George Washington University

Washington, DC 20052

Dist of Columbia Northeast

Private Large Developing team

I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Michelle Demko

Michelle Demko, who has experience coaching at the highest level collegiately and internationally, was named GW women's soccer head coach on April 13, 2018.

Demko enters her fourth season leading the Colonials in the fall of 2021. In the spring of 2021, the Buff and Blue put together a 6-4-1 overall record and went 4-3-1 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Following the completion of the season, Natalie Silberman earned A10 Second-Team All-Conference recognition for the first time in her career after a standout senior season.

In her second season at GW, Demko led the squad to an impressive 14-3-4 record and 7-1-2 mark in conference play. After being picked to finished ninth in the A-10 pre-season poll, the Colonials’ proved their prowess and concluded the regular season ranking second in the conference. Under her direction, the squad shutout Saint Joseph’s in the quarterfinal round of the Championship (3-0) and defeated Massachusetts (2-1) in the semifinals to secure a spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship Final for the first time since 1997. Despite falling in the finals to Saint Louis, Demko put together one of the best seasons to date, including helping to secure six A-10 postseason honors and a trio of A-10 Championship Team nods. The team finished the season ranking first in shots 361 (17.19/game), second in goals scored (43), third in assists (33), and sixth in corner (87).

In her first season at the helm, Denko led the women’s soccer squad to a 10-8-1 record and 6-4 mark in conference play. The Colonials also competed in the Atlantic 10 Championship for the sixth consecutive season, tying GW’s longest streak in the A-10 tournament since 1993-98, the program’s first years as an A-10 competitor. In her inaugural season, Demko put together one of the top defenses in conference play, finishing A-10 action with a 1.24 GAA. Offensively, GW outshot its opponents 278-207 during the regular season and ranked first in the conference and fifth nationally with its 0.572 shots on goal percentage.

Under her direction, Sofia Pavon earned All-Conference First Team honors for the second straight season, Hannah Zalsuki and Maria Pareja landed on the All-Rookie Team, and Anna Tappen was recognized on the All-Academic Team.

Demko came to GW after an eight-year stint as head coach at UNC Asheville, where she built a competitive program that increased its win total in each of her first six seasons at the helm.

Demko coached 10 UNC Asheville Bulldogs to a total of 14 Big South All-Conference honors after stints as an assistant coach at Nebraska (2007-10) and North Carolina State (2003-06). As the Huskers' recruiting coordinator, she helped bring in student-athletes that posted three straight winning seasons while increasing their win total each year.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Demko had a successful professional playing career. She was drafted 63rd overall by the Philadelphia Charge and played two seasons in the WUSA, leading Philadelphia into the inaugural 2001 Founders Cup Final Four.

Her time in the WUSA followed a three-year run playing professionally in Germany in the Frauen Bundesliga for the SC Klinge Seckah, FSV Frankfurt and Bayern Munich.

She was a starter for all three teams and led Bayern Munich to a league championship as the team captain and MVP. Additionally, Demko captured a national title while playing stateside with the W-League's Maryland Pride from 1994 to 1996.

Demko has been involved with U.S. Soccer since her playing days, when she competed in national team training camps in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and earned a cap with the U.S. Women's National Team while playing against Germany in 1997. She's had three coaching assignments within U.S. Soccer, most recently serving as an assistant coach on the Under-23 Women's National Team in 2013 when the U.S. won a Four Nation's tournament in Spain. Prior to that, she trained the Under-20 Women's National Team in 2011 and again in 2012 as it prepared for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup.

Demko, who played soccer at Maryland under former U.S. National Team Coach April Heinrichs, was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary Women's Soccer Team. While playing at Maryland, she served as a two-year captain and was voted MVP by her team. She also earned first-team All-ACC honors.

A native of Largo, Fla., Demko received a bachelor's degree of Science-Kinesiology from Maryland in 1996. Prior to her arrival at Maryland, she played soccer at Barry University in Miami, Fla. She helped lead Barry to the 1992 NCAA Division II national title as she scored in the championship match against Adelphi and earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team.

Email coach

Alex Zaroyan

Zaroyan is currently entering his first season in Foggy Bottom. He arrives following two seasons working as an assistant coach for D-1 side, University of Tennessee Martin. During his two years in Tennessee, Zaroyan coached UT Martin to 17 wins, helping lead the program to its fifth Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2021. At UT Martin, Zaroyan was on staff under Head Coach Phil McNamara, who received OVC Coach of the Year following the 2021 championship season. In the 2021 season, Zaroyan assisted in leading Kamryn Chappell to Defender of the Year and Parker Gelinas to Freshman of the Year. In 2020, the Skyhawks finished in the top four and reaching the semifinals of post season play. Zaroyan assisted with freshman of the year Emely van Der Vliet.

Prior to UT Martin, Zaroyan spent one season at Angelina College where he was an assistant for both the men's and women's soccer teams. After a change in leadership during the season, Zaroyan co-led both programs throughout the season and combined to go 18-18-2 between the two programs. The men’s side reached post season for the first time in history, along with making it past the first round to the semifinals. Additionally, Zaroyan coached the women's team to a top 4 finish and led them to finish in the semifinals of postseason conference play.

Prior to his time at Angelina College, he spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant at Ursinus College. He also spent time as an assistant with USL 2 side, Colorado Rush in Denver, CO. He also has coaching experience at the club level with Palumbo Soccer Club and Castro Valley Soccer Club.

Along with his coaching abilities, Zaroyan has accumulated a diverse skill set while working all around the sport. He worked as a live charter and tracker with Match Analysis, tracking more than 750 hours of soccer matches in leagues and teams ranging from Major League Soccer, Liga MX, U.S. Men's and Women's National teams, and NCAA Division I. Zaroyan currently holds his US Soccer C License and Scottish Football Association C License. Zaroyan is currently in progress with his UEFA B License.

Zaroyan's own playing experiences ranged from playing club and high school soccer. He also had a trial with LIGA MX Academy Side, Tiburones Veracruz.

A native of Monrovia, Calif., Zaroyan earned his master's degree in strategic communication from UT Martin in 2022, and his bachelor's degree in sports and recreational management with a concentration in governance and policy from Temple University in 2018.

Email coach

Craig Jones

Craig Jones enters his 11th season leading GW in the fall of 2022. A GW graduate, the coach has guided the Buff and Blue to a winning record in four times, highlighted by an Atlantic 10 regular season championship in 2015 for which he was honored as the conference's Coach of the Year.

In the spring of 2021, the Buff and Blue, picked 11th in the conference preseason poll, went on to capture the Atlantic 10's Central Pod and then advanced to the A-10 Championship final for the first time since 2011.

During his tenure, GW has produced 11 All-Conference honorees, including five first-team picks. Most recently, Oscar Haynes Brown garnered first-team recognition for the third time following the 2021 season. In addition, Garrett Heine was named the conference's Midfielder of the Year in 2016.

A native of Wales, Jones was named head coach on Nov. 17, 2011, just four days after helping lead the Buff and Blue to an appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship title match as an assistant coach under George Lidster.

After taking over the program, Coach Jones oversaw a major rebuilding effort that saw GW win just 16 games in three years. But in 2015, his fourth season at the helm, Jones guided GW to an impressive turnaround. Picked to finish 10th in the A-10 preseason poll, GW posted its first 10-win season since 2011 and went 6-2 in conference play to claim the A-10 regular-season title and top seed in the league championship. GW was also ranked regionally for the first time in four years.

Jones was named the 2015 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, and four student-athletes earned spots on the All-Conference First or Second Teams, the most for GW since 2001. Midfielder Garrett Heine ranked among the A-10's leading scorers, and goalkeeper Jack Lopez anchored a defense that allowed just four goals in conference games. In addition, Heine and defender Tobi Adewole became the first men's soccer student-athlete to garner NSCAA All-Region distinction since 2009.

In 2017, GW returned to the Atlantic 10 Championship after tying for second-place in the conference standings and earned the right to host a game in the tournament for the first time since 2004. Christian Lawal was honored on the All-Conference First Team and Haynes Brown earned All-Rookie honors for their roles in leading the Buff and Blue.

Academically, the Buff and Blue have excelled under Jones. GW has earned five NSCAA Team Academic Awards for boasting a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the academic year, including a 3.25 GPA in 2012-13, which tied for 30th among Division I programs. In addition, a pair of student-athletes - Tyler Ranalli (2013) and Sam Summerlin (2015) have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, while Matthew Scott became GW's first repeat A-10 All-Academic Team selection since 2001-02, and Jonny Forrest was named the School of Business' 2016 Outstanding Bachelor of Business Administration. In 2018, Thor Arne Höfs became the first student-athlete in two decades to be honored on the A-10's All-Academic list three times in his career and was also honored on the CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District Team.

Jones served as GW's top assistant coach for three seasons from 2009-11 after working as the GW's volunteer assistant from 2002-08. A GW alumnus, Jones was also a four-year letterwinner for the Buff and Blue on the pitch from 1995-98.

In addition to his duties in training and game management, Jones played a crucial role under Lidster with recruiting, scheduling and goalkeeper workouts.

Jones holds a USSF `A' Coaching License and is a Virginia State Education Instructor, teaching courses to soccer coaches in Virginia and Washington, D.C. He has served as the director of numerous college and residential summer soccer programs in both the U.S. and Europe and is the founder of DC Soccer School, offering soccer services to youth players in the metropolitan area.

Jones played for and captained the Wales National Youth Team prior to his four-year career at GW. He started all but one of his 63 matches played during his four seasons with GW and totaled 28 points on 12 goals and four assists. Following his collegiate career, Jones competed semi-professionally in England and Wales before returning stateside to pursue his coaching licenses.

Jones graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise science from the university in 1999 and currently resides in Arlington, Va., with his wife Liz, and their three children, Cerys, Dylan and Seren.

Email coach

Declan Coll

Declan Coll was named to the GW men's soccer staff as an assistant coach in August 2021.

Coll joined the Buff and Blue with NCAA Tournament experience as both a student-athlete and coach with a total of five appearances at the national tournament.

A native of Derry, Ireland, Coll was a midfielder at West Virginia before joining the staff at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant.

His coaching resume also includes stops on staff at D-III Roanoke College (2012) and University of Lynchburg (2013-14) during which he helped both programs to win Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles.

After that, Coll spent five seasons as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the American University women's team from 2015-20. There, he coached five All-Conference performers, including 2018 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Yari Bradfield.

Most recently, Coll has served as an age group and recruiting resource director with Arlington Soccer Association, serving as a head coach while overseeing the development of nine regional teams.

A USSF and Irish FA licensed coach, Coll holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from West Virginia and a master's in English Literature from Lynchburg.

"I am delighted to come on board with the George Washington men's soccer program," Coll said. "Coming off the back of a fantastic spring season, I'm confident that I'll be working with a group of players aspiring to return to the A-10 Championship conversation again this year.

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be selected for this position, and thank Athletic Director Tanya Vogel, and senior staff members Chris Hennelly and John Square for taking the time to discuss with me what it means to be a part of the Buff and Blue. Finally, thanks to Coach Jones for offering me a chance to coach at one of the nation's premiere institutions. We share lofty goals, and I can't wait to get started!"

Email coach

Ben Mortimer

Ben Mortimer was named to the GW men's soccer staff in August 2021.

A two-time Atlantic 10 champion during his playing career in Buff and Blue from 2002-05, he brought nearly 15 years of coaching experience to the program.

As a student-athlete, Mortimer was a standout defender during one of the program's most successful periods.

The Leighton Buzzard, England, native was part of A-10 title runs in 2002 and 2004 while also being celebrated individually with All-Conference (2004, 2005), All-Region (2004) and All A-10 Championship (2004) honors. He closed his decorated career with 65 total starts while contributing seven goals and four assists along the way.

After graduating in 2006 with a degree in English, Mortimer quickly transitioned into coaching with a variety of local organizations, including a seven-year run on staff at American University.

With the Eagles, Mortimer was part of a program that won 62 games and claimed a pair of Patriot League regular season titles during his tenure.

Mortimer also served as technical director with Northern Virginia-based Excite Soccer and spent a decade as part of the leadership team of DC Stoddert Soccer. Since 2012, he has owned and operated FourSoccer running local camps and clinics, as well.

Mortimer holds a USSF National A License as well as a National Goalkeeping License and has recently been active in training coaches through the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association.

"I'm excited to be coming back to GW and want to thank Head Coach Craig Jones and Athletic Director Tanya Vogel for the opportunity," Mortimer said. "I had a tremendous experience as a student-athlete at GW, and I'm looking forward to working with the current group to uphold the program's championship standard, on and off the field."

Email coach

John Szaro

John Szaro was named to the GW men's soccer staff as a volunteer assistant coach in August 2021.

Szaro comes aboard as a volunteer assistant working primarily with the goalkeepers. He estimates that he has trained more than 2,000 keepers over the past three-plus decades, including several national-caliber netminders, most notably two-time World Cup veteran Tony Meola.

A former Hofstra goalkeeper who played professionally with the Rochester Flash, New York Express and New York Arrows, Szaro has coached in the college ranks at American, Columbia, Hofstra, Fordham, Adelphi and New York Institute of Technology over the course of his career.

Since 2016, Szaro has served as Director of Goalkeeping at McLean Youth Soccer, and he has also been active in the Virginia Olympic Development Program coaching alongside Jones.

"Working with Craig Jones in the Olympic Development Program, I know he is an excellent teacher of the game and an even better person," said Szaro, who holds a USSF National C License. "I am both honored and excited to join him as a part of the George Washington men’s soccer program."