Chicago Fire Academy

Lewis has served as a youth coach, manager and Academy director in Europe and the United States, and as a coach instructor for the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Over the course of his career, Lewis has coached and mentored players who have gone on to represent their national team, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones (Liverpool – England); Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson and Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union – USA); and Obed Vargas and Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders – USA).

Lewis most recently served as New York Red Bulls II head coach after leading the Seattle Sounders Academy from 2020-2022. Originally from Liverpool, England, Lewis began his coaching career as an academy coach for Everton F.C. before becoming Head of Youth Development for Liverpool F.C., a position he held for six years before moving to the United States. Following his tenure with Liverpool, Lewis became Director of Coaching at The Football Club USA, where he oversaw a network of more than 1,000 coaches and players across six states. In 2015, Lewis joined the Philadelphia Union, serving as Philadelphia Union U-17 head coach before crossing the country to join the Sounders as academy director.

Lewis holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” License and Academy Directors License, as well as a UEFA “A” License and an Academy Managers License from The Football Association. He served as U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team assistant coach in 2019 and is currently a U.S. Soccer Coach Educator.

Prior to his time at Tromsø IL, Hansen was a coach at Lyngby Boldklub at the U-14, U-15 and U-17 levels. He holds a UEFA “A” Diploma, a UEFA “B” Diploma and a UEFA Elite Youth A Diploma.

Thornton joined the Chicago Fire from Michigan Wolves, which he joined in 2017 and most recently he held the position of MLS NEXT Technical Director. Thornton holds a USSF National “A” Youth Coaching License. Prior to becoming a coach, Thornton represented the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team as a player from 1998-1999.

Castellanos was added to the Chicago Fire Academy staff in the Spring of 2023 from the New York Red Bulls system, where he last served as the Director of the Individual Development Program. Prior to this position he worked as a Red Bulls II Assistant Coach (2020-2022) as well as the U19 Head Coach (2018-2020) and on staff for the Red Bulls U-23 side.

Castellanos was an Assistant Coach at North Carolina State University from 2017- 2018 and spent that time as the U12 Head Coach for the North Carolina FC Academy. He also served as Head Coach for the Orlando City SC Academy from (2015-2017) where he coached the U13s, U17s and U19s. In 2011-2013 Castellanos was on staff as an Assistant Coach at the University of South Florida (USF). In December of 2018 Castellanos obtained his United States Soccer Federation A-Youth License and most recently earned his Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL 4) from Major League Soccer and the French Football Federation (FFF) in August of 2022.

A native of Philadelphia, PA., Castellanos graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2006 from the University of South Florida where he also played and captained the Bulls men’s soccer team.

McKerrell has more than 10 years of experience in soccer including as head coach, assistant coach, scout and as a professional player.

The Scotland native came to the Fire from the Des Moines Menace (USL League Two), where he led the team to a 9-1-2 season and a first-place finish in the Heartland Division.

McKerrell holds a UEFA “A” License, and United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma and a Master’s of Science in Organizational Development & Psychology.

Bárcena comes to Chicago from Villarreal CF in Spain, where he coached from 2018 until May 2024 at the U-12, U-14, U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19 levels, and was a U-19 assistant coach.

Prior to coaching at Villarreal, Bárcena spent time as a U-15 coach at Real Racing Club. He began his coaching career in 2004 at the youth level at C.D. Arenas de Frajanes in El Astillero, Spain.

Abidor last served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire Youth Club. Before his coaching career, the Chicago native played for USL Championship side, FC Tulsa, formerly known as the Tulsa Roughnecks, as well as Chicago House AC.

Abidor also served as an assistant coach of the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago and as an assistant coach of the Men’s Soccer team at Roosevelt University in Chicago before joining the Chicago Fire Youth Soccer Academy as staff coach and Sparks coordinator in August 2022. Abidor holds a USSF National “B” License.

Lettieri joins the Fire from Team Ticino in Lugano, Switzerland, where he served as head coach at the U-16 and U-15 levels, as well as U-16 assistant coach, from July 2016 until summer of 2025. 

Prior to working in Lugano, Lettieri was the U-12 head coach of Team Ticino in Chiasso, Switzerland. Lettieri holds a UEFA “A” License.

Boucaud comes to the Fire from Chicago FC United in Glenview, Ill., where he served as head coach of the U-13 and U-14 Boys, as well as assistant coach at the U-15 through U-19 age levels.

As a player, Boucaud represented Trinidad & Tobago at the U-17 and U-20 age levels. He holds a USSF “B” License.

Prior to joining the Chicago Fire, Chassman served as U-15 Head Coach of Charlotte FC Academy.

Chassman also served as Houston Dynamo Academy U-13 Head Coach in the MLS Academy Formation Phase, and as Individual Development Coach in the MLS Academy Formation and Pre-Professional Phase. He holds a USSF “B” License.

Prior to his stint with the Texas-based ECNL youth club, Bonilla also served as Youth Director of Coaching and first team assistant coach at Laredo Heat of USL League Two. The Texas A&M International graduate has also worked as a strength and conditioning intern for the university’s athletics department, and has worked as an assistant coach at Arizona Christian University.

Bonilla currently holds a USSF “B” License and is currently a candidate for an “A” License.

A member of the Chicago Fire Academy since 2018, Talbi most recently oversaw the U-16 Chicago Fire Academy, and served as the U-15 Academy Head Coach during the 2023-24 campaign that saw the Fire win the MLS NEXT Cup title.

Talbi also recently was one of 22 Major League Soccer coaches that received their Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF). He holds a USSF “A-Youth” and a UEFA "A" Coaching License.

He is also a Strength and Conditioning Specialist holding his “CSCS” through the NSCA and a European diploma “DUEPP” from the University of Lyon, France. Talbi also received a master's degree in research and training from the French National Institute of Sport (INSEP).

Cardoso is a former professional goalkeeper from Brazil, playing 18 years for S.E. Palmeiras, one of the biggest and most important clubs in South America. He started at the Palmeiras youth academy when he was 13-years-old playing at all levels. He also represented the U-17 Brazil National Team, and signed his first professional contract at the age of 16.

Throughout his time at Palmeiras, he played in all major South American tournaments, including Copa Libertadores, and was elected the Brazil Cup’s best goalkeeper during the club’s title run in 2012. In 2016, he continued his career by moving to the USA to play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, retiring in 2017 after a 17-year career as a professional soccer player. Bruno holds the NSCAA advanced national goalkeeping diploma, US SOCCER B license and UEFA B goalkeeper coach license.

His experience also includes working as goalkeeper coach/assistant coach for Lynn University; Florida National University; Miramar United FC; Sunrise Prime; and Sunrise Sting Soccer Club, where he was also the director of goalkeepers. He also spent 6 months with Inter Miami Academy as intern goalkeeper coach.

Dr. Grainger (PhD) has extensive applied coaching and research experience in high performance sport, particularly in team sports. He is a Fellow at CASES (The Chartered Associated of Sport and Exercise Sciences), an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University College Dublin and an External Examiner at Leeds Beckett University.  

Prior to working in Ulster Rugby, Dr. Grainger also worked in English Premiership Rugby for 12 years (Saracens, London Wasps and Sale Sharks) across a variety of sports science and athletic performance roles. In December 2017, he was appointed Performance Director for Hockey Ireland, leading the women’s team to a World Cup silver medal and a successful Tokyo Olympics cycle. Meanwhile, during his tenure at University College Dublin as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach within their Ad Astra scholarship program, he supported Olympians across many sports and their League of Ireland soccer team. 

In October 2016, Dr. Grainger was appointed chair of the CASES’ Sport and Performance Division. He is chair of the CASES Conference Planning Group and Board member and Events Committee Chair for ISESA.