Staff

Danny O'Keefe, Boys U16 Head Coach

Email: daniel.okeefe@s-sm.org

I joined the Boys Soccer Center of Excellence in August of 2019 as the U17 and U16 Assistant Coach. Previously, I served as an assistant with Annandale United U23 and Bishop Ireton High School.

I attended Radford University and played a key role on our back-to-back Big South regular season championship teams in 2014 and 2015. I was also recognized as the Big South Defensive Player of the Year in my final season and earned several other individual accolades, inluding selections to the Big South Conference First Team, the VaSID First Team, and the All-South Region First Team.

After I graduated in 2015, I spent the next few years pursuing a playing career and spent time with Oklahoma City Energy U23s, Grythyttans IF, and the Philadelphia Fury. The game took me around the world and I met others who shared my passion for the game. I was lucky to become a part of several unique communities.

After a serious concussion, I spent some time away from soccer. but never lost the love I had for the game. I wanted to keep it as part of my life! That was what brought me back to Annandale United, the youth club I played for growing up and during my summers home from college. I was working a day job and coaching with them three nights a week. I realized that those evenings spent coaching were what I looked forward to the most at the start of each week and started looking for a chance to make it a bigger part of my life.

I can remember the impact that each of my coaches had on my understanding of the game. My favorite aspect of being a coach is the opportunity to help players improve at such an important stage of their lives and seeing them develop as players and grow as people.

 

Jhony Gonzalez, Boys U16 Assistant Coach

Email: jhony.gonzalez@s-sm.org

I joined the Boys Soccer Center of Excellence in May 2021 as an assistant coach with the U16 and U17 teams.  I am also currently the head scout of the program as well.   

Born in Medellin, Colombia, soccer has always been my first love and passion for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was part of the New England Revolution youth academy (MLS). I began my collegiate career at Dean College in Franklin, MA from 2015-2017.  In my first year, we were ranked No. 3 in the nation in NJCAA DI and I was fortunate enough to be named the men’s soccer MVP that season.  The following year we participated in the USCAA National Tournament in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

During the summers of 2015- 2017 I was part of the New England Revolution u23 team. In 2017 we were given the opportunity to train against the Argentina Men’s National team during the Copa America which was a dream come true as I was able to meet my Idol Leonel Messi during that time.

Prior to my junior year, I transferred to Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT and played a key role in reaching the 2017-18 NE-10 tournament and the NCAA Tournament, eventually losing in the Sweet 16. In 2018-19 I was voted Captain of the Men’s program.

During my last two years in college, I spent my summers playing with Black Rock FC. During this time, we were crowned PDL Northeast Champions in our first year as a club, eventually losing to the NY Red bulls u23 in the semifinal of the PDL National tournament 1-0. This earned Black Rock a US OPEN Cup berth in 2019 during the inaugural USL 2 Campaign.

After I graduated in 2019, I took an internship with a sports agency in NY, it was then that I realized scouting and coaching was something that I wanted to pursue as a career. The challenge of reaching a top level in those specific areas while also working with top players was appealing to me. The ability a coach has to impact an athlete’s life on and off the field is what was most appealing to me. This is why I embrace my role daily, the ability to influence the next generation is what drives me to be at my finest.

 

Noah Bushey, Boys U16 Assistant Coach

Email: noah.bushey@s-sm.org

I joined the Boys Soccer Center of Excellence at the end of March 2022 as the assistant coach for the U19 and U16 teams. Before coming to SSM, I played Division I soccer at the University of New Mexico, Florida Gulf Coast University, and most recently I completed my eligibility at Gonzaga University in my hometown of Spokane, Washington. 

I earned my bachelor’s degree in communications from FGCU and I am currently working on my master’s degree in organizational leadership through Gonzaga, which has already provided me with valuable tools to pursue my passion of coaching. 

Coaching soccer is a deeply rooted tradition in my family.  My oldest brother is a coach, my uncle is the coach of a professional team in Colorado, and my dad is the head of SSM’s Boys program. So, I was never far from the coaching realm of the game.

After graduating from GU, I trialed with the Colorado Rapids 2 and FC Tucson, ultimately the dream of playing professionally did not come to fruition for me, but my true dream of coaching elite level athletes has. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to be at Shattuck and help lead young people towards the next stage of their lives. I hope to give each player here an incredible experience that they can take forward in their lives no matter if that is in soccer or in another field of interest.

My family has been an incredible influence in my life and my coaching desire. My dad and uncle were both integral in my growth as a soccer player and led me to become the person I am today, both as a coach and player. I hope to be able to instill the same drive and passion that they did for me with the players that I get to work with each day.