LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COACHES
Sara Brandon
Sara Brandon began her competitive soccer career with MapleBrook in 1997 as a U12 player. After graduating high school from Maple Grove Senior High, she ran the club's Little Blasters program while going to college at the University of Minnesota. Sara went on to become the Administrative Director for Maplebrook after obtaining her degree in Early Childhood Education and her National Y coaching license. Sara is currently living in Brooklyn Park with her husband and four children. The same community and love for soccer that brought her to the club 24 years ago are what she hopes to bring to MapleBrook Soccer Club’s next generation.
Jean-Yves Viardin
USSF A Senior License
20+ years club coaching experience
12+ State Cup Championships, Regional and National Championship participations
10+ years of high school varsity coaching (Armstrong and Osseo)
College and Pro playing experience
Martin Browne
2019: Assisted Maplebrook U19 Girls to qualification for Nationals
High School Coaching Career
Prairie Seeds Academy High School
Junior Varsity Head Coach & Varsity Assistant Coach | 2013
Varsity Head Coach 2014
DeLaSalle High School | Assistant Boys Varsity Coach | 2016 – 2018
Osseo Senior High School | Varsity Head Coach 2019 -- Present
Owner of Marti Parti Academy, a personal training program that focuses on the technical and intellectual development of soccer athletes.
Player Career
International Call-Up (Liberia Men’s National Team) 2017
NPSL Minneapolis City SC player 2017 – 2020
NPSL Joy Athletic Club 2021- Present
USYSA Region II Boys ODP Regional Pool for 1988’s
Osseo High School Soccer Alumni (’06)
Ben Levahn
2002-Present Maple Grove Varsity Girls Soccer
CoachSection Coach of the Year: 2019, 2017, 2014, 2012, 2009, 2004, 2002
MN State Girls Coach of the Year: 2017, 2012, 2004
NSCAA MN Coach of the Year: 2019, 2017, 2012
NSCAA Midwest Coach of the Year: 2012
Northwest Suburban Conference Champions: 4 times
Section Runner Up: 3 times
Section Championships/State Appearances: 4 times
MN State AA Runner Up: 2017
MN State AA Championship: 2019
Licenses:
USSF National Youth License
USSF National “D” License
NSCAA Regional & Advanced Regional Diploma
NSCAA High School Diploma
Coerver Youth Diploma
Current President of MN State High School Soccer Coaches Association and have served on the board for 12 years
Phy Ed Teacher at Maple Grove Senior High (24 years)
B.S. Kinesiology with a minor in Coaching (U of MN-Twin Cities)
M.Ed. Physical Education (U of MN-Twin Cities)
Played 1 year college soccer at Augsburg
Have lived in Maple Grove with my family since 1999 (two MGSH grads, 2 incoming 9th graders).
Grew up in Maple Grove, played on the original MapleBrook teams
Have been a part of the MapleBrook summer camp since 2011
Have been coaching Kickin’Kids/ Blast Jr. Academy since 2012
Have run the Maple Grove Crimson Girls Soccer Camp since 2002
Hobbies: woodturning, kayaking, hiking, camping, skiing, biking
Mike McMahan
12 years of coaching experience
Coached all level C3-C1 level girl's and boy’s teams for 11+ years with MapleBrook
Coached teams to three state championship qualification
5 team promotions
Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology
USSF E License
Played at Division 2 football at Winona State University
Coaching experience in football, baseball, softball and running.
Cat Parkhill
Member of FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup Winners 2008
FCKC, NWSL —Professional Athlete
Represented US Youth National Teams internationally in games in the following countries: England, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Chile, Denmark, Argentina, and Chile.
U of MN 4 year starter
https://gophersports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/cat-parkhill/11286
Defensive Player of the Week— Big Ten
Academic All-Big Ten
Olympic Development Program
• Goalkeeper Trainer and Evaluator
COACHING LICENSES
United Coaches Goalkeeper Level I, II, III
USSF E License
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: College of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Science Major: Psychology, Graduated: 2014
Curtis L. Carlson School of Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Major: Entrepreneurial Management, Graduated: 2013
IGOR STOSIC
US Soccer Federation B License
20+ Years club coaching
10+ Years coaching High School (Armstrong and Osseo)
Collegiate and Professional playing experience
Ralph Slaker
25+ years of coaching experience
Coached C1 level girl's teams for 20+ years with MapleBrook
Coached teams to three state championships and three state champion runner-up titles.
NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
US Youth Coaching License
USSF D License
Played at Irondale High School, Bethany Lutheran College, Junior College, and 30+ years in MN Competitive and Recreational Leagues
Refereed 6+ years High School/College
Jeremy Zahn
Coaching License: US Soccer Federation National D
Coaching Experience: My first experience in coaching was for U18 boys in 1997 and for over the last 10+ years I have coached for multiple Maplebrook Girls and Boys teams at all levels.
Playing Experience: I started playing soccer nearly 40 years ago and still play to this day. I played at Anoka Sr High and went on to play at Augsburg College.
Awards / Achievements: MYSA District Champions U13 Boys, MYSA State Tournament 3rd place U13 Boys, MYSA District Champions U11 Girls, MYSA State Tournament 3rd place U11 Girls. MYSA Fall State Tournament U13 Girls
Coaching Philosophy: My overall coaching philosophy is 'Progress over Perfection' and my expectation is that my players will give their very best effort - in games and practices - and by doing so they will improve. To be clear, we won't be perfect, but we will become better soccer players, better teammates and develop our skills along the way.
How do you spend your time when you’re not coaching? When I am not coaching soccer, I enjoy spending time with my family. We enjoy life on the lakes in northern Minnesota in the summer and downhill skiing in the winter. We also enjoy watching our younger daughter play soccer and watching Univ of Kansas sports with our oldest daughter.