Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Soccer

Marsha Harper

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2021  –  Virtual

Marsha Harper is the seventh head coach in women’s soccer history at American University, announced Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Billy Walker on December 29, 2019. Harper joined the Eagles after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts, during which time the Minutewomen went 21-12-4.

Harper was part of a full coaching staff change at UMass, working with head coach Jason Dowiak who was a former mentor and colleague from the University of South Florida. While at UMass, Harper was directly in charge of all internal operations such as the development of practices, recruiting, social media, compliance and admissions for the women’s soccer program.

Prior to her time at UMass, Harper spent two seasons at Richmond, another Atlantic 10 Conference program. She has also had assistant coaching stints at Bowling Green State University (2015) and Northwestern State University (2014).

In addition to her tenures as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, the USF double-graduate has spent time coaching at the club and Olympic Developmental levels.

After completing her collegiate playing career, Harper volunteered as an assistant coach at USF in the spring of 2014 while also serving as a staff coach for the Future 50 Soccer Camp.

Harper was a member of the University of Florida women’s soccer team for three seasons before transferring to USF in 2011. She served as captain for the Bulls during the 2013 season. The collegiate defender earned her bachelor’s degree in applied science in 2012 and her master’s degree in exercise science at USF in 2014.

Thomas Dooley

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Trinidad and Tobago

Considered one of the key players for the USMNT in the 1990’s, Thomas Dooley brought the professionalism he earned through years in the German professional leagues. The son of a US serviceman, Dooley was eligible to represent the United States and he took that option in 1992. Appearing in the 1994 and ’98 World Cups, Dooley captained the USMNT in France. After 14 years in the German leagues, including a German Cup win with Kaiserslautern in 1990 and a UEFA Cup win with Schalke in ’97, Dooley signed with Major League Soccer and joined Columbus in the summer of ’97. He retired in 2000 and was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010.

Shannon MacMillan

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2006  –  South Africa
  • 2010  –  Argentina
  • 2011  –  Guatemala

Shannon enjoyed a career with the US Women’s National team for 12 years; playing in 176 games and scoring 60 goals.

During that time she won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and another gold as an alternate for the 2004 Greece Olympics. She also played a vital role in winning the 1999 Women’s World Cup and followed that up with a third place finish in the 2003 Women’s World Cup. In 2002, Shannon was named the US Soccer female athlete of the year. Shannon was a member of the US Soccer Envoys that conducted clinics in South Africa and Guatemala emphasizing the value of teamwork, respect, and leadership. In 2016, Shannon was elected to the US Soccer Hall of Fame.

In February of 2014, Shannon was inducted into the Cal South Hall of Fame.

Shannon currently holds a USSF National “B” license. She is a Certified Advance Sports Technology Facilitator. Shannon also is a Fox Soccer and ESPN/SEC analyst, covering matches such as the U17 and U20 Women’s World Cup.

Prior to joining the Sharks she was the Assistant Coach for the UCLA Womens team for two years, 2007-2009, helping lead the Bruins to two final four appearances. She is a 2008 Inductee to San Diego’s Breitbard Hall of Champions. Shannon graduated from the University of Portland with a degree in Social work. She was also a four time All American for the Pilots and the winner of the prestigious Hermann Award as college soccer’s top player in 1995.

Nick Garcia

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Guatemala

Youth and College
As a junior and senior at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, Nick won the TAPPS state boys soccer championship, the first and second in their history. He was also all-district, all-state and all-tournament. Garcia won the 1996-97 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award, as well, while starring for powerhouse youth club, Dallas Texans. Garcia played college soccer at Indiana University, leading Indiana to consecutive national titles in 1998 and 1999. He was named National Freshman of the year and the Big 10 freshman of the year in 1997. Was a 1st team All-American in 1999.

Professional
Garcia signed a professional contract with Major League Soccer in 2000, and was drafted second overall in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards.
Garcia subsequently played in – and started – almost 200 games for the Wizards between 2000 and 2007. He helped the Wizards win the MLS Cup in 2000, and the Lamar Hunt Open Cup in 2004.
He joined the San Jose Earthquakes as their captain upon their return to MLS in 2008. In early 2009 Garcia signed a multi-year contact with San Jose, but was traded to Toronto FC. He finished his 11 year career this past year up in Toronto, Canada; finishing with over 300 career games played.

International
Garcia played for the US Under-17 national team at the World Youth Championship in Ecuador in 1997 and captained the US Under-20 national team at the World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999. He earned his first cap for the full national team in 2003, against Canada. So far, he has amassed six caps for the United States.

Business life

Executive Director at Brookside Soccer Club in Kansas City Mo.

Owner/President at G3 INC., a dynamic and multifunctional company that develops, leverages and facilitates both profit and nonprofit ventures thru sports.

Director of soccer at NESA (North-East-Sports-Alliance) in Kansas City, Mo. NESA is a partnership of nonprofit organizations in Kansas City urban core that seek to provide a safe and fun learning environment where boys and girls of all ages learn to promote good sportsmanship, self esteem, self-discipline and life skills while enjoying the wonderful game of recreational soccer.

Personal life

Nick enjoys fishing, playing cards, cooking, reading books and going on vacation, lists Bora Bora as favourite destination…the Reality TV show he’d most like to appear on is “Iron Chef”…the best meal he cooks is Mexican…if he could be any action he’d be – Al Pacino…the player he’d most like to face in a game would be Lionel Messi…was a member of five consecutive championship teams, winning two high school state championships in 1996 and 1997, back-to-back NCAA titles with Indiana in 1998 and 1999.…was 1997 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year…has been involved with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, CASA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters …can play the saxophone.

Championships:
Bishop Lynch HS
• TAAPS State Champ 1996
• TAAPS State Champ 1997
Indiana University
• NCAA Champ 1998
• NCAA Champ 1999
Kansas City Wizards
• MLS Champ 2000
• US Open Cup Champ 2004
Toronto FC
• Canadian Cup Champ 2009
• Canadian Cup Champ 2010

Marcelo Balboa

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2006  –  Nigeria
  • 2008  –  Nigeria

Former San Diego State University men’s soccer player Marcelo Balboa was a two-time All-American and led the Aztecs to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1988 and 1989. SDSU posted a combined record of 29-8-7 in Balboa’s two years and he was inducted to the Aztec Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

Following his time at SDSU, Balboa played professionally in Mexico and the U.S. until 2002, spending 1996-2001 with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer (MLS).

On the international stage, Balboa became the first American to earn 100 caps with the U.S. National Team and played in three World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998). Balboa was named the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1994 and has been inducted into both the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the Colorado Hall of Fame.

Balboa has been broadcasting since 2003 and has covered the Colorado Rapids for Altitude TV the past 13 years. He coached his sons, Owen and Nicholas, at Monarch High School before becoming the head coach for the Colorado Rapids Development Academy’s U-14 squad.

Juergen Sommer

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2010  –  Ivory Coast

A native of Naples, Florida, Sommer brings with him 8 years’ experience in the European professional league, where he enjoyed international acclaim as a player with Luton Town Football Club and Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club where he was the first American to play in the coveted English Premier League and was named Goalkeeper of the Year in 1993. Juergen’s playing career also encompassed playing with the Columbus Crew and New England Revolution where he was an MLS Allstar. In addition, Juergen’s acclaimed playing career also included representing the United States Men’s National Team over a 14 year period playing World Cups in 1994 and 1998. As a college player, Juergen was a four year letterman and captain for the Indiana University Soccer team and was a 1988 Division 1 National Champion, Defensive MVP of the 1988 NCAA Championships and was 1990 National Player of the Year in College Soccer.

After Juergen retired from playing in 2002 he served as assistant coach for the Men’s National team for the World Cup, Copa America, and Gold Cup tournaments. In 2013 Juergen was named Director of Soccer and Head Coach of the Indy Eleven.

Johnny Collins

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Philippines
  • 2018  –  Vietnam
  • 2019  –  Burma
  • 2019  –  Ethiopia
  • 2019  –  Kuwait
  • 2022  –  Kyrgyzstan

Johnny Collins is an “A” licensed soccer coach who has been coaching all over the world for the past 25 years. He has coached at all levels but prefers working in youth development. An orphan himself, he loves working with underprivileged kids and he has an 18 year old daughter so empowering young women is also a passion of his.

Jeff Pill

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2008  –  El Salvador

Jeffrey Michael Monken (born April 15, 1967) is the head coach of the Army Black Knights football team. He was formerly the head coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team. He previously served under Paul Johnson as a running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.

In November 2009, Monken was hired to succeed Chris Hatcher as the head coach at Georgia Southern. In his first season with the Georgia Southern, Monken led the Eagles to an overall record of 10–5 and to the 2010 FCS Playoffs Semifinals, defeating top-ranked and previously undefeated Appalachian State to begin a streak of six consecutive wins.

In 2011, Monken led the Eagles to an overall record of 11–3, the Southern Conference championship and a second-straight trip to the 2011 FCS Playoffs Semifinals. He was named both the AFCA 2011 FCS Region 2 Coach of the Year and the Southern Conference Coach of the Year.

In 2012, Monken again led the Eagles to a Southern Conference Championship with a 10–4 overall record, a third consecutive FCS Semifinal Game appearance and final No. 3 national ranking. Georgia Southern accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference in March 2013 and subsequently made the move to FBS. In its first transition year in 2013, the Eagles were not eligible for the NCAA playoffs and ended their FCS history with a 26–20 victory over Florida in the season finale.

On December 30, 2013, Monken was introduced as the 37th head coach of the Army Black Knights football program.

Glenn Myernick

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2006  –  South Africa

An NASL and national-team defender who parlayed his playing career into a successful coaching career before his death at the age of 51. Myernick played 168 games during his eight seasons in the NASL, for Dallas, Portland and Tampa Bay, and appeared in the national team 10 times. He was coach of MLS’ Colorado Rapids for four years and an assistant coach of the U.S. teams at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Inducted in 2015.

Eddie Lewis

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2015  –  Indonesia

Eddie Lewis is a retired professional left-side midfielder soccer player. Before playing professionally, Lewis played for UCLA Bruins and in 1995, scored 11 goals and 10 assists, finishing his Bruin career with 30 goals and 28 assists. Lewis started his soccer career with San Jose in MLS before moving to England in 2000. He stayed in English soccer until he returned to MLS with the LA Galaxy in 2008.

He played professionally for 14 years playing as a left midfielder for club and for the US in the World Cup. He played in 11 of 18 qualifying games for the 2006 World Cup, scoring 2 goals and registering 2 assists.