Coaches

Technical Director

Mark Van Slooten

Current teams: U13 Wolves, U15 Girls Premier

Contact Information: 616-363-8247 email: mtv61@sbcglobal.net

USSF D License
National Diploma for the NSCAA

Prior coaching experiences include Midwest Regional League coaching, and 20 years of coaching at a variety of levels.

Mr. Van Slooten has been playing soccer since the age of 14. He is the President and co-founding member of PASS soccer club. Mark is an attorney in downtown Grand Rapids. He is a graduate of Aquinas College and Valparaiso University School of Law. Mark is married to JoAnne Van Slooten and has four children.

Coach Dan McAllister

Current teams: U15 Girls and U15 Boys

Contact information: 616-581-6985 email-glsmistermac@hotmail.com

USSF “National C” license
USSF “National Youth” license
National Youth – State Instructors Certification

Coach McAllister bring to the Wolves/Hawks organization a wealth of experience. Dan is in his eighth year as an assistant coach for Cornerstone. Coach McAllister has been involved with soccer in the Grand Rapids area at all levels. He has coached youth teams, high school teams, and college teams in the area. He was a staff Olympic Development program (ODP) coach for Michigan from 1996-2009. He has coached various club teams over the years including Grand Rapids Area Soccer Association, West Michigan Fire Juniors, and Tri-City Strikers and now the Wolves/Hawks, GR.

Dan is married to Renee McAllister and they reside in Grand Haven, Mich. They have four daughters (Danielle, Charise, Christina and Chelsea.

Coach Eric Mikel

Current teams: U13 Girls Premier

Contact Information: 616-502-2923 email: mikelwarsaw@aol.com

USSF D license

Prior coaching experiences include head coach for Grace College (NAIA), goalkeeper coach at Cornerstone University (men and women’s program), assistant coach at East Grand Rapids High School, goalkeeper coach at Caledonia High School and Rockford High School. Mr. Mikel has been a goalkeeper trainer in the area for 12 years and has coached Premier soccer for 6 years.

Mr. Mikel was a 3-year varsity starter for his high school. He continued his soccer career at Cornerstone University where he was a four-year starter. Mr. Mikel continued his career with the Grand Rapids Explosion. Eric has a B.A. in Business Administration from Grace College. Eric is married to Jodi and has 4 children: Kaiya 9, Elijah 8, Kennedy 6, Abram 2 and a fifth child is due in August.

Coach Dan Orao

Current team: U13Boys

Contact information:

USSF D Licences holder

2005 U17B State Cup Champions

Prior coaching experience includes years of premier soccer coaching with TKO, GVP, Chicago Fire Juniors, and now with the Wolves, GR. Dan has been a very successful coach in the area with a State Cup Championship to his name.

Dan is also a very successful business person here in West Michigan.

Coach Dianne Strawser

Current Teams: U10 Girls Academy

Contact information:

Ph-616-915-7883 email- strawser@live.com

Licenses:

California Coaching Certificate

NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach

Dianne comes to the Hawks with a wealth of coaching experience at the collegiate level as a head and as an assistant coach, and at the club and high school levels. She is currently serving as the Girls Varsity Soccer Coach at East Grand Rapids High School. Dianne was an outstanding player in California where she was a member of the regional and national pool. She went on to star at UC Santa Barbara where she finished as the second leading scorer in school history. Dianne earned a BA in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Coach Steve Thomas

Current Team: U18 Girls

Contact Information: 616-889-3924 email: sidthomas13@yahoo.com

National Diploma from the NSCAA

Steve is currently the Boys/Girls Varsity Coach at Rockford High School. Prior coaching experience includes Head Soccer Coach at Cornerstone University and premier experience with SCOR soccer club.

Steve was a standout player at Weber State University.