Coaches

Brent Leiba

In 2009, Howard University named Brent Leiba as its women's soccer head coach where he has guided the program to multiple conference titles and tournament appearances.


During the 2019 campaign, Howard won a program-best 14 matches en route to a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Regular Season Title. Leiba also won the league's coach of the year award. Along the way, the Bison earned numerous postseason accolades: Thalia Boucher (SWAC Co-Player of the Year; All-SWAC First Team); Kendall Macauly (SWAC Defensive Player of the Year; All-SWAC First Team); Victoria Thornton (All-SWAC Second Team); Alayah Hightower (SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year; All-SWAC First Team).


Leiba's squad won the 2018 SWAC Tournament title with 13-7-1 mark (8-1-1 SWAC) and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Five Bison received postseason recognition: Makela Davidson (All-SWAC Second Team); Alayah Hightower (All-SWAC Second Team); Kendall Hamilton (All-SWAC Second Team); Kendall Macauly (All-SWAC Second Team); and Jordan Taylor (SWAC Rookie of the Year; All-SWAC First Team).


In 2017, Leiba's group reached the SWAC Semifinals where Kela Gray and Aleeya Sawyer earned All-Tournament honors. After the regular season, Gray (All-SWAC First Team), Gabrielle Emilien (All-SWAC Second Team), Kendall Hamilton (All-SWAC Second Team), and Noelle McCullom (All-SWAC First Team) took home postseason accolades.


In 2016, Leiba won his third consecutive coach of the year honors after leading Howard to a regular season crown with a 12-4-2 overall mark. He also saw six Bison claim league honors: Gabrielle Emilien (SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year; All-SWAC First Team); Kela Gray (All-SWAC First Team); Kendall Hamilton (SWAC Defensive Player of the Year; All-SWAC First Team); Noelle McCollom (All-SWAC First Team); Carmen Suarez (All-SWAC First Team); and Sara Vaughan (All-SWAC First Team).


Leiba earned the 2015 SWAC Coach of the Year award after guiding the No. 4 seeded Bison to its second straight tournament championship and first appearance in the NCAA Tourney. Along the way, five student-athletes received postseason recognition: Rasheeda Ansari (All-SWAC Second Team); Mackenzie Diotte (All-SWAC Second Team); Kela Gray (All-SWAC First Team); Kendall Hamilton (All-SWAC First Team); Sara Vaughn (All-SWAC Second Team).


The crowning achievement of Leiba's career came in 2014, when Howard took the SWAC by storm in their inaugural season with the conference, going 13-9-1 and winning the regular season & tournament championships.


Leiba came to Howard with several years of coaching experience at various levels of competition. He has been on the coaching staff of the Washington Freedom since 2001 and was the head girls varsity coach at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, Va. Leiba was also served stints as the head coach and head athletic trainer with the Springfield Youth Club Xtreme, Lee Mount Vernon club team and Springfield Youth Club Xplosion.


A 2001 graduate of George Mason, Leiba was a four-year letterwinner on the Patriot soccer team and received academic honors during his tenure at George Mason.

Ellis Pierre

Nadir Moumen

Erika Yohn

Phillip Gyau

Howard University alumnus Phillip Gyau (B.A. '87) was named head coach of the men’s soccer team in April 2014. Gyau brings more than 20 years of experience to the position as a respected coach and a former U.S. National Team Player.


In 2019, Carlos Caro and Andres Gomez were named to the Sun Belt (SBC) All-Conference First Team after guiding the club to a No. 3 seed in the SBC Tourney.


In 2018, three Bison were selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference Team: Carlos Caro (Second Team); Joel Cunningham (First Team); and Victor Guirma (Second Team). Carlos also was named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team.


In 2017, Howard reached the Sun Belt (SBC) Semifinals while seeing Kyle Celestine and Carlos Caro made the SBC All-Tournament Team. Academically, 20 Bison were named to the Sun Belt Academic Commissioner's and Honor Roll lists while winning the conference's academic team award. Also, 15 student-athletes were named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner's All-Academic Team.


In 2016, he saw Kenneth Hersey earn Sun Belt All-Tournament recognition.


In 2015, Gyau witnessed Kyle Celestine selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team.


Since 1998, Coach Gyau has placed 20 players on Youth National teams. He has played in six National Championships and won four of them. Gyau has several years of coaching experience. In 2007 and 2011, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) named him Coach of the Year. In 2007, Gyau was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.


“I am so thrilled to return to Howard because it’s the place that molded me into the coach and player I am today,” said Gyau. “Howard taught me that the key ingredient to happiness and success is to never give less than your best. I am looking forward to giving back to the program that gave me so much. I will do my best to return this soccer program to prominence.”


Gyau is married to Leslie Amina Gyau. Their son, Joseph-Claude Gyau, and daughter, Mia-Irene Gyau, are both soccer players. Joe is currently a member of the United States Men's National Team.

Jason Gross

Jason brings over 15 years of experience as an NCAA Men's and Women's soccer coach, Academy and Sporting Director, and educator. He joins the Men's soccer staff after serving as the Head Coach of Women's Soccer at Trinity Washington University. During his tenure, he transformed Trinity's program, leading to a historic first-ever win over a Division II university in school history.


As a Director, his programming has developed some of the country's top players, including several U.S. Youth National Team players, the D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year, and countless NCAA players. His teams have won a State Cup and three Regional Championships and have competed for several National Championships across various competition formats. As a Coaching Educator, he has provided professional development for hundreds of professionals across the region.


An alum, Jason also returned to lead the girl's soccer program at School Without Walls HS, a premier academic institution in DCPS, to a DCIAA Championship Final.


As a player, Jason was a U.S. Youth National Team call-up. He competed as a four-year starter and three-year captain of the Division I Men's Soccer program at Howard University. He received two All-Conference First Team honors and was selected to play professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the N.J. Ironmen. Jason has played competitively in seven countries, including France, England, Spain, Germany, Holland, Denmark, and Norway.


Jason also serves as the Senior Program Director of Soccer and Operations at DC SCORES and Sporting Director of City Sporting Club.

Josue Fernandez

Emilie Mbouh

In 2014, Emile Mbouh joined the Howard University Men's Soccer team as an assistant coach under head coach Phillip Gyau.


In 2019, Carlos Caro and Andres Gomez were named to the Sun Belt (SBC) All-Conference First Team after guiding the club to a No. 3 seed in the SBC Tourney.


In 2018, three Bison were selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference Team: Carlos Caro (Second Team); Joel Cunningham (First Team); and Victor Guirma (Second Team). Carlos also was named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team.


In 2017, Howard reached the Sun Belt (SBC) Semifinals while seeing Kyle Celestine and Carlos Caro made the SBC All-Tournament Team. Academically, 20 Bison were named to the Sun Belt Academic Commissioner's and Honor Roll lists while winning the conference's academic team award. Also, 15 student-athletes were named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner's All-Academic Team.


In 2016, he saw Kenneth Hersey earn Sun Belt All-Tournament recognition.


In 2015, Gyau witnessed Kyle Celestine selected to the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team.


Coach Mbouh had a storied professional career before turning to coaching.


He earned 113 caps playing for the Cameroon National Team, and was captain from 1985-1988. Throughout his professional career, he played in France (le Havre), Portugal (Vittoria Guimaraes), Saudi Arabia (El Effifaq), and China, and was a starter for Cameroon in both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.


Since coming to the United States in 2001, Emile has coached youth soccer for the Bethesda Soccer Club and the Laurel Soccer Club. Currently, in addition to serving as head coach for several teams, Coach Mbouh heads The Lions Soccer.