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.

David Russell
UWS Assistant Coach
David is a current Assistant Coach for UWS.

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.

Gina Cormier
UWS Assistant Coach
Gina Cormier will be joining the UWS Coaching Staff for the 2023 season. She recently complete her first season coaching the Firestorm under head coach Courtney Nash. Cormier brings a surplus of coaching and playing experience with her. Having played Division I soccer at the University of New Mexico, Gina is no stranger to collegiate athletics. She previously served as the Arizona Olympic Development Program Coach for the U15 and U10 girls. After that she took on the head girls soccer coach for the CCV Stars program in 2004, 2005, and 2007. After taking on the head coach position for Boulder Creek High School girls soccer team, she most recently served on the coaching staff at Paradise Valley Community College.
Cormier graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2011 with a master’s degree in Literacy and Instruction. She has been married to Zach Cormier for 16 years, and together they have three children: Tristan (10), Colby (9), and Creed (5).
Current Licenses: USSF C License, NFHS Level 1

Shawn Spitzer
Director of Goalkeeping
Shawn Spitzer is the current UWS FC Arizona GK Coach and FC Arizona Goalkeeping coach for Girl’s DPL and APL teams. Before joining FC Arizona Shawn was the Director of Goalkeeping for Vail SC, RSL AZ Tucson as well as running Legacy Goalkeeping Academy.
As a player Shawn competed at the NCAA D1 level for Grand Canyon University in the WAC making the NCAA tournament in 2018. After that Shawn had a short professional career with Phoenix Rising and FC Tucson before injury ended his playing days as a professional. He then join FC Arizona’s NPSL and UPSL squads. During his time with NPSL helping the team make the playoffs in back to back years and for UPSL winning the Arizona conference and making it to the National round of 16 in 2021.
Shawn currently working towards his D license of coaching. He has a bachelor’s in Sports Management from GCU.
Shawn is extremely happy to be part of this amazing club and wants to help continue to grow the club and have FC Arizona become the club for top-talented Goalkeepers here in Arizona.

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 locally here with Arizona Heatwave, retiring from competitive soccer in 2010 after numerous injuries and knee surgeries. Cindy coached 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 focus more on supporting and leading the players off the field. She focuses more of her time now on Business Coaching/Life Coaching including within the Soccer world. Cindy has multiple strategies to assist anyone who is striving to excel in all facets of their lives. Her strengths are communication, loyalty, transparency and strong emotional support with whom she interacts with. With her extensive knowledge within the Soccer World, Cindy leads individuals with first-hand experience for players who may simply need that extra support, encouragement and guidance to gain confidence in taking the next step into their goals and dreams. It takes a special skill to gain trust on an intimate level and many immediately understand the level of compassion and loyalty comes when interacting with her. This special bond is valued and protected in order to understand what is needed and how to help players gain clarity in obtaining their goals on and off the field.
Cindy also currently works as a Sales Manager at CMG Financial in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has been in the mortgage industry since June 1998 and licensed in multiple states.