UWS Tryouts

UWS Tryouts

UWS Tryouts for the 2023 season will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday, April 18th 7 to 9 pm

Tuesday, April 25th 7 to 9 pm

Tuesday, May 2nd 7 to 9 pm

Tuesday, May 9th 7 to 9 pm

All tryouts will be at Lehi Sports Park.

Registration is $45 total for all four dates.

Note: UWS training begins May 16 and will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday through July 20th.


UWS Staff

UWS

Staff

Tara Koleski


UWS Head Coach

Tara Koleski is the current UWS FC Arizona Head Coach and FC Arizona Director of Coaching. Tara also works with the Department of State as a Sports Diplomat and served on the Greece tour in 2022. Tara serves as the Vice President for Building Pathways. Tara was the former Head Coach at Dominican University of California and former head coach for two seasons at NCAA DI UMBC and 3 seasons NCAA DII West Chester University. Tara was named the 2005 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year, the Southeast Pennsylvania Coaches Association (SEPCA) Women's College Coach of the Year, and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Coach of the Year. Tara was the head coach of the semi-professional Rochester Reign of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and an assistant coach at Villanova University (2002).

As a player, Koleski competed at the NCAA DI level for University of Portland attending 2 final four tournaments awarded with honors for All-American, Offensive player of the year for WCC conference and team MVP. Koleski competed with the U.S. U-21 National Team and attended several U.S. National Team pool camps. Koleski spent 2 seasons in the German Bundesliga for 1. FC Saarbrucken, and was drafted in the 11th round to the first Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) professional league in the USA (2000-2003) playing for the San Diego Spirit and Philadelphia Charge.

Tara holds a USSF B license and NSCAA premier diploma. Tara has a Master’s degree in Strategic Non-Profit Management from Harvard University, Certification in Entrepreneurship Essentials from Harvard University, and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Leadership from Northern Arizona University also with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Portland.

Tamera Hatfield


UWS Assistant Coach

Tamera is the Founder and President of non-profit 501c3 corporations Arizona Soccer Academy, Inc. and Arizona Sand Soccer, Inc. as well as Incorporated programs Athletic Mapping, United Soccer Academy, Arizona Soccer University, Girl With A Goal, Boy With A Goal. She is currently contracted by the City of Scottsdale to run the Arizona Soccer Academy Programs for Ages 2 years and older. Tamera holds her NSCAA Coaching License. She was an Assistant Coach for the Arizona Heatwave W1 franchise in the United Soccer Leagues Western Division inaugural year 2001. Tamera also works on Body Stabilization Training Rehabilitation Specialized in Kinetics.

Tamera’s playing career includes Tus Niederkirchen 3 Year Professional contracted player; Tus Niederkirchen Este Bundesliga German Championship 1993; Supercut Championship 1993. Rochester Reign Semi Professional Soccer League – New York, WPSL, Attacking Midfielder / Forward Player 2005. She was also selected to play at the US Olympic Training Center for 5 consecutive years and selected for the Youth National Development Training Camp California.

Dana L. Hooper


Director of Player Personnel

Dana Hooper is a local attorney with a unique practice that focuses on employment law, commercial litigation, and sports matters. In Dana’s sports practice, she works with a variety of clients, including representation of professional athletes, college, professional and youth coaches, executives, teams, youth clubs and organizations, and sports-oriented businesses.

Dana brings her experience not only as a former soccer player but also as a U.S. Soccer certified agent for professional female and male soccer players to benefit as a sports liaison to FC Arizona.

Cortney Kellenaers


UWS Assistant Coach

For the last 15 years, Cortney Kellenaers has been the head varsity soccer coach at Maricopa High School, serving both the boys and girls program. Additionally, Cortney formed and managed his own club in Maricopa, was the Associate Head Men’s coach for GateWay Community College for two years, and currently serves as an Arizona Soccer Association ODP staff coach. Cortney is a full time biology teacher at Maricopa High School.

In 2021 and 2022 Cortney was named the Girl’s 6A Desert Southwest Region Coach of the Year. He has been named high school teacher of the year for the Maricopa Unified School District in 2011. Cortney currently holds a B license with USSF, an Advanced National Diploma with United Soccer Coaches, a Goalkeeper Level 3 Diploma with USC, the Accredited Interscholastic Coach Certification with NFHS, and the Grassroots Instructor License with USSF. Additionally, Cortney holds a Master’s Degree in Administration and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education.

Jackie Poortinga


Director of Goalkeeping

Jackie Poortinga is the Girls Goalkeeping Director at Phoenix Rising FC. She oversees the ECNL and ECRL goalkeepers and is the Lead Graphic Designer of the Content Creation team. She is an influence in the goalkeeping community across the country as a yearly staff member for Camp Shutout and Kronis Goalkeeping Academy. In 2022, she was part of the Arizona ODP goalkeeper coaching staff. Jackie holds a D license with USSF and is currently earning her C license. She also has her Goalkeeping Level 1 and 2 diplomas through United Soccer Coaches.

Before entering her coaching career, she played collegiate soccer at Olivet Nazarene University and Arizona Christian University, qualifying for the national tournament twice. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. During her sophomore year of college, Jackie found her love for coaching through Tiger Goalkeeping Academy (TGA) in Illinois, where she coached for 4 years as the Head Technical Director of the Chicago branch. Jackie competed for FC Arizona WPSL during the summer of 2021.

Cindy Hallas


Strength and Conditioning Coach

Cindy Hallas played Division 1 soccer at the University of Arizona and at Grand Canyon University. After college, she played semi-professional soccer with Arizona Heatwave, retiring from competitive soccer in 2010 after numerous injuries and knee surgeries. Cindy transition to coaching soccer at Sandra Day O’Connor High School with Rick Kelsey and at Pinnacle Peak High School with George Okallo and Chuck Browder. Although her soccer career ended due to injury, it has inspired Cindy's personal lifestyle choices to include corrective movement and strength training. Cindy also currently works as a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer with Amerifirst Financial.


UWS Overview

UWS

United Women's Soccer (UWS) League

United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is a national pro-am league composed of professionally operated clubs within the United States and Canada. UWS provides high level competition for college players, aspiring and former professionals, and international stars.

FILLING THE GAP

The overarching goal of UWS league is to achieve equality of opportunity for women’s soccer. In a time where there are several professional and amateur leagues for men’s soccer across North America, there is a huge gap that exists between the college and professional ranks on the women’s side. UWS fills that gap by providing a pathway to pro for the amateur player.

FC Arizona is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona. FC Arizona joined UWS for the 2022 season. Our UWS team will be led by our current Girls Director of Coaching, Tara Koleski.

Tara Koleski was a former Head Coach at the Dominican University of California, former associate head coach at University Northern Iowa, and former head coach for two seasons apiece at NCAA DI UMBC and NCAA DII West Chester University. Tara is excited about her role with FC Arizona and she is ready to bring her success and expertise to our fields.

Contact with any questions:

Head Coach Tara Koleski

480-737-2804

tara.koleski@fcarizona.com

 

Tryouts for the 2023 season begin in April. Click here for details.