BERGEN - COACHES
ANTHONY NIXON
ACADEMY DIRECTOR
Coach Nixon, also Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen Academy Director, has been with CSA – Bergen since 2014, and is accredited with USSF B and A licenses, UEFA B license, Advanced National License, and Football Association Level 2 and 1 licenses.
Nixon played youth soccer for Marine Football Club and Accrington Stanely Football Club, later excelling to Accrington Stanley’s Reserve Team. His coaching experience includes Everton Football Club Academy and Blackburn Rovers Football Club Academy in England, and TSF Academy and Princeton Soccer Association in New Jersey.
LEE GLOVER
DIRECTOR OF GIRLS PROGRAM
Lee Glover has achieved national accolades over the years. He currently holds UEFA B and USSF C Licenses along with a plethora of other accreditation and qualifications, Coach lee serves as the head of the Girls program at Cedar Stars Bergen and director of Zone 1 and 2 operations.
Coach Lee also is coach of the DA teams and has extensive experience with establishing and implementing daily management, including budgeting, marketing, and developing curriculums for staff and players, along with a strong ability to work one-on-one with players to help develop specific areas of the game.
SEBASTIAN ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF GOALKEEPING
Coach Anderson started with Cedar Stars Academy in 2014, and is accredited with a ATFA/FIFA license as well as a Director of Coaching license. For more than eleven years, Andersen played First Division soccer in Argentina.
He has coached many National Team players, and coached several First Division Chilean and Argentinian teams including Newell’s Old Boys, Colo Colo Chile, and Club Atletico Tigre.
Coach Anderson has seen much success, being a five-time AFA Winner, a winner of Tigre First Division Coach 2nd and 1st place awards, and the Colo Colo First Division Coach 2nd place award.
JAMES BARNES
COACH
Coach Barnes joined Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen in 2017 with more than 9 years of coaching experiences. The UEFA B and USSF F Licensed coach was a member of UK Elite Soccer and Global Premier Soccer NJ prior to joining the Green and White family. Barnes also holds FA level 1 and NSCAA Level 5 credentials.
MICHAEL CUSTIDIANO
COACH / HEAD OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE
Michael Custidiano, also Cedar Stars Academy’s Head of Sports Performance, is accredited with USSF D numerous Athletic Training licenses, and a Bachelor's Degree in Global Fitness and Wellness. Coach Custidiano has many years of playing experience, including time at New York Red Bulls Academy as well as being prior captain of Kean University’s Varsity Men’s Soccer team and Icon FC (ASL semi-pro). Custidiano’ s coaching experience includes several years of travel team coaching as well as coaching the Kean University Men’s team. Coach Custidiano has brought home several awards, including Rookie of the Week (two-time winner), 2010 NJAC Conference Champion, and the Captain/ All –Conference Awards (2011 and 2012).
JUAN SANTAMARIA
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Juan Santamaria started with Cedar Stars Academy in 2014. He brings over 10 years of coaching experience in the Developmental Academy and the NCAA Division I sector to CSA. Santamaria has experienced great success as a coach, guiding many teams to Regional, State, and National championship awards over the course of his coaching career. He has overseen, guided, and trained the development of many players who are currently playing Academy Soccer, College Soccer, and Professional soccer domestically and overseas. Santamaria played High School Soccer at St. Benedict’s Prep, Division 1 Soccer at Rider University, PDL for the Jersey Express and Semi-professionally for Sport Club Portuguese. Santamaria currently serves as a scout for Penn FC of the USL, and various professional teams within the Capelli Sport Network.
SANTIAGO CABRERA
DIRECTOR OF ZONE 1
Santiago Cabrera joined Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen in 2016, and is accredited with a USSF National C license and a NSCAA National Diploma. Coach Cabrera’s playing experience includes St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club playing USSDA soccer, and NCAA DIII Men’s Varsity Soccer at Stevens Institute of Technology. Cabrera has coached for the New York Red Bulls Training Program, and he has been a visiting coach at UE Cornellà in Barcelona, Spain.
BRANDON LEVINE
COACH | HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGER
Coach Levine, also the High school program manager, Joined the Cedar Stars academy in 2017. His vast knowledge in soccer from Soccer Plus Academy, Quickstrike FC and NJ Heat, have helped make him into well rounded and valuable asset to the CSA family. He also brings USSF C License, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USYS Youth License and NSCAA DOC Diploma. He is also currently the Head Men's Soccer Coach at SUNY Purchase.
ALAN TARDIEU
MARKETING / COACH
Alan Tardieu has been a member of the Cedar Stars Academy- Bergen staff since 2015. Coach Alan has a USSF D License and years of experience, locally and internationally. Coach Alan also has many years playing experience having played NCAA soccer in Georgia and for various clubs at different levels in the Caribbean, Australia and here in New Jersey and Atlanta. Alan's responsibilities also revolve around the marketing and branding of the academy and the various other associated brands.
JEFFREY BARRENCHEA
COACH
Coach Jeffery joined the Cedar Stars family in 2017. After playing for FDU in college, he went on to play for the Des Moines Menace in Iowa. He came back home to NJ when he began playing for Icon FC in 2015. Currently he plays for FC Motown on top of coaching CSA 2007 and 2010 boys. With him he brings his USSF E license.
CONRAD SMITH
COACH
Coach Smith, also the Assistant coach for CSA 2012, ’11 and the beginners has an extensive background in soccer. With over a decade of experience, Conrad played for the Trinidad & Tobago national team (Soca Warriors), making 5 goals in 18 appearances from 01-09. During this time, he was also awarded USL player of the week and FA Cup MVP, along with winning 12 trophies throughout his profession career in the pro league. Before coming to CSA, Conrad had playing experience with FC Edmonton, Toronto Links and Calgary Mustangs, along with having assistant coaching experience with Caledonia Youth-17 and Henry County Youth 6-16. He brings with him his F- License and Concacaf D- License.
TOMMY KOVACS
COACH
Coach Kovacs played professional at Nagykanizsa OSE, in Hungary from 1993-1999. He has been coaching and training youth and adults in the United States for over 17 years. Coach Tommy also refereed for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
He is a member of the U.S. Soccer Coaches Organization. Tamas holds the some of the highest levels of coaching and goalkeeping licenses in the US with include USSF "A" Youth and goalkeeping, the NSCAA State and regional goalkeeping as well as a diploma for Director of Coaching.
KHALID BENALLA
COACH
Coach Khalid enters into his first season as a CSA coach fresh of his playing career where he has played for William Paterson University and Bergen community College he is also a graduate of the Ironbound Soccer Academy. He has won numerous playing titles and enters CSA as a valued member, working in various departments, marketing, branding, coaching and admin. He has completed his National F license.
KYLE ROJAS
COACH
Coach Kyle is currently enrolled at Montclair State university, he has completed his grassroots 11v11 and 7v7 coaching licenses as well as his National F license. He comes in a as member of the roots coaching team, as well as the girls program.