Meet the Team

Our Staff and Coaches

Meet the People Who Keep Things Running behind the scenes

Sara Kelly – Office Manager

Gaston Jacob – Field and Equipment Manager

Brett Adams – Technical Director

  • Role: Technical Director
  • Hometown: Nottingham, England
  • Experience: 11 years as Technical Director with Nelson Soccer; former Associate Head Coach with Vancouver Whitecaps Academy (national program)
  • Qualifications: UEFA A Licence; NCCP Making Head Way in Sport; Anti-Racism in Coaching; Coaching in Canada; Mental Health in Sport; NCCP Coaching Athletes with a Disability; NCCP Creating a Positive Sport Environment; NCCP Make Ethical Decisions (MED); Safe Sport Training
  • Coaching Focus: Player and coach development, long-term athlete development, and creating inclusive, high-quality soccer environments
  • About: Brett brings extensive high-performance and grassroots experience to his role, leading the club’s technical direction and coach education. He is committed to growing the game locally by building strong development pathways, supporting coaches, and ensuring a positive, inclusive experience for all players.

Sveta Tisma – Operations Manager, Interim Executive Director, Head Referee

Our Exceptional Coaching Staff

Marlisa Crosland

  • Teams: U-16 Boys Rep, U-13 Girls Rep, KUFA U13–U14 & Junior &Senior Girls
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: Playing since age 5; UBC Okanagan, University of Victoria, Victoria Stars (PCSL)
  • Coaching Experience: 20+ years
  • Qualifications: C Licence, Master’s in Coaching, currently completing Canadian B Licence
  • Coaching Passion: Transformational coaching and athlete development

Reynold Stewart

  • Teams: KUFA Academy
  • Hometown: Tsawwassen, BC (now based in Nelson, BC)
  • Playing Background: Playing since early childhood; experience at university and semi-professional level
  • Coaching Experience: 15 years
  • Qualifications: Canada Soccer C Licence; Canada Soccer Youth Licence (ongoing); BC Soccer Learning Facilitator; Safe Sport Certified
  • Coaching Passion: Promoting physical literacy and fostering a lifelong love of soccer through youth development

Sarah Kozlowski

  • Teams: KUFA U10–13 Rep, U13B
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: Playing since youth in Nelson; high-level experience in Europe; Vancouver Women’s Soccer League Premier Division
  • Coaching Experience: 5+ years
  • Qualifications: Canada Soccer C Diploma, B Diploma training in progress; Early Childhood Education Diploma; training in trauma-informed practice, inclusive learning, and physical literacy
  • Coaching Passion: Long-Term Player Development, coach education, strategic planning, and creating safe, inclusive environments that build confidence and a lifelong love of the game.

Mitch Poadynetz

  • Teams: Junior and Senior KUFA Boys Teams
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: Playing since age 5; Nelson Selects; Coquitlam Metro Ford BCSPL; Team BC; UBC; TRU; Victoria Highlanders (PDL)
  • Coaching Experience: 4 years
  • Qualifications: Canada Soccer C License
  • Coaching Passion: Developing players for the next level, with a focus on growth, performance, and advancing athletes to higher levels of competition.

Morag Paterson

  • Teams: Junior and Senior KUFA Girls Teams; Support for additional KUFA programs
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: Playing since age 4; Nelson Soccer Association; U SPORTS (University of Lethbridge – 4 years)
  • Coaching Experience: Coaching since 2011
  • Qualifications: Canada Soccer C License
  • Coaching Passion: Supporting and developing girls’ soccer by creating pathways and opportunities, inspired by firsthand experience in the sport

Iain Harvey

  • Role: Club oversight and coach development, KUFA Goalkeeper coach
  • Hometown: Born in Scotland; considers the UK home
  • Playing Background: College & university soccer (Alberta), semi-pro in BC
  • Coaching Experience: Since 2003
  • Qualifications: CSA C Licence
  • Coaching Passion: Player development and applying skills in games
  • Fun Fact: Lifelong Liverpool FC supporter

Adam Mandseth

  • Teams: U14 Boys Rep & Recreational, U15/16 Girls Recreational, Camps 
  • Hometown: Leduc, AB (13+ years in Nelson)
  • Playing Background: Active recreational player
  • Coaching Experience: 8 years
  • Qualifications: C Licence
  • Coaching Passion: Building team culture, communication, and trust
  • Highlights: Competed in 5 National Championships & Canada Games (baseball)

Our Junior Coaches

Will Adams

  • Teams: KUFA U13, All ages recreational soccer
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: 12+ years; Nelson Rep, Whitecaps Academy, KUFA
  • Coaching Experience: 3.5 years
  • Qualifications: Safe Sport
  • Coaching Passion: Teaching skills and working with young athletes

Piper

  • Teams: U4–U14 (boys & girls)
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: 12+ years; Nelson Rep, Whitecaps Academy, KUFA, Stockport County (UK)
  • Coaching Experience: 4.5 years
  • Qualifications: Foundations of Coaching, Active Start
  • Coaching Passion: Sharing love of the game and developing young players
  • Highlights: 2x Provincial medalist (1 Gold, 1 Silver)

Ayla Whitley

  • Teams: Girls House, Soccer Saturdays
  • Hometown: Nelson, BC
  • Playing Background: 12+ years; Nelson rep, Cranbrook rep, LVR High School, KUFA
  • Coaching Experience: 2 years
  • Qualifications: IMPACT Program graduate
  • Coaching Passion: Mentoring youth and building confidence through sport

The Nelson Soccer Association (NSA) is a non-profit community soccer association whose mission is to provide all soccer players, coaches, officials and parents in Nelson and the surrounding area with programs and opportunities to learn, play and excel in the sport of soccer.

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