CIS Training/Coaching Staff

Pete Kowall

Pete Kowall is the head women's soccer coach at Illisnois State University.  Kowall has brought hard play, drive and a winning style to Illinois State soccer. From the moment he stepped on campus, the Northbrook, Ill., native has been actively involved in Redbird Athletics and has devoted himself to producing a successful women's soccer program. His remarkable record at Illinois State includes conference coach of the year awards in 1998 and 2001, and regular-season championships in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003.  In his first head coaching position at Kalamazoo College (1989-90), he was honored as the NSCAA Coach of the Year for the Great Lakes Region in 1990 en route to being selected as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Coach of the Year. The 1990 squad (17-2), which featured a pair of all-Americans, blanked 15 teams en route to the NCAA Quarterfinals.  Kowall's Hornets compiled an 11-5-1 mark in his first season as a college coach. He guided Kalamazoo to back-to-back Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Conference championships after going unbeaten in league play each season, and Hornets earned league player of the year accolades during each of his seasons at the helm.  After a brief stint as an assistant coach at Maryland in 1991, Kowall was an assistant to then head coach April Heinrichs, who was the head coach of the 2004 U. S. Women's Olympic Soccer Team.  He then took over the women's soccer program at Drew University, a Division III school in New Jersey, from 1992-93. He compiled a 21-13 record in two seasons.  Next up for Kowall was a three-year term at Michigan from 1994-96 prior to moving on to Illinois State. His primary focus was on recruiting, while having a hand in building a highly-successful program from its inception.  He has also been active in the Illinois Olympic Development Program (ODP). In July, 2003 and July, 2005, Kowall coached the Under-18 Girls ODP Team to regional championships. Both teams qualified for the ODP National Championships, and the 2003 squad went on to win the national crown.

Dave Barrett

Jason Burr

ADOC

Tactical Skills Trainer

Jason Burr is currently the Assistant Women’s soccer coach at ISU under Pete Kowall.  Prior to ISU, he spent three years as the Head Coach at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.   Jason made his collegiate head coaching debut in the fall of 2003 with both the men's and women's soccer teams. 2003 was a year of firsts for the Saint's of Thomas More College.  He guided the women's team to a record of 15-2-2 and its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.  The women's team also set new school records for wins (15), shutouts (12) ,fewest goals allowed (8) and set a new mark by starting the season unbeaten in its first 11 games.  Jason was formerly an assistant coach with Western Kentucky University  He joined the Western Kentucky soccer staff prior to the 2001 season as the administrative assistant for the men's team and as an assistant in the women's program. In 2002, he was promoted to the position of assistant coach within the Hilltopper men's program, assisting Head Coach David Holmes in all aspects of team management.

Jason holds a United States Soccer Federation "C" license and is a 2001 graduate of Austin Peay State University.   He began his coaching career in 1997 as an assistant coach on both the boys and girls' soccer teams at Clarksville (Tenn.) Northwest High School, his alma mater, where he spent three seasons before being named head coach at Clarksville Academy in 2000.  He also served as head coach of the '82 Clarksville Lady Royals club team and for the Wolves Soccer Club '92 girls' team.  As a player, Burr was member of the NAIA national championship team at Lindsey Wilson College in 1996 before transferring to Mid-Continent College.  At Mid-Continent, he was a team captain and helped the Cougars to a 10-6 record in their inaugural season in 2000.  Following his playing career in the summer of 2001, Burr was a member of the training team in the Clarksville Gunners semi-pro organization.

Technical Skills Trainer

Chris Miller comes to the CIS Soccer Club as Technical Director.  Chris is a native of Peoria where he attended Peoria Richwoods high school and earned All-Conference, All-Sectional, All-State and All-Midwest honors. Chris was also a part of his IYSA state ODP team. After high school, Chris attended Bradley University for four years while playing on the Division I mens varsity soccer team. After college Chris played for the All-Air Force soccer team. Since the Air Force, Chris has been working developmental clinics for the Peoria Soccer Club and has coached for SFC. Chris is now employed at State Farm and will be a full-time staff member for the CIS Soccer Club.

Tactical Skills Trainer

Brian Rossi comes to the CIS Soccer Club as a Technical Skills Trainer.  Brian comes from Steubenville, OH where he earned all-conference and all-sectional honors while playing at Catholic Central High School.  Brian continued his education and athletics at Waynesburg College where he played four years of varsity soccer for the Division 3 program.  During college, Brian coached the Waynesburg RidgeRunners, a U18 boys club team.  After moving to Illinois, Brian coached the Twin City Diamonds girls soccer team for 4 years and spent two of those years as an assistant coach for the men's and women's Illinois Wesleyan University soccer programs.  Brian also spent 1 year at BNSC as the coach of the boy's and girl's high school programs.

Jonathan Titzel

Technical Skills Trainer

Jonathan Titzel played soccer for Greenville high school in Pennsylvania.  He started varsity for four years and earned All-conference 1^st team three years and 2^nd team one year.  He played on the PA West regional ODP team and the Erie regional team for the keystone games.  After high school Jonathan received a soccer scholarship to play at division two, Mercyhurst College.  They were ranked in the top twenty-five in each of his four seasons, made the playoffs three of the years, and finished third in the country one year.  Upon graduation Jonathan refereed girl’s and boy’s high school soccer, coached the U18 Iron club team for two seasons, and he's in his second season as an assistant for the Illinois Wesleyan men’s team.  Continuing to play, Jonathan has been a member of the winning teams for: Prairie State games, Latin league, and Bloomington City league.  Jonathan has received the National USSF 'D' License.

Brett is a native of Carterville, Illinois. He spent his playing career playing for numerous teams in the Southern Illinois area. He is currently a student at Illinois State University. Brett began coaching club soccer in 2003 with BNSC. He has been with CIS since 2005.

Team Coach - Xplosion

Mike Fletcher is the team coach of the U11 Girls Xplosion.  Mike joined CIS after spending 9 years coaching high school teams at Normal Community and Normal West.  Mike grew up in Bloomington-Normal and played Goalkeeper for Normal Community from 1986-1989 while earning All-Sectional and All-Conference honors.  Mike also had a successful collegiate career, as a 4-year starter at Illinois College.  At Illinois College, Mike earned All-Conference and Team MVP awards.  Mike has received the National USSF 'D' License.

Darren Rogers

Team Coach - Knockouts II

Darren Rogers joined CIS shortly after the club was formed, and is the club's longest serving coach.  He started the Knockouts at U9 in June of 2000 and the Knockouts II at U8 in June of 2004.  He coached at BNSC for two years before joining CIS, and several years before that as a recreational coach.  Darren holds a  National USSF 'D' license.

Tom Dulee

Team Coach - Cyclones

Team Coach - Blizzard

Tom coached his first soccer team in 1982 and has had a passion for instructing players on the pitch ever since. He has coached soccer from the U6 to U12 age levels and has coached a variety of other sports including wrestling, basketball and baseball. Tom currently holds an “E” License. He has previously served as Coaches Education Coordinator for the Prairie City Soccer league.

Mike Kessler

Team Coach - Rush

Mike Kessler has been coaching soccer for the past 10 years, at both the recreational and club levels. As a player in his younger days, Mike played three years varsity for Granada Hills High in Los Angeles, where he was All-Conference and All-City his junior and senior years. He currently holds an "E" license.

Caleb Washburn

Team Coach - Earthquakes

Caleb Washburn joined CIS in 2002.  Caleb played travel soccer starting at U10 for LISC in Champaign.  He played 4 years varsity soccer for Champaign Central with All-Conference honors his senior year.  Caleb started all 4 years at Division III Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.  He currently holds an "E" license.

Team Coach - Tornados

Hayley Sefton

Team Coach - Tsunami

Hayley played varsity all four years in high school. she was captain for 3 years and mvp for 2 years. Hayley attended to Olivet Nazarene University on a soccer scholarship. She also participated in track and basketball. She was an NAIA All American 2 times in her junior and senior year. She was all CCAC player 2 times.  She has records there from goal keeping where she has the most saves in one game. She played as a forward/midfield for 2 years and a goal keeper for 2 years. She played on club teams such as the Peoria Eagles, Peoria Lady Blues, and the Morton Blaze.  In college Hayley received a B.S. in Athletic Training and a coaching minor.