Coaching Staff for Los Gatos United Soccer Club

LEADERSHIP

PHIL GIBSON

Executive Director

Phil joined Los Gatos United in 2019 after a career in technology education that included a decade at Stanford University and as founder/CEO of Digital Media Academy, an international education company. A former Santa Clara University player, he also earned an MBA and holds an NSCAA coaching license. Phil combines business knowledge, coaching experience, and a lifelong passion for soccer to fully support the Club’s mission of excellence.

SHAUN TSAKIRIS

Technical Director

Shaun returned to Los Gatos United in 2025 after becoming the first coach to win three straight MLS Next championships from 2023–2025 with the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he also served as the Director of Individual Development. Shaun is also an assistant coach of the United States’ U-20 Men’s National Team. A Saratoga native, Shaun combines leadership, innovation, and dedication to raising the standard for youth soccer development in the U.S.

SHAWN BLAKEMAN

Sporting Director

Shawn joined Los Gatos United as Club Director in January 2019, bringing decades of soccer leadership to the organization. He is co-founder and Vice President of NorCal Premier Soccer and holds a USSF “A” license as well as the Director of Club license. A former professional player in Germany and the U.S., Shawn blends technical expertise, organizational vision, and extensive experience to fully guide Los Gatos United in achieving long-term growth.

TECHNICAL STAFF

IAN LANE

Boys ECNL Director

About Coach Ian

Ian Lane brings a proven track record of player development to Los Gatos United, where he currently serves as both a coach and the 11v11 Boys Age Group Director. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Political Science, Ian’s coaching journey includes significant leadership roles, including serving as the Central Coast Director for Catalyst Soccer and working with the San Jose Earthquakes youth club and Development Academy.

Deeply influenced by the sophisticated, possession-based styles of modern European soccer, Ian’s coaching philosophy centers on teaching cohesive, rehearsed team movement. He focuses on training his players’ reactions and game-reading abilities so that collective, tactical actions become instinctive on the pitch. At Los Gatos United, Ian works closely with the club’s leadership to implement modern development structures, including custom position-specific evaluations, ensuring every athlete is equipped with the tactical understanding and technical skill to succeed at the 11v11 level. He holds a USSF National “B” License.

LUIS RANGEL

Boys ECNL Head Coach

About Coach Luis

Luis Rangel brings over nine years of youth player development experience and a rich competitive background to Los Gatos United. Growing up in Foster City, California, Luis excelled in the local soccer scene, highlighted by winning three Futsal National Championships between the ages of 15 and 18. He went on to play collegiate soccer at Cañada College and earned his degree in Business Management from San Jose State University.

Luis holds a USSF “B” License and uses his dynamic playing background to fuel his passion for teaching the game. His coaching philosophy centers on helping players fall in love with soccer while growing as individuals and teammates. Luis is committed to creating a positive, highly challenging environment where players can build confidence, sharpen their technical skills, and express creativity on the field. By instilling values of accountability and hard work, his ultimate goal is to prepare every player for lasting success both in soccer and in life.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ

Boys 9v9 & Pre-ECNL Director

About Coach Jesus

Jesus Rodriguez joins Los Gatos United with eight years of extensive coaching experience across all age groups and competitive levels, ranging from grassroots recreational programs to elite MLS NEXT environments. A specialist in foundational youth development, Jesus previously served as the 7v7 Director at Bay Area Surf, where he focused on sharpening the technical skills and decision-making of young athletes.

Jesus holds a USSF “D” License and is deeply passionate about cultivating well-rounded individuals. He is dedicated to creating a positive, highly competitive environment where players feel empowered to express themselves, take creative risks, and grow both on and off the field. Jesus is incredibly excited to bring his expertise to LGU and become an active leader in the Los Gatos community.

THOMAS MURDICK

Boys 7v7 & Pre-Comp Director

About Coach Thomas

Thomas Murdick is a mainstay of the Los Gatos United coaching staff, having dedicated the past 12 years to developing players across multiple departments and a wide range of age groups within the club. He holds a USSF National “C” License and brings a deeply player-centered approach to the pitch, prioritizing comprehensive skill development and long-term athletic growth.

In addition to his impactful tenure with LGU, Thomas has served as the head coach of the Leigh High School boys’ varsity program for the past nine years. His extensive experience spanning both elite club and high school varsity environments gives him a unique understanding of the local soccer landscape, allowing him to successfully guide and mentor young athletes at every stage of their soccer journey.

JOEL FUMIA

Girls 11v11 & ECNL Director

About Coach Joel

Born and raised right here in Los Gatos as the youngest of six children, Joel Fumia brings a deep connection to the local community alongside elite soccer experience. A standout player, Joel earned a Division 1 athletic scholarship to Saint Mary’s College of California, where he competed for four years, won a West Coast Conference (WCC) championship, and reached the NCAA Elite 8 while earning his degree in Business & Accounting.

Joel holds a USSF “B” License and a NorCal Technical Director’s License. For Joel, the soccer field is a classroom for life. He firmly believes in using the beautiful game as a tool to develop exceptional people, focusing on embedding core values like teamwork, sportsmanship, work ethic, discipline, and healthy competition into every player he coaches.

MASON WEBB

Girls ECNL RL Head Coach

Male soccer coach with short dark hair and beard, wearing a black polo with a yellow team crest, arms crossed and a neutral smile.

About Coach Mason

Mason Webb brings an exceptional combination of professional playing experience, administrative leadership, and a deep understanding of player psychology to Los Gatos United. A former professional player with the Vancouver Whitecaps and a standout NCAA Division I athlete, Mason holds a B.S. in Psychology, which heavily informs his approach to player development.

Mason holds a USSF “B” License and brings over 11 years of experience developing youth talent across Northern California. His extensive leadership background includes serving as the Director of Coaching at both Mavericks SC and Eastshore Alliance FC. Mason’s coaching philosophy is rooted in meeting every player exactly where they are, ensuring they feel equally inspired, supported, and challenged. He focuses on building a culture of ownership and collaboration, firmly believing that the strongest, most resilient team environments are the ones the players build together.

CARLOS MENJIVAR

Girls 9v9 & Pre-ECNL Director

About Coach Carlos

Carlos Menjivar brings world-class international experience and an elite coaching pedigree to Los Gatos United. An exceptional competitor, Carlos enjoyed a stellar 10-year professional playing career from 2001 to 2010, which included the immense honor of representing the El Salvador National Team on the global stage.

With 15 years of coaching experience, Carlos is among the most highly credentialed instructors in youth soccer, holding both a USSF “A” License and a UEFA “B” License. His tactical expertise has been utilized at the highest levels of collegiate soccer, having served on the men’s soccer program coaching staffs at both San Diego State University—where he also completed his education—and nearby Santa Clara University. Carlos’s blend of international playing experience and top-tier collegiate coaching makes him an invaluable asset in developing our club’s competitive athletes.

JASON MASTRODONATO

Girls 7v7 Director

About Coach Jason

Jason Mastrodonato brings a unique perspective to Los Gatos United, blending tactical precision with insights gained from the pinnacle of professional sports. A graduate of Northeastern University, Jason began developing his tactical eye early in his career while working with the Huskies’ Division I women’s soccer program in their video department.

He then spent more than 15 years as a sports journalist for The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald and The San Jose Mercury News, embedded in elite athletic environments. Through extensive time in championship locker rooms, he has studied inner team dynamics and culture firsthand from iconic athletes like Steph Curry, Tom Brady, and David Ortiz, as well as legendary coaches like Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers, Terry Francona, and Alex Cora.

Jason translates these masterclasses in sports leadership directly onto the youth training pitch, where he has found success leading 7v7 age groups through their crucial developmental years. Committed to strategic, equitable development, Jason utilizes structured rotation patterns to ensure every athlete receives meaningful growth opportunities. His goal is to build a high-standard, collaborative culture where young players develop a profound work ethic, master technical fundamentals, and learn the team-first values that define elite athletes at any level. He holds a USSF National “C” License.

DREW CLEARY

Sports Performance Director

About Dr. Cleary

Dr. Drew Cleary brings elite, world-class sports science expertise to Los Gatos United as our Sports Performance Director. Originally from Australia, Dr. Drew holds a PhD in Human Performance and boasts an illustrious career training some of the most iconic figures in sports history, including Michael Jordan, Monica Seles, and Scottie Pippen. He also spent years as the high-performance architect behind Santa Clara University’s women’s soccer team, helping lead them to the 2020 NCAA National Championship.

For the past five years, Dr. Drew has partnered with Technical Director Shaun Tsakiris to elevate Los Gatos United’s strength, speed, and conditioning programs. Holding top-tier credentials from the NSCA and Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), he is highly passionate about youth player development and injury prevention—particularly reducing ACL tears in female athletes. By implementing custom, data-driven strengthening and mechanics programs based on FIFA studies, Dr. Drew ensures our athletes build the elite physical foundation necessary to compete safely and effectively at the highest levels.

KIAN VAN DER MEER

Goalkeeping Director

Portrait of a smiling male soccer player wearing a dark striped polo with a yellow United crest on the chest and a Nike swoosh.

About Coach Kian

Kian Van Der Meer brings a wealth of high-level playing experience and tactical knowledge to Los Gatos United. His competitive journey includes playing NCAA collegiate soccer at UC Santa Cruz, as well as testing his skills internationally when he played professionally in the Swedish third division at just 19 years old. Kian continues to compete at the highest tiers of the sport, currently playing professional-level beach soccer.

In addition to his playing career, Kian is highly active in the collegiate coaching scene, currently serving as the assistant coach for the competitive Division III program at UC Santa Cruz. Kian holds a USSF “D” Coaching License and utilizes his dual perspective as both an active elite player and a college coach to inspire and elevate our youth athletes.