Staff

Tania is the director and head coach of the Golden Gloves Goalkeeper Academy. She has developed, trained and worked with all levels of goalkeepers including the likes of Erin McLeod (World Cup & Olympic Games -GK), Keenan Gracy (former Wigan Athletic “reserve GK” in the English Premier League), Jessica Hussey (silver World Cup medalist), Rachelle Beanlands (U-17 Canadian National Team -World Cup 2010 GK) and Chad Bush (Toronto FC Academy 2010-11 GK) along with many other provincial and university level goalkeepers.

Tania is constantly teaching the art of goalkeeping to the interest of hundreds of local and nation wide students who want to learn and perfect his/her technical and tactical habits needed to play this specialized position. Her ability to develop at all levels has sparked the interests of many high level clubs including the likes of Laguna Hills Eclipse in California, U.S.A., Canadian National Team program and the Ontario Provincial program.  The combination of her passion, knowledge and brilliance to develop her students in such a confident manner is simply unique.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• Canadian National Team 1990-1997
• World Cup Team / Sweden 1995
• Canada Games Team / Quebec 1993
• World University Team 1993
• Chicago Raptors / W-League 1995
• Ottawa Fury / W-League 2000-2001
• Ottawa University Gee Gees / Champs 1996 / silver 1997
• Nepean United Spirits / Canadian Champs 1998

George Chiappa is our “strength and speed” conditioning coach. He is the founder and head coach of the Ultimate Performance Coach program and is a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is also the former director for Ontario for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (2002 – 2005). George has been training and developing athletes from all sports and levels of performance for over 20 years, including former Olympians and professional athletes. He is now directing his attention to the development of our soccer players. This is one part of our game that is usually only addressed once the athletes reach a higher level of performance, example: University or Provincial and National level. George brings a level of knowledge and experience to the Academy that cannot be left out. Being a specialist in this area provides our students the essential preparation and knowledge in the area of their physical development that will ensure that they will someday reach their ultimate performance.

Kyla Clark has been a part of the Academy for the last 12 years. She started as a young goalkeeper, and now joins us as a coach. She was the first “female” goalkeeper to graduate from the academy back in 2002. She received a full scholarship to the University of Texas, El Paso, whereby she lead her team as captain and starting goalkeeper. She then continued her education at the University of Fairleigh Dickinson and went on to have two more successful seasons as a starter. Kyla has returned to Ottawa and has continued to play between the pipes for the Ottawa Royals Women’s Premier. She is giving back to the game by coaching our youth at a club level, varsity level and of course, with our local goalkeepers.

Kyla has returned to the academy as a goalkeeper coach and mentor for our future stars. Her patience and enthusiasm creates a positive and competitive environment to want to strive to be the best.

Karl Wasslan has made the transition from being the 1st student to ever attend the academy to staff coach.   His goal when he first started to train with Tania was to be the best goalkeeper in the Ottawa area.  After a year of intensive training, he was arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the province.  Karl wanted to play professionally. He soaked up every ounce of knowledge and applied all the technical and tactical tools that were needed to be the best. As a result, Karl had interest shown both at the Provincial and National levels.  He decided, however, to continue on the path that his club head coach had paved for him.  Karl made his way over to Romania and had the opportunity to train and play with an elite club that enjoyed his talents so much they decided to keep him.  This opportunity could only have happened because Karl was committed to his training and took full advantage of his natural ability.  Karl has since returned home to complete his academic studies and play a very important role in “giving back” to the academy by sharing his valuable experiences and passion for the game with our future stars.