Sascha Görres, Boys Director, U13 Head Coach

Sascha, originally from Flensburg, Germany, came to the US when he was 23 years old to play college soccer at the University of North Carolina Pembroke. Previously, he played for ETSV Weiche and TSB Flensburg in Germany’s 4th division. After graduating college as an All-American in 2005, he was drafted by the Richmond Kickers Pro Team and played there until his retirement in 2016. He ranks second on the club’s all-time career list in assists (53) and games played (287). In addition, Sascha filled the role of Richmond Kickers Pro Team Assistant Coach from 2013 until 2018. He joined Richmond United at its inception in 2014. He holds the US Soccer A-Youth License and currently serves as the Boys ECNL Director. He is married to Shelley Sowers, a Richmond native, and together they have two young boys, Lasse (3) and Henning (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Maimone, U14 & U15 Head Coach

Chris will join us for his first season with Richmond United in 2022/2023. A Richmond native, Chris played for both the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers and was also a member of the Virginia State ODP and Region I ODP teams for many seasons. From 2008-2012, he attended and played Division I soccer for Virginia Commonwealth University while earning his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science. He also received his Master's Degree in Recreation and Sports Sciences with a Concentration in Soccer Coaching from Ohio University in 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriel Colon, Administrator, College Pathway Coordinator, U16 & U17 Head Coach

Gabriel, originally from Winter Park, Florida, joined Richmond United in 2019 from Florida Rush, where he helped build and operate U.S. Soccer Development Academy and Major League Soccer (MLS) Next programs from their inception. Before that, he coached within the youth development platforms at MLS clubs Red Bull New York and Orlando City. After coaching the 2006 and 2007 age groups at RU for the 2019-20 season, he returned to Florida Rush as an administrator and head coach of the 2006 and 2008 age groups within their MLS Next program. He is currently enrolled in the CONMEBOL Pro License pathway with the Argentine Football Federation and was selected for the “30 Under 30” class of 2018-19 by United Soccer Coaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leigh Cowlishaw, U18/19 Head Coach

Leigh will join us for his first season as the U19 RU Head Coach. Leigh has a long history of coaching success, winning 276 games and multiple USL Championships as a Head Coach for the Richmond Kickers Pro Team over a 19 year coaching career. During his tenure, several Kickers players signed contracts with MLS clubs as well as others who have gone to represent their full National Teams. As a professional player with the Richmond Kickers he scored 20 goals in 152 appearances while winning the USL League Championship and Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 1995. Leigh is a member of the University of Richmond Hall of Fame and their career leader in goals (54), assists (31) and points (139). In 2012, Leigh returned to his alma-mater as Head Coach guiding the team to the best record since 2007. He currently serves as the Executive Director for the Richmond Kickers and most recently coached the U16 Richmond Kickers Boys Elite team to a National Playoff appearance. Leigh holds a US Soccer A-License.

 

 

 

 

 

Julian Khalili, Assistant Coach, Social Media

Julian currently holds a USSF “C” License and is in the process of applying for his “B”, he has earned a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma, and Futsal Level 1 Diploma. He plans on working toward an “A” License and has the aspiration of earning a PHD in coaching & skill acquisition.

Julian has been coaching for close to 8 years, formerly as a director at Dynamo Soccer Club. His playing career is highlighted by his time at Randolph College, where he played in 2011-2015, and appeared in 3, Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament finals.

He is a lifelong advocate for positive and meaningful change in the world of youth soccer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marty Baker, Goalkeeping Director

Marty Baker will join us in 2022/23 as the Director of Goalkeeping, working both for the Boys and the Girls program. Marty grew up in Knoxville, TN playing soccer for Knoxville Football Club. He attended the University of Tennessee where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sport Management. In 2014, during his last year of undergraduate studies, he joined FC Alliance Soccer Club as a staff goalkeeper coach where he worked across all age groups with both boys and girls until the spring of 2019. From 2016 - 2018 Marty played for the Emerald Force of the NPSL. From the Fall of 2017 - Spring 2019, Marty served as the Volunteer Assistant for the University of Tennessee Women's Soccer team. During this time the program earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including their highest ever program finish as they reached the Elite 8 in the Fall of 2018. In the spring of 2019, Marty was hired as an Assistant Coach with the Women's Soccer team at VCU, a role he currently holds. Marty and his fiance Kara, a Richmond native, recently got married.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We bring back a strong group of driven coaches, all of whom have taken significant steps forward in their own development over the last year. The familiarity with the players will help us provide an even better environment for our players," said Boys Director Sascha Görres.

Richmond United Fees

The fees for a U13-U14 player is $2950.

The fees for a U15-U19 player is $2750. 

About Richmond United Boys

Richmond United was established in 2014, by the Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers, when the two clubs united their respective U.S. Soccer Development Academy programs to introduce a collaborative program designed to serve the most talented male players in the Central Virginia region. Richmond United competed in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy from 2014 to 2020. Following the termination of the Development Academy, Richmond United joined the Boys ECNL and is eager to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. 

Richmond United's vision is to offer the most comprehensive and successful player development environment for soccer in Virginia. We will inspire our members, strive to achieve excellence, and unite our soccer community. We want to be a positive outlier among youth soccer clubs in the US. Richmond United's Boys program fields teams in the U13-U19 age groups. 

About Boys ECNL

The Boys Elite Clubs National League (Boys ECNL) was founded to provide a top class, club-based development, training, and competition platform for youth male soccer players in the United States. The mission of the Boys ECNL is to improve the landscape for players in the United States through innovative, player-centered programming that raises standards of quality and improves the player experience in all aspects of the game.