North Dakota finished the season 9-6-2, which marked the program’s best record since moving to NCAA Division I. The Fighting Hawks only surrendered 10 goals to their opponents, while scoring 41 to lead the Summit League in both categories.
Jessica Gilbert ~ Staff Coach
Personal
Jessica, a native of Louisiana, now calls Iowa home with her husband and children.
Jessica has extensive playing experience, having played at a high level in Virginia and Louisiana, where she helped her teams win several state championships and advance to the Regional Finals. She participated in the Olympic Development Program in both Virginia and Louisiana.
Collegiate Playing Experience
University of South Alabama (D1)
Jessica earned a full Division 1 scholarship to the University of South Alabama, ultimately choosing South Alabama over LSU, her eventual alma mater. She earned a role as a starter and became a regular 4 year starter in her collegiate program, winning multiple Sun Belt Conference Championships and advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Shelby Williams ~ Staff Coach & Little Strikers Development Specialist
Shelby grew up in Cedar Rapids graduating from Kennedy High School in 2017. She played soccer for 14 years for Heartland Soccer Club and F.C United. Shelby was a part of the 1999 girls team at FC United, winning a state cup title, advancing to US Club Nationals. Her team is the first team from Iowa to ever qualify and win a US Club National Championship (2014). To date, this is the only Iowa team (girls) that has won the US Club National Cup.
Collegiate Playing Experience
Cornell College - soccer
Cornell College - track
Shelby graduated from Cornell College in 2021 with a major in Elementary Education and psychology minor.
Dane Lee ~ Staff Coach / Goalkeeper Coach
Dane is a native of Jamaica. Dane is a graduate of Mount Mercy University, where he was a member of their Varsity Men's Soccer team.
Dane graduated with a degree in Engineering and is currently a Software Engineer at TransAmerica. One of his objectives is to instill a passion for soccer, in particular to young goalkeepers, while focusing on technical development, decision making, and a strong work ethic.
Collegiate Playing Experience
Dane played at Mt Mercy University, where he stayed all 4 years. Dane was the starting GK for the varsity team.
Maria Forster ~ Staff Coach / Goalkeeper Coach
Personal
Maria grew up in Ames, IA where she played at the Ames Soccer Club from U6 to U18.
Collegiate Playing Experience
Following her high school graduation she went on to compete for 3 years at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (NCAA division III) as a goalkeeper.
Upon her college graduation she accepted a full-time position in Cedar Rapids to work at Collins Aerospace where I currently hold a position as an electrical engineer. She is also currently in the process of completing her MBA from the University of Iowa.
Her experiences as a youth and collegiate soccer player have instilled a love for the sport and a passion to continue to develop other young players.
Shanon Lappe ~ Staff Coach Joe Lipsius ~ Staff Coach Brianna Williams ~ Staff Coach
Antoine Perez-Vernon - Staff Coach