Staff Bios

Mike Getman – HVS Director

Mike Getman is a member of the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame and a former professional soccer player and collegiate coach. He ranks 15th in victories for Division I Coaches. His career record stands at 322-218-56 (.605). He served as UAB Head Coach from 1992-2018. His UAB teams won 6 conference titles and played in the NCAA Tournament 8 times. He is one of only two coaches to lead a UAB team to the Elite 8 (Gene Bartow/Basketball was the other). He was the Head Coach at Harvard University from 1987-1992 where he led the Crimson to an undefeated regular season and a place in the Final Four. He was selected as conference coach of the year 3 times and was selected as the Conference USA “Coach of the Decade”. He is the winningest coach in C-USA history. Coach Getman played college soccer at Indiana University and then professionally for the Detroit Express. More than 50 of his college players moved on to the professional ranks.

Tomas Fox – HVS Executive Director

Tomas Fox has been the Executive Director of Hoover Soccer Club since 2012 and has been with HSC since 2005. During his time at Hoover Soccer Club, he has built the club into one of the largest and most respected clubs in the state. He played a key role in the development of US National Team Chris Richards. Tomas played college soccer at the University of Montevallo and is originally from Argentina.

Rocky Harmon – HVS Executive Director

Rocky Harmon has been the Executive Director at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club since 2007. Before moving to Birmingham, Harmon served as the Director of Coaching of what is now NASA/ TopHat in Atlanta for seventeen years. Harmon holds a USSF ‘A” License and a Premier Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches. He was the first US Soccer staff coach to select Clint Dempsey to a Regional pool, where Harmon coached Dempsey for three years. Harmon played at the University of Tampa and later was an assistant coach at his alma mater for two seasons and at West Virginia University for three years. 

Luke Whittle – HVS Girls Director

Luke Whittle is one of the longest-serving coaches in Alabama history. Over the years, he has coached many players who have reached the Pro and National Team levels. He played a significant role in developing current professional players like JJ Williams, Brandon Servania, and Jaden Servania. Luke graduated from the University of South Alabama as a four-year starter. Luke has coached at every level of soccer, from youth to college to professional.

Kyra Bellamy

Kyra Bellamy played for Fairhope High School before moving to Birmingham to be a student at UAB.  She coached at Hoover Soccer Club for two years before joining HVS.  She is considered one of the top up and coming coaches in the State.

Marine Cano

Marine Cano was the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at California State Univ. Dominguez Hills.  He led the Toros to the NCAA National Championship in 1991.  Coach Cano has 29 years coaching experience at NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA levels. He amassed over 320 collegiate wins. He also holds a USSF ‘A license as well as an NSCAA National Advanced License.  

As a professional player he played in the NASL, MISL and with the US National Team.

Jaiquan Crook

Jaiquan is a former UAB athlete. After his playing days, he joined the UAB Strength and Conditioning staff. He serves as a personal trainer and as a Performance Specialist who specializes in Speed, Agility, Strength and Conditioning work.  He has received several awards including the 2021 “Best Personal Trainer Award”.  He joined the HVS Staff in 2023.  

Amy Disko

Amy Disko was born and raised in Birmingham – grew up playing club soccer in the area and graduated from Oak Mountain High School.  Amy continued her soccer career playing at UAB for 2 seasons and transferring and playing her final 2 seasons at Lee University (TN).  She began her coaching career in 2006 with Vestavia Hills Soccer Club and has worked there ever since.  In her coaching tenure her teams have won numerous state championships and has had quarter-final and semi-final appearances at the USYS Southern Regional events.  She currently holds her USSF C License and National Youth License and has served as the VHSC programs administrator/registrar for 10 years.

Kay Erickson

Kay grew up playing soccer in Birmingham. Kay went on to play college soccer at The University of Southern Mississippi where she was a 4-year starter and named a C-USA All-Conference player.  After college, Kay continued her playing career with the San Diego Sealions in the WPSL. 

She began her coaching career in San Diego where she coached several youth teams and was a high school varsity girls head coach. Kay has coached the last two years with Vestavia Hills Soccer Club. She completed her USSF D license in 2023 and is currently working on her C license. 

In addition to coaching , Kay helped start an international nonprofit that used soccer to help teach women and children around the world leadership and life skills. She holds a master’s degree in Non-profit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego. 

José Espinoza

José Espinoza is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He grew up playing soccer in Alabama from the age of 5.  He played club and High School soccer, winning multiple titles. He later played for the Birmingham Pumas semi-professional team. For the past three years, he has coached for both Hoover Soccer Club and Pelham High School.

Misa Espinoza

Misa Espinoza is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He grew up playing soccer in Alabama from the age of 5. He played Club and High School soccer, winning multiple titles. He also played for the Birmingham semi-professional team at age 14. He made the ODP Regional team and was chosen to train with the Mexican professional team Chivas. He has coached at Hoover Soccer Club since 2017 and is a Director.

Justus Griffin

Justus Griffin was the UAB Asst. Coach for over 20 years (1996-2019).  He helped lead UAB to 6 Conference Championships and 8 trips to the NCAA Tournament.  He was the recruiting coordinator at UAB for over 10 years.  As a player he helped lead UAB to its first ever conference championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament. His blistering pace and defensive discipline made him one of the best defenders in the nation.  After college he played professional soccer before returning to UAB as an Asst. Coach.  Coach Griffin has coached at the youth level for many years. 

Grant Hudson

Grant Hudson has been coaching for seven years at Mississippi Brilla Juniors.  He was the Academy Director in 2022.  He also has experience coaching the MS Blues men’s team in the GCPL2, where his team was the League winner in 2022. Coach Hudson also spent two seasons coaching at the High School level. 

He played college soccer for Mississippi College as an outside back and was captain of the team in his Senior season. He also played for MS Brilla in USL2 for two seasons.  He has an MBA and BSBA in Accounting.

Corey Jones

Corey Jones grew up in Homewood, AL. and graduated from the Univ. of Montevallo, where he was a four-year starter.  As a player, he helped lead Montevallo to the school’s first-ever conference championship. His skill in the goal earned him the MVP award for the Gulf South Conference. Jones has coached for many of the top clubs and high school teams around the state over the past 20 years and also served for three years as the goalkeeping coach for the University of the South.

Neil MacDonald

Neil MacDonald has coached Division I College Soccer for 23 years.  He spent 13 years at Mississippi State before taking over the Head Coaching role at Jacksonville State University, where he has been for the past ten years.  Along the way, he helped JSU to many accolades, including postseason success.  He holds his UEFA B license.  He played college soccer at Augusta State, where he was a two-year captain.

Jeremy McLane

Jeremy McLane is a native of Birmingham who grew up playing club soccer at VHSC and high school soccer at John Carroll. He played college soccer at UAB from 2003-2006. He has spent the last 16 years as a coach and director, serving various roles, including Academy Director at VHSC, Director of Operations for UAB Men’s Soccer, and DOC and Executive Director for Trussville. Jeremy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to HVS.

Brian Meadows

Brian Meadows played college soccer at the Univ. of West Alabama.  Coach Meadows has coached at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club since 2017.  He is also the Director of TopSoccer.

Carlos Mercado

Carlos Mercado grew up playing soccer in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Carlos became a professional player for Atlas, Tecos, and Toluca.  He started coaching in Mexico and moved to Birmingham in 2015. He coached at Clay Chalkville High School for six years, reaching the State Playoffs every season.   He coached for two years with Hoover Soccer Club before working with FC Birmingham and the UPSL. He holds coaching licenses from US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches.

Ashley Orkus

Ashley is a dedicated goalkeeper coach with a passion for developing talent. With a collegiate soccer career at Ole Miss and professional experience in Iceland, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience to her coaching role. Known for her passion and positivity, Ashley is dedicated to helping goalkeepers reach their full potential on and off the field.

Moises Roman

Moises “Moi” Roman was born in Teloloapan, Guerrero, Mexico. He grew up playing soccer in the Birmingham Metro area for a variety of local clubs but found a home at Hoover Soccer Club where he played goalkeeper and captained the team for several years. Coach Moi has coached virtually every age group since starting in 2013 at Hoover Soccer Club and Pelham High School. During his time at Pelham HS he assisted on the Varsity Staff that led to multiple Final Four appearances and the 1st State Championship in school history. Coach Moi holds several coaching licenses from US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches. He also serves as the Girls Academy Director at Hoover Soccer Club.

Jake Rufe

Jake is a current member of the Birmingham Legion professional soccer team. He has been a regular starter for the Legion for the past 3 seasons.  He is in his third year coaching with HVS.  Jake grew up in the Huntsville area and played his youth soccer for Vestavia Hills Soccer Club.  He played college soccer at Indiana University and Western Michigan.

Oleg Sinelnikov

Oleg Sinelnikov is a former professional player with Advanced National Coaching and USSF B licenses. He has coached at the College and Club levels for over 20 years. He is the Director of Coaching for Hoover Soccer Club and a Professor of Sport Pedagogy at the University of Alabama. In 2018, the Alabama Soccer Association selected him as the Competitive Coach of the Year. This was the second time he received this award. 

Corey Smith

Corey Smith has been a college coach for 5 years. He worked with the Birmingham Southern men’s program for 4 years, and in 2023 was the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at BSC.  He helped the men reach their first Southern Athletic Association tournament championship and NCAA Championship berth in 2022. Smith played on the Hilltop from 2013-2017. His ability to overcome adversity earned Smith the Laura Malone Courage Award his senior year. After graduation, he served as Volunteer Assistant Coach in the 2018 season. Corey holds the USSF National C license.  A native of Ranburne, Ala., Corey graduated from Ranburne High School as valedictorian. Smith graduated from BSC in 2017 with a degree in psychology. He became President of the Honor Council and an Honor Graduate. He graduated Cum Laude. He was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Psi Chi (International Psychology Honor Society), and Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society). 

Malachi Sweeney

He grew up playing soccer in Cullman, AL, before playing in Huntsville, AL. During his high school career, he played for four years with Alabama Elite. He also spent two years at Hoover Soccer Club and played with Region 3 ODP. For the past three years, he has coached with Alabama Elite. 

John Vincent, Ph.D.

John Vincent, Ph.D., is an experienced soccer coach and clinician. During his 25-year coaching career, he has coached at the collegiate, high school, and elite youth levels. John received his USSF “A” and USSF National Youth Coaching Licenses in 1999. As a Professor of Sport Management at The University of Alabama, John has authored several papers about youth soccer. He is a Staff Coach for the Alabama State and Region III (South) Olympic Development Program. He has also been the Boys Pele Academy Director for Vestavia Hills Soccer Club.

Jason Woodall

Jason Woodall is a Georgia native, where he grew up playing his youth soccer in Stone Mountain and Clarkston High School.  Jason was a 4-year starter and Captain at Presbyterian College (SC), where he earned a BS in Psychology.  After College, Jason played professional soccer for the Charleston Battery, Columbia Patriots, Greenville Shamrocks, and the Atlanta Ruckus.  Jason has been coaching youth soccer since 1990 at Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy. Mount Berry Soccer Academy, Stone Mountain Youth Soccer Association, Brookwood Steamers, Norcross, Henry County Soccer Association, Attack Soccer Club, and Vestavia Hills Soccer Club (since 2001).  Jason holds a USSF A Youth License (2023), National Youth License, ISPAS Level 1 & 2 Video Analysis Certifications, and a Registered Nurse (RN) in Alabama.