Itayi Pondwa

Growing up in Zimbabwe, Africa, Itayi Pondwa began playing soccer once he could walk. He moved to the US in 2001 on an athletic scholarship to play soccer for Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. He was chosen as team captain his Sophomore year and was quickly recruited by Coastal Carolina University to play his Junior and Senior years. As team captain at Coastal Carolina University, he led the team to two Big South Conference Championships and sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Division one tournament. During the off-season,Itayi spent time in Florida playing for the Cocoa Expo (PDL) and coaching youth summer programs.

After graduating with a BA in Accounting and moving to Arkansas in 2009,Itayi quickly became involved in Arkansas soccer by playing in the Arkansas Central Soccer Association and more recently trainingfor Maumelle Soccer Club.

Jessica Hunt

Jessica Hunt has lived in Arkansas since 1993. She started playing at the micro level in Arizona and continued to play in Arkansas at the Classic, High School and recreational levels through college. After attending UALR on a swimming scholarship, she decided to get back into soccer as a coach. After completing a Sign Language Minor at UALR, she started the soccer program at the Arkansas School for the Deaf in 2006 for kids ages 3-18. This in turn helped her to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree. Jessica received the Coed Recreational Coach of the Year award for the 2008-2009 season from the Arkansas State Soccer Association. She has also earned various coaching certifications including the United State Soccer Federation's "E" certificate and National "D" License, as well as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's National Diploma.

Rob Nelsen

Rob holds a USSF “D” National license, USSF “E” certificate, USYSA Youth Modules for U6, U8, U10, U12 and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. Rob has been developing youth soccer players for more than 20 years at recreational and select (classic) levels of play. He began his coaching career under the guidance of John Ramshaw (Nottingham Forrest F.C.) and Russell Slade (Notts County F.C.) in the early ‘90s as a camp coach with UK/TSA soccer. Shortly after Rob’s first two sons were born, he began developing a coaching style and philosophy that has proven very successful. Currently he coachesthe U18B Maumelle Maniacs who have achieved two President’s Cup state championships, Region III President’s Cup semi-finalist honors and 11 tournament championships. Rob has played at all levels of the sport over the past 33yrs from recreational & classic to adult amateur. The highlight of his soccer career was making the Regional pool of the Unites States Olympic Development Program before a neck injury relegated him from that level of play. Rob, his wife Dondi and their four children have lived in Maumelle since August of 2000.

Chris Ingellis

Chris Ingellis is a Tupelo Mississippi native. He has been in the Little Rock area since receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems in December of 1998 at Mississippi State University; moving to Maumelle in December of 2001. Chris played soccer at the rec level throughout his youth. He started with MSC as an assistant coach for his son’s team in 2007. He has since coached on the micro, U7/U8, U9, and U10 levels for both his son and daughter in both a head and assistant coach capacity. Chris has his Arkansas State Soccer “F” coaching certificate. He has spent the past 2 years leading the micro academy training sessions for MSC.

Joanna Vogt

Joanna Vogt came to AR in 2006 from the CA/NV area. She has played the game since she was in micro (then called "pee-wee" in AYSO in California), and continued playing competitively throughout high school. As a senior and team captain, she was voted to the NV All-Conference 1st Team. Shortly after completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology at UCSB, she moved to AR to pursue a career in non-profit work. Once she moved to Maumelle in 2007, she quickly became involved, once again, in youth soccer and joined Maumelle Soccer Club. Since starting coaching with the micro players, she has earned a number of coaching certifications including United States Soccer Federation's "F" and "E" Certificates and National "D" and "Youth" Licenses and most recently the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's National Diploma. In addition to coaching players of all age-groups, she also plays on two teams in the local adult league Arkansas Central Soccer Association.