Academy Staff

Academy Director: Sean McCafferty

Sean McCafferty joined the Red Bulls organization from FC Barcelona's Barça Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, where he served as the Academy Director since December of 2016.

McCafferty, a native of Derry, Ireland, was tapped to lead the Barça’s Residential Academy in the U.S. before it opened in 2017. The Barça Academy holds U.S. Soccer Development Academy status, and it competed alongside Red Bulls Academy in the highest division of USSDA.

Learn more about McCafferty here: New York Red Bulls Name Sean McCafferty Director of Red Bulls Academy

Senior Director of Academy Business Operations & Youth Programs: Ryan Brooks

Ryan Brooks, a North Jersey native, joins the Red Bulls with experience at several MLS clubs, having managed day-to-day academy operations with Minnesota United FC and Chicago Fire. He was also the assistant coach and video analyst for Real Salt Lake’s First Team.

In his most recent role with Minnesota, Brooks oversaw day-to-day academy operations, developed and implemented a residency program, led education initiatives, and managed the budget.

Brooks earned his Master's in Sports Leadership from Duquesne University and holds his USSF “A” License.

Academy Manager: Grant Findlay

Grant Findlay has been with the New York Red Bulls since 2014, previously working as part of the Youth Programs as a Coaching Education Manager and Regional Manager for northern New Jersey.

Prior to joining the Red Bulls, he was an Academy Coach at Rangers Football Club in Scotland before moving to the United States in 2012 as the Director of Coaching Education and Recruitment for United Soccer Academy.

Findlay has a Master’s degree in Sports Coaching and Management from the University of Stirling as well as a UEFA “A” License.

Senior Manager of Academy Business Operations: Dave Jervis

David Jervis has been with the New York Red Bulls since 2001 and is one of the original employees of the youth system. Responsible for the strategic development and leadership of the Youth Programs and support of Academy operations, Jervis has been involved in Youth Business Development for over 20 years.

Jervis holds his USSF “A” and UEFA “B” coaching licenses and earned his bachelor’s degree from Manchester Metropolitan University in Sports, Exercise, and Coaching Science.

Individual Development Coach: Samuel Castellanos

Sammy Castellanos, a Philadelphia, PA native, joined the Red Bulls in 2018. A graduate from the University of South Florida, Castellanos played soccer and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He began his coaching career at the University of South Florida as an assistant coach. He also served as a coach for the Clearwater Chargers, Orlando City SC, North Carolina FC, and North Carolina State University.

Castellanos currently holds a USSF “A” License and an Elite Formation Coaching License from the French Football Federation.

U-17 Head Coach: Jonathan Rhodes

Jonathan Rhodes has been coaching in a variety of roles over the past two decades. He started his coaching career working with Leeds United AFC in the UK. After finishing his studies and playing career, he has spent the last 18 years in the United States.

Rhodes led the development academy program at FC DELCO as the Academy Director for four years. He most recently had a leadership position at Penn Fusion SA as their Boys Technical Director.

Rhodes currently holds both his United Coaches “Premier” license and USSF “A” license.

U-15 Head Coach: Simon Nee

A native of Stoke-on-Trent, England, Simon Nee joined the Red Bulls in 2006. He is a graduate of Staffordshire University, where he was a four-year starter and graduated with a first-class honors degree in Exercise Science.

Nee has over 20 years coaching experience and has coached at each age groups within the Red Bulls Academy System from U13 up to U23.

Nee currently holds USSF “A”, UEFA “A”, and EFCL coaching licenses.

U-14 Head Coach: Chris Harmon

Chris Harmon, a Downingtown, Pennsylvania native joined New York Red Bulls in 2021. A graduate from Old Dominion University, Harmon captained the team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health & Physical Education.

His coaching career began in the college ranks, first an Assistant Coach at Florida Southern College before returning to his alma mater ODU as an assistant coach. Harmon then served as a Head Coach & Assistant Academy Director at Barca Residency Academy in Casa Grande, AZ.

Harmon is a current USSF “A” License candidate.

U-13 Head Coach & U-12 Assistant Coach I: Colby Cunha (Interim)

Colby Cunha is a Newark, New Jersey native that began as a Red Bulls Youth Programs coach at aged 19 years. Cunha continued his growth with RBNY by moving to the Regional Development School (RDS) and eventually became a part of the first group of Red Bulls Pre-Academy coaches in 2017.

He holds his United Coaches “Premier” license and is currently completing USSF Coaching qualifications.

U-12 Head Coach: Gareth Tyack

Gareth Tyack, an Oxford, England native joined New York Red Bulls in 2012. During his time with the club Gareth has coached in all levels of our development pathway from grassroots programs to our Academy teams. Tyack’s current role sees him coach our U-12 Academy team whilst also overseeing our U-11 and U-10 Pre-Academy groups.

Gareth currently holds UEFA “A” and USSF “A” coaching licenses.

U-12 Assistant Coach II: Manny Schellscheidt

Manfred “Manny” Schellscheidt has been a mentor and coach with the New York Red Bulls Academy since it was founded in 2006 and is one of the most iconic figures throughout U.S. soccer. A former coach for the D1 Men’s Soccer Program at Seton Hall University for 24 seasons, he earned two Big East championships, eight NCAA tournament berths, seven conference title game appearances, and a trip to the 2001 Sweet 16 during his tenure.

Schellscheidt is most recognized for his coaching accomplishments with the U-14 & U-17 US Youth National teams, leading the U17’s through World Cup Qualifications in 1985 and 1994. He also served as head coach of the senior USMNT in 1975.

Schellscheidt emigrated from Germany to the US and began his professional playing career in the NASL and later the ASL. As a player, Schellscheidt won one NASL championship with the Philadelphia Atoms (73’) and two ASL championships as a player-coach with the Rhode Island Oceaneers (74’) and NJ Americans (77’). He was also named the 1974 ASL Coach of the Year.

Among his many accomplishments, Schellscheidt has also coached world-class soccer legends such as Steve Highway (Liverpool) and Eusebio (Portugal) among others. In 1990, Schellscheidt was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Goalkeeper Coach I: Cole Carter

Cole Carter joined New York Red Bulls in 2022. Originally from San Diego, California, Carter began his coaching career at Palomar College as a goalkeeper coach.

Carter has also worked as a goalkeeper coach for the University of San Diego and San Diego Surf.

Performance Analyst: Mack Lundberg

Mack Lundberg is from Boston, Massachusetts and joined New York Red Bulls in 2020 as a Red Bulls Youth Programs and Regional Development (RDS) coach, later joining the Academy staff in 2022.

Previously, Lundberg has worked for the Academy scouting department before joining the analytics department full time.

Athletic Trainer I: Jamie Goodwin

In late 2022, Jamie Goodwin joined the New York Red Bull Academy sports medicine team. Prior to joining Red Bulls, Jamie interned with Real Salt Lake for the 2022 MLS season. She attended the University of Utah where she played soccer and earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Goodwin also obtained her Master’s of Athletic Training degree from the University of Utah where she worked with Real Salt Lake Academy.

Goodwin was born and raised in Sacramento, California, where her passion for soccer stemmed. Her background in soccer exposed her to athletic training, which quickly became another passion of hers.

Athletic Trainer II: Sebastian Neira

Sebastian Neira, a Bogota, Colombia native, joined the New York Red Bulls Academy sports medicine team in 2022. A graduate of Long Island University Brooklyn, Neira worked with Columbia University football and women’s basketball as part of his final clinical rotation for graduate school. 

Most recently he held the role of seasonal assistant athletic trainer at Real Monarchs of the USL.

Physical Therapist: Andy Seraphin

Andy Seraphin joined New York Red Bulls Academy sports medicine team in 2022. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University and his bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Temple University.

Prior to joining Red Bull Academy, he previously worked with Duke University, Orlando City SC, North Carolina FC, and NC Courage.

In addition to being a board-certified sports physical therapist in New Jersey and New York, Seraphin is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist, emergency medical technician, and holds a diploma in football medicine from FIFA.

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Jose Puga

Jose Puga joined the New York Red Bulls as the Academy Strength and Conditioning coach in 2022. His previous work experience includes stints at Real Salt Lake and Mexico’s Acatlan Futbol Club. A former soccer player from Eastern Illinois University, Puga graduated with his bachelors in Exercise Science and Master’s in Exercise Physiology.

Puga is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the NSCA.

Academy Administrator: Matt Zamorski

Matt Zamorski, a Bridgewater, NJ native, joined New York Red Bulls in 2020. A graduate from Arcadia University, Zamorski played soccer and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. He began gaining experience in professional soccer environments in 2019 when he interned with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) and Philadelphia Union.

Zamorski has also been involved in coaching with Red Bulls Youth Programs, and in April of 2022 began working in the Academy’s administration and operations department.