KINGSTON, N.Y. – Kingston Stockade FC Head Coach Jamal Lis-Simmons has announced his Technical Staff for the 2019 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season, with Jimmy Ventriglia and Rory Becker serving as assistant coaches, Steve Skonieczny joining the staff as goalkeeping coach, and John Nunez remaining Director of Sports Performance and Rehab.
The staff has a great deal of both playing and coaching experience, as well as familiarity with Stockade FC. Lis-Simmons, Becker, and Skonieczny have been with the club since its inception, and Nunez enters his second season in his current role on the staff. Ventriglia, a former high school teammate of Lis-Simmons’, set records as a player and has also an accomplished coaching history.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to put together such a strong group of coaches,” said Lis-Simmons. “I’ve known Jimmy for a long time and he will bring his hard working, passionate attitude to the field each day. I’ve also worked closely with Rory, Steve, and John over the last few seasons and know that their expertise and commitment to the club will help lead us forward.”
“The club is committed to putting together a professional level coaching staff,” said Technical Director Dan Hoffay. “Jamal and his staff will prepare and motivate the team for every challenge the NPSL schedule throws at them with a championship mindset.”
Ventriglia joins Stockade FC for his first season as assistant coach. A former Highland High School standout where he played alongside Lis-Simmons, Ventriglia set a Tri-County record with 117 goals for the Huskies before moving on to play at Division-I Colgate University. Ventriglia spent 5 years as an assistant coach for the Army women’s soccer program, leading the Black Knights to a 43-40-13 record, and led the Marlboro high school varsity boys to a Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) title in 2011. He holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Diploma.
Becker enters his fourth season as Stockade FC assistant coach, the only coach who has been on the sidelines since the club’s start in 2016. Becker spent six years as an assistant with SUNY New Paltz and five years as an Olympic Development Program coach, and has earned the USSF A License coaching certification. A two-time state champion at Highland High School, Becker played at Ithaca College and with the German Hungarian Metros in Queens.
After three seasons as the club’s primary goalkeeper, Skonieczny will add coaching responsibilities to his role this season. The 2017 All-NPSL Second Team goalkeeper and former state champion at Arlington High School, spent his college career at Siena and Marist. After leaving Siena as the all-time leader in goals against average (GAA), Skonieczny collected eight shutouts for Matt Viggiano’s Marist Red Foxes in 2011. Skonieczny has experience coaching with Game Saving Academy, Wilder Goalkeeper Academy and Marist women’s soccer. He is currently the the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Byram Hills High School and holds a United Soccer Coaches Level 1 / 2 Goalkeeper Certification.
John Nunez, Doctor of Physical Therapy with Feldman Physical Therapy and Performance, has been an integral part of the Stockade FC success. Nunez will again lead Stockade FC’s fitness efforts by focusing on the physical well-being of the athletes, including developing and implementing fitness, recovery, nutrition, rehabilitation and self-care guidelines for the team both on the field and at home.
David Lindholm and Steve Sutton, who were members of last year’s coaching staff, will serve as advisors to the technical staff.
Kingston Stockade FC competes in the semi-professional National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth division of American soccer, and has achieved unprecedented success in just three full seasons, winning a conference championship in 2017 and competing in the U.S. Open Cup in 2018. The club is committed to helping improve and develop lower-division soccer in the United States, through an open-source and accessible approach.
