Search

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA 94105
California Southwest
Private Small Developing team
I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Lauren Nadler

Lauren Nadler began in her role as the head coach of Academy of Art women's soccer in July 2022.


In Nadler’s debut season, Academy of Art’s highlights included a new program record from Alicia Calderon, the conclusion of five accomplished seniors’ careers, and academic success in 2022. Calderon recorded double-digit saves on four occasions en route to 138 total saves, breaking the ART U single-season record set in 2009 in addition to marking the sixth-most in a single season in PacWest history. The quintet of Avica Robings, Reyna Valencia, Britney Flint, Baylie Christensen, and Brooklyn Morera, who all joined the program in 2018, finished in the program’s top 10 in at least three career statistical categories. Along with Flint and Hannah Moore’s CSC Academic All-District Team selections, women's soccer ended the year with 16 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team, marking the fifth consecutive time leading all Academy of Art sport programs.


Named the head coach of the women’s soccer program at UC Santa Cruz in 2017 after two years as an assistant on staff, Nadler helped guide the program’s transformation to a consistent postseason contender with a conference championship along the way. A three-time conference coach of the year, Nadler was also twice a National Finalist for NCAA Division III LGTBQ Administrator/Coach of the Year.


With Nadler on staff, the Banana Slugs reached the 2015 NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in six years, and would go on to repeat trips in 2016, 2017, and 2019. In 2019, the team won the ACAA Conference Championship and scored 68 goals, the second-highest total in program history, en route to ending the season with the program's best record in 14 seasons. Over 30 student-athletes were all-conference honorees during Nadler’s stint as head coach while more than 15 Banana Slugs received academic accolades and the program rostered the conference’s Freshman of the Year for the last three consecutive seasons.


In addition to her coaching duties, Nadler co-created and helped teach the S.L.U.G. Leadership Academy, a year-long leadership program for student-athletes at UC Santa Cruz.


Prior to UC Santa Cruz, Nadler was briefly the interim head coach for the Dominican in addition to serving on staff at the City College of San Francisco. While an assistant, CCSF made it to the Final Four of the State Championship and was ranked No. 4 in the country.


Before relocating to the Bay Area, Nadler was the associate head coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was an integral part of the team's success. During her five years at MIT, the Engineers won two NEWMAC Championships, made three NCAA tournament appearances, and advanced to the Sweet 16. With Nadler on the sidelines, MIT finished their 2009-12 seasons ranked in the top 10 in New England, including No. 15 in the country. At 14-4-3 overall in 2012, Nadler’s final campaign, the coaching staff set the record at the time for winningest coaching staff in program history.


A former collegiate soccer student-athlete who was a two-year captain and finished in the North Atlantic Conference’s top 10 in assists as a senior, Nadler earned her bachelor’s degree from Lesley University. She continued her education at Tufts University where she earned her master's degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. Nadler also holds a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma.

show more
Email coach

Kaylyn Toyama

Kaylyn Toyama began in her role as women's soccer assistant coach in August 2019.


In her fourth season, Academy of Art’s highlights included a new program record from Alicia Calderon, the conclusion of five accomplished seniors’ careers, and academic success in 2022. Calderon recorded double-digit saves on four occasions en route to 138 total saves, breaking the ART U single-season record set in 2009 in addition to marking the sixth-most in a single season in PacWest history. The quintet of Avica Robings, Reyna Valencia, Britney Flint, Baylie Christensen, and Brooklyn Morera, who all joined the program in 2018, finished in the program’s top 10 in at least three career statistical categories. Along with Flint and Hannah Moore’s CSC Academic All-District Team selections, women's soccer ended the year with 16 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team, marking the fifth consecutive time leading all Academy of Art sport programs.


Navigating a full schedule for the first time since her debut season, Academy of Art highlighted its 2021 campaign with an impressive record from Nicole Peoples, numerous defensive battles, and a sweep of the season series with Holy Names. Selected as the PacWest Defender of the Week twice in September (Sept. 13, Sept. 27), Peoples broke the program's records for most consecutive minutes (354 minutes) and saves (36) without a goal allowed over a span of more than three matches. A 3-0 win over HNU on Oct. 10 pushed ART U's combined score versus the Hawks to 4-0 with Reyna Valencia, who led the team with eight points, either scoring or assisting all four goals. Women's soccer ended the year with 16 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team, marking the fourth consecutive time leading all Academy of Art sport programs.


During the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, ART U captured a pair of victories along with other individual achievements, including three Urban Knights on the 2020-21 All-PacWest Northern California Team in Sydney Cooke, Brooklyn Morera and Katie Williams. It was the first time in ART U history in which they had at least three selections to an All-PacWest Team, having had one selection at each position. The group was highlighted by Morera's career-high four-goal season at forward in which ended the year with a total of nine points, two points off of her career best. In the PacWest, Morera tied for second in goals, tied for first in game-winning goals (2), sixth in points (1.33/game) and sixth in shots on goal (7). For her two-goal effort during ART U’s 2-0 win over Holy Names, Morera would be named the PacWest Player of the Week on Feb. 15, the only Urban Knight to earn the distinction in 2021. Meanwhile, women’s soccer would be well represented on the 2020-21 Academic All-PacWest Team, with 13 student-athletes earning the honor.


ART U's 2019 campaign saw the program collect seven victories and take another step forward. Among the team success came broken records, memorable victories, and individual accolades highlighted by the program's first ever All-Region awards as the Urban Knights placed not one, but two players on the West-Region Team (Anissa Wilson and Sydney Cooke). The first part of September was marked by two PacWest weekly honors for Wilson and one for goalkeeper Lara Pflicke as the squad went 4-1-1 to open the season with Wilson scoring seven goals in that span. A pair of 2-1 victories over Azusa Pacific and Dominican came prior to a 5-0 win on Senior Day hosting Fresno Pacific. At the year's end, Wilson had become the program's new single-season and career record holder for goals scored, Cooke assumed the honor of ART U's career assist leader, and 16 Urban Knights earned Academic All-PacWest honors to once again lead all Academy of Art sport programs.


Toyama brings over three years of coaching experience to her new role. Recently, she has coached for a few different programs, including Glens Evolution, Peninsula Youth Soccer Club, and Crystal Springs Upland School. At Glens Evolution, Toyama served as the head coach for the 2009G and 2010G team and a trainer for the U6-U8 micro program where she would create training sessions, conduct individual player meetings to establish goals for the players, and create a positive playing environment. She also fulfilled similar duties as the head coach for the 2009G and 2004G teams at Peninsula Youth Soccer Club.


Serving as varsity assistant coach at Crystal Springs Upland School, Toyama developed training sessions, conducted performance evaluations, and worked individually with players to improve technique, which helped lead the Gryphons to a WBAL Skyline championship in 2019.


A former collegiate soccer player herself, Toyama played at SF State and Cosumnes River College. After graduating from SF State in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Business, Information Systems she played for Spurs East Bay Ladies, a team in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

show more
Email coach

Danny Kirkland

Danny Kirkland began as an head coach with Academy of Art University men's soccer in August 2022 after starting as an assistant coach in March 2019 and debuting as the program's operations assistant in October 2018.


In Kirkland’s debut season as head coach, Academy of Art’s highlights included a three-match win streak, new program records from Gilly Miller, the conclusion of seven seniors’ careers, and academic success in 2022. The Urban Knights’ three consecutive wins were all shutouts led by PacWest Defender of the Week Davis King as ART U topped Cal State East Bay (Sept. 10), Cal Poly Humboldt (Sept. 12), and William Jessup (Sept. 15) in a matter of five days during the non-conference season. En route to being named both D2CCA All-West Region Second Team and All-PacWest Second Team, Miller broke the program’s single-season goals (10, second in PacWest) and points (26, third in PacWest) records after registering at least one point in 12 of 18 matches. The septet of King, Gilli Kristjansson, Jose "JJ" Cortez, Christian Schaffner, Breki Einarsson, Fannar Omarsson, and Logi Saemundsson closed out a combined 325 matches played. Men's soccer ended the year with 11 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team.


The Urban Knights' return to a full schedule in the fall of 2021 was highlighted by new program records from Adrian Cekala as well as emotional wins over Chaminade on Senior Day and Dominican in the season finale. En route to being named All-PacWest Second Team, Cekala tied for second in the Pacific West Conference in goals (7) and was tied for third with two of those being of the game-winning variety. Cekala became Academy of Art's new leader in both career goals (21, only 20-goal scorer in ART U history) and points (47, only 40+ point scorer in ART U history) while this last five game-winning goals put him third in program history. Bilal Mihoubi would earn All-PacWest Third Team honors after he appeared and started in 14 matches, playing every minute of those contests to wind up with the fifth-most minutes on the Knights (1,290) and truly be known as a shutdown defender on the ART U back line. The trio of Cekala, Mihoubi, and Omer Tal accounted for Academy of Art's three PacWest Player of the Week honors and ART U men's soccer finished the year with 10 Academic All-PacWest Team honorees.


It was a total of four victories that accompanied numerous individual accolades for ART U in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season, winning consecutive games to open and close the season, ultimately finishing the year in second place in the PacWest NorCal pod. Collecting at least one win against every NorCal pod team, the Knights opened the year with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over eventual NorCal pod champion Fresno Pacific. Thanks to a three-goal week after twice against FPU and once in ART U's 2-1 win over Dominican on Feb. 6, Adrian Cekala was the first Urban Knight to be announced as the first PacWest NorCal Player of the Week. The Knights also pitched a pair of shutouts in the final two games of the season, starting with a 2-0 win over Dominican on Feb. 21 before dominating HNU on senior day by a final of 5-0, resulting in Cekala being named the PacWest NorCal Player of the Week for the second time in 2020-21 after totaling three goals and two assists. After the conclusion of the season, three Urban Knights were selected to the 2020-21 All-PacWest Northern California Team including Cekala, Gilly Miller, Bilal Mihoubi. Miller earned extra recognition, being named the 2020 PacWest Newcomer of the Year. It is the second time in history that ART U has had at least three All-PacWest selections (most: 2015), while it is the first time ever an Urban Knight has received the Newcomer of the Year award. Additionally, men's soccer was represented by nine 2020-21 Academic All-PacWest honorees.


ART U's 2019 campaign, Kirkland's first as assistant coach with the program, was marked by hard work, perseverance, and relentless positivity. A late goal by senior Andrew Deans pushed the Urban Knights to a victory over Saint Katherine's highlighted the regular season and eight were bestowed Academic All-PacWest honors at the conclusion of the academic year.


In his first season with ART U in 2018, Kirkland helped the Urban Knights to a campaign highlighted by a thrilling overtime win over Cal State Monterey Bay (Sept. 1), three overtime battles thereafter, and later a 4-0 breakout victory at Holy Names (Oct. 16). The team had sophomore goalkeeper Kris Jensson who ranked second in the Pacific West Conference in total saves, featured as PacWest Defender of the Week along the way as well. At the end of the academic year, 11 men's soccer student-athletes were awarded Academic All-PacWest honors.


Kirkland, who carries more than 10 years of experience in competitive soccer, joined Academy of Art after serving as a coach for the San Francisco Glens SC where he was responsible for elite player development at the U17-19 level. Kirkland has also spent time captaining San Francisco City FC, a local soccer club that competes in the USL PDL league.


During his college years, Kirkland played at the University of San Francisco, appearing in more than 60 matches and scoring 12 goals throughout his four years on the hilltop. Kirkland captained the Dons during his senior season and scored the game-winner against No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast, tallying a total of five game-winning goals (12th in the nation). He scored a team-high six goals that season, tied for sixth in the conference, and was named to the All-WCC First Team and NSCAA All-Far West Region Team.


Prior to joining USF, Kirkland was born in Sheffield, England and spent his formative years in the academy team of Sheffield Wednesday FC before joining their first team on a full-time contract. During his time at Wednesday, he competed in the English Premier League Academy and Reserve leagues against teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. Kirkland earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from USF in 2016 and added his master's degree in Sport Management from USF in 2019.

show more
Email coach

Mike McNeill

Mike McNeill began in his role as men's soccer assistant coach in September 2022.


In McNeill’s debut season, Academy of Art’s highlights included a three-match win streak, new program records from Gilly Miller, the conclusion of seven seniors’ careers, and academic success in 2022. The Urban Knights’ three consecutive wins were all shutouts led by PacWest Defender of the Week Davis King as ART U topped Cal State East Bay (Sept. 10), Cal Poly Humbolt (Sept. 12), and William Jessup (Sept. 15) in a matter of five days during the non-conference season. En route to being named both D2CCA All-West Region Second Team and All-PacWest Second Team, Miller broke the program’s single-season goals (10, second in PacWest) and points (26, third in PacWest) records after registering at least one point in 12 of 18 matches. The septet of King, Gilli Kristjansson, JJ Cortez, Christian Schaffner, Breki Einarsson, Fannar Omarsson, and Logi Saemundsson closed out a combined 325 matches played. Men's soccer ended the year with 11 honorees on the Academic All-PacWest Team.


A UEFA A licensed coach from the Football Association of Ireland, McNeill is executive director of San Francisco Glens Soccer Club; one of top player development academies on the West Coast that offers a robust youth program, MLS Next Academy and a USL League 2 first team. McNeill himself has been awarded NSCAA West Region Coach of the Year in 2017 and the Steve Mariucci High School Coach of the Year award in 2021.


Prior to his roles with the Glens, McNeill served as a goalkeeper coach with University of San Francisco and his alma mater SF State. His 2014 season with the Dons saw the team finish 11-6-2 overall while goalie Chase Hauser, an All-WCC Honorable Mention, posted a 1.07 goals against average with 66 saves and five solo shutouts in 18 starts between the pipes.


While earning his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from SF State, McNeill was a team captain who started 29 matches.

show more

College Bound Athletes

Showcase Tips

Are you ready for your next college showcase?
Soccer in College gave me the resources to get my profile out to many college coaches. The site is easy to use and is a contributor in helping me land my college scholarship.
- Callie ThomasWhat are others saying?