Our Amazing Team

Girls Unite recognizes that highly skilled and dedicated coaches are key to the success of our programs. Girls Unite coaches are passionate about soccer and youth development, and strive to create a positive and rigorous environment for female-identifying athletes on and off the pitch. We see each of our players through a holistic lens and value their ability to learn and grow. Girls Unite coaches have coached and played in various professional settings, on national teams, college teams, and beyond. They represent the highest level of coaching dedicated to female soccer player development in San Francisco.

To learn more about our coaches, click on their photos below.

Lindsay Kauffman

Executive Director / USSF C Candidate

Coach Lindsay founded Girls Unite with a commitment to increase opportunities, visibility, and leadership of women in soccer. She has been coaching youth for the past 2 decades, was the assistant coach of the Gold Medal winning 2013 USA Maccabi Team, won the 2014 SFUSD Soccer Coach of the Year, and won the 2022 Double-Goal Coach Award for the Positive Coaching Alliance. Coach Lindsay has also worked with SFUSD as the Head Coach of Washington HS Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach of the 2023 USA Maccabi U16 Team. Most recently in 2026, Coach Lindsay won the Sports Business Champion Award with the Bay Area Host Committee alongside Steve Kerr for her leadership and meaningful impact in the Bay Area Sports Community. Coach Lindsay is also an appointee by the District 4 Supervisor to the Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee.

Coach Lindsay is certified in TOVO methodology and has her USSF National D License.

Kilee Quigley

Technical Director / USSF B Coaching License

Kilee Quigley is the club’s Technical Director. She comes from a 17-year coaching background, starting as a volunteer assistant for her alma mater, Idaho State University, and then spending the last 16 years coaching ECNL at MVLA. She is proud to have taken her teams to many championships and specializes in cultivating an atmosphere where players fall in love with the game. She prides herself on creating an environment where kids feel both challenged and successful.

Kilee has been playing for the U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team since 2019. Prior to that, she played three seasons of Semi-pro soccer for the Sacramento Storm. In her collegiate career, Kilee played for Idaho State University where she was both captain and named First Team All-Conference for three consecutive years, leading her team to win the Big Sky Championship in 2006.

In her free time, you will most likely find her at the beach or on the pickleball court. She loves food, family, and good friends.

As Girls Unite DOC/Technical Director, Coach Kilee oversees all aspects of the club’s soccer development, including coaching education, coach mentorship, player development, and team strategy. She works closely with our coaching staff to ensure that Girls Unite Soccer Club continues to provide the best possible training and development opportunities for our players.

Lilia Dosalmas

Director of Coaching / USSF C License

Lilia Dosalmas has been coaching in the Bay Area for the past 15 years. She has coached competitive youth club soccer for various East Bay clubs, High school soccer programs, youth camps and clinics, afterschool programs, and several programs for early learners and beyond. Her passion for coaching stems from a love of soccer and a love of education. Her own pursuit of education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Feminist Studies from UC Santa Barbara and a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley in Education with an emphasis in the Cultural Studies of Sport in Education. These areas allow her to incorporate educational pedagogies into her coaching approaches, and to create environments for athletes to discover sport and engage thoughtfully in their participation of it.

Additionally, Lilia has coached various programs in college soccer, most recently as the head women’s soccer coach for UC Santa Cruz where Lilia earned Conference Coach of the Year, and led the team to the first C2C conference championship in program history. In addition to athletic accolades, Lilia’s teams earned cumulative team gpa’s of 3.71 and garnered consecutive appearances on dean’s list and all scholars lists from her program.

Lilia is excited to work with Girls Unite and continue the journey of empowering young athletes through the sport of soccer, and sharing in the joy of building community and discovering the power and confidence found in being an athlete.

Lilia holds several national coaching licenses including a C license from the US Soccer Federation and an Advanced National Diploma from United Soccer Coaches.

Abby Kalscheur

Operations / USSF B Coaching License

Abby has been working with youth in soccer for almost two decades. After playing DIII collegiate soccer at a small school in Wisconsin, her roles have spanned from volunteering with underserved youth in urban communities to coaching NPL/GA teams in national tournaments. Abby holds several coaching licenses including the U.S. Soccer B license, USYS National Youth Coaching Certification, as well as the U.S. Soccer Club Technical Leader license (formerly DOC license). Abby sat on the all-volunteer board with the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League and occasionally referees games across leagues. Abby now provides operations support for Girls Unite and helps new coaches find their own voice on the field.

Coach Hannah

Recreational Director / USSF Grassroots License

A San Francisco native, Hannah started playing soccer at age 3 and went on to play Division 1 at the University of Portland, finishing her career as captain at Southeastern Louisiana University. She's earned multiple Southland Conference honors for both athletic and academic achievements. Currently, Hannah plays semi-pro for the San Francisco Nighthawks, a team she's been with since high school. She's worked with Girls Unite for years, running skills clinics and camps, and have coached several recreational teams to offer off-season training. Hannah is excited to join Girls Unite as the Recreational Director and to focus her passion toward growing the local soccer community and expanding Girls Unite's recreation program.

Coach Dani

Weee Kickin' It Lead / MicroSoccer Lead / Goalkeeper Trainer / USSF Grassroots License

Danielle Leone has been playing soccer recreationally for 30 years and coaching kids for five. Before that, she was a nanny for fifteen years, and she's always been a writer and a touring musician. She has three books of fiction and six albums of songs, and also works with kids on writing and music.

Coach Lexi

USSF National C License

Coach Lexi’s journey in soccer began in Louisville, Kentucky, where she stood out as a competitive and high school player, earning all-state honors. Her passion for the game continued through her academic path, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s in psychological science from Western Kentucky University. Here she conducted research in vision and taught research methodologies to undergraduates. She then travelled across the pond and studied at the University of Southampton in England. She conducted research in multi-sensory perception, aiming to enhance speech perception for cochlear implant users.

Lexi found her calling in coaching after moving to the Bay Area. At Girls Unite, Lexi wears many hats. As Head Coach, she leads with a focus on attacking principles, organization, and technical skill. She coaches 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11. She takes on administrative tasks, manages our social media presence, and directs our soccer camps. She also holds a USSF National C License.

Lexi is dedicated to fostering confidence, grit, discipline, and creativity in her players, helping them grow both on and off the field.

Alicia Yanow

Director of Events & Engagement, USSF C License

Coach Alicia started playing soccer in 3rd grade. Ever since she got hit in the stomach with the ball and had the wind knocked out of her, she was hooked!

Coach Alicia's high school years were influenced by Title IX. As a freshman, she and her Wildcats (competitive travel team) teammates attempted to try out for the boys' soccer team due to the absence of a girls' team. Despite the initial setback, Title IX allowed Coach Alicia to join her high school's first girls' varsity soccer team, a milestone that she played for all four years.

Coach Alicia hasn't stopped playing. She is active in the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League—as a player and also as a volunteer, President of the GGWSL Board—and constantly seeks ways to keep female-identified players of all ages playing.

Coach Alicia believes in soccer as a tool for female empowerment and strives to provide a strong example to her young charges. Coach Alicia loves getting to know her players, embracing the challenge of a new season, and helping them realize their potential! Coach Alicia has been coaching for 15+ years, holds a USSF C License, and actively pursues continuing education.

Coach Shalom

Goalkeeping Director / Referee Assignor

We are thrilled to have Shalom Kimble as our Professional Goalkeeper Trainer for the Girls Unite Competitive Travel program. Coach Shalom played goalkeeper for San Francisco State University Women's varsity program. She has coached and trained youth and high school goalkeepers for the past 20 years, and has won numerous awards including the 2021 Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award. She has a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice, decades of experience working with youth ages 3-18, and currently is also a teacher at A.P Giannini Middle School. She holds USSF E coaching license.

Coach Emilee

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Born and raised in San Francisco, Emilee’s love for soccer began when she was just a young girl, and quickly grew into a passion throughout her childhood years. She developed her skills through both school and club teams and went on to play at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. She continued her love for the game while attending St. John's University in New York City, playing soccer recreationally throughout college while she completed her BS in Marketing.

Her love for women’s sports extends beyond soccer and has lead to an exciting career as a writer covering the WNBA. For the past 10 years, Emilee has coached multiple sports and camps across various age groups.

Coach Reilly

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Reilly is a Bay Area native who grew up playing competitive soccer in San Francisco for over 10 years. She played one year at City College of San Francisco, contributing to a conference-winning team at one of the most established junior college programs in the area. Now entering her seventh year of coaching, she holds a USSF D License and is so excited to join the Girls Unite team!

She is currently pursuing a Business degree with a concentration in Marketing at San Francisco State University, with aspirations to work in the sports industry. As a coach, she is deeply committed to empowering young female athletes to believe in themselves, push toward their full potential, and build lasting confidence on and off the field.

When she’s not coaching, you can find her camping outdoors or cheering on her favorite team, Arsenal FC.

Coach Marieke

USSF Grassroots License

Marieke Blazeski is a San Francisco native. She has been playing soccer for 25 years and has been coaching for 15 (ages 3 thru 18) with a F, E, and E/D coaching license. In addition to coaching for Girls Unite, she is also currently the Head Coach for the boys soccer team at Galileo High School (4+ years). Growing up in San Francisco she played recreational soccer in the Vikings and PAL league, club soccer with the San Francisco Vikings, semi professionally with the San Francisco Night Hawks, and 4 years in college at San Francisco State University. She has experience personal training (soccer and fitness) and studied Creative Writing with a bachelors in English. She is very passionate about soccer, teaching, and competition.

Coach Olivia

USSF D License

Coach Olivia comes from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and earned her BA in creative writing from DePaul University in Chicago. Since graduating college, Coach Olivia has been traveling and teaching English abroad. She currently works as a carpenter for Habitat for Humanity, specializing in tiny houses for underserved communities.

She started playing soccer when she was 5 and played competitively up until college. The coaching director of Coach Olivia's youth club was trained in Brazil, so Coach Olivia grew up playing futsal, small sided games and juggling tennis balls! Coach Olivia encourages players to take opponents on, think creatively with their feet, and work in tight spaces.

Coach Marina

USSF C License

As an avid fan of the modern Women’s Soccer game, Coach Marina can’t wait to share strategy and methodical approach with her teams. She partially takes her inspiration from experience, as well as her favorite professional team - the Orlando Pride, and brings big ideas and passion to the Girls Unite coaching staff. Her favorite experiences as a soccer player includes embracing responsibility and meeting high expectations from teammates. Coach Marina also believes that putting young players in a position to succeed and share their voice develops leadership skills that last their entire lives. She can’t wait to meet and start working with her teams this upcoming season!

Coach Madison

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Madison is a Bay Area native and grew up down the Peninsula in Burlingame, where she started playing soccer at the age of 4. She played competitive soccer throughout middle and high school before moving on to play at the Division lll level at Lesley University. During her time at Lesley, she helped her team win two conference championships and earn two NCAA tournament bids, while also earning numerous academic and athletic awards. When not on the pitch you can find Madison down in San Jose at hockey games, writing, or running marathons.

Coach Irma

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Irma has been involved in the SF soccer community for more than 10 years and supporting Girls Unite as a parent or volunteer since 2017. She is now an active referee, coach and fan of soccer. When not on the pitch, you can find her spending time with friends and family, walking her dogs, or cheering on Bay FC.

Coach Alli

USSF Grassroots License

Coach Alli fell for soccer back in elementary school, when her dad coached her rec teams in Columbus, Indiana. As an adult, Coach Alli has found soccer to be an amazing way to quickly meet great people wherever she goes, whether moving across the country to San Francisco, visiting family back in Michigan, or traveling internationally. When not playing soccer, Coach Alli is likely playing tennis or Ultimate Frisbee, biking, or lying in a park reading. She loves connecting with others through play and movement, and she is thrilled to be out on the pitch with girls, families, and coaches who share this passion or are just checking out soccer for the first time!

Coach Kaitlin

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Kaitlin began playing competitive club soccer in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of seven and continued through age 18. She also competed for her high school team, finishing her competitive career with a state championship title her senior year.

Kaitlin earned her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia, where she remained involved in soccer by coaching at the middle school level in Athens, Georgia. It was there that she discovered her passion for mentoring young athletes and helping them develop confidence, skills, and a genuine love for the game.

After spending five years working as a landscape designer in Atlanta, Denver, and San Francisco, Kaitlin found her way back to the field through Girls Unite. As a coach, she is dedicated to creating a positive, supportive environment where players can grow both on and off the field.

Coach Aimée

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Aimée is a Bay Area native who grew up playing competitive soccer in San Jose and has always valued the powerful role sports play in shaping young people’s lives. A multi-sport athlete, she also excelled in field hockey—earning a place in her high school’s Hall of Fame—and played club field hockey during her first year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Sciences from Cal Poly and a Master’s in Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. With over a decade of experience in public health and wellness, she currently works in Academic Medicine, focusing on health communication and translational science to advance health equity and social justice.

Now in her third year of coaching, Aimée has worked with players from kindergarten through 3rd grade. She loves witnessing each player's growth and especially treasures the moment when things ``click``—whether it’s a new skill or a spark of confidence. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes both technical development and character building, with a focus on sportspersonship, teamwork, and leadership. “Playing soccer taught me how to use my voice and work with others,” she says. “I want to help my players grow not just as athletes, but as good human beings.”

She holds a U.S. Soccer Grassroots Coaching License and is proud to be part of Girls Unite—a women-led, women-focused organization where she can help nurture the next generation of leaders and soccer stars.

Coach Georgia

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Georgia been playing soccer for over 35 years, from multi-generational pickup games and youth soccer in West Marin through college club, semi-pro WPSL and the Golden Gate Women’s Soccer League.

Coach Georgia started coaching a few years ago while sidelined with an injury and has fallen in love with sharing the game from a coach perspective. Soccer has been a source of confidence, stimulation, well-being, joy and friendship throughout Coach Georgia's, and coaching kids allows her to pay that forward to the next generation.

Coach Georgia has a USSF Grassroots coaching license and has coached K-3rd grade (U6-U10) teams in SFYS competitive and recreational divisions, SFRPD futsal, and GU micro-soccer.

Coach Simone

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Simone was born and raised in San Francisco and began playing soccer at the age of six. She played competitively through middle and high school and went on to compete at the Division III level at Emerson College. During her time at Emerson, she helped lead the team to its first-ever conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance, while also earning multiple NEWMAC conference honors for her achievements both on and off the field.

Coach Simone brings eight years of coaching experience with Girls Unite, having served as a junior coach, assistant coach, and head camp coach. She also has three years of experience providing one-on-one private training and leading various skills clinics for Girls Unite during her high school and college years. Simone is thrilled to step into a head coaching role and is passionate about helping players develop their skills while having fun and building a love for the game.

Coach Melissa

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Melissa was a competitive inline speed skater before she discovered her love for soccer. She joined her first team in 5th grade and worked her way up to captain her high school team. She played club soccer in college while earning a BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Spanish. Melissa is passionate about inclusivity and welcoming new players of all ages and abilities to the sport. She is active on local teams playing at both the recreational and premier levels. When she's not on the pitch, you can find her in lab working on her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at Cal.

Coach Madeeha

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Madeeha is a passionate and dedicated soccer coach who has been playing the game her entire life. Specializing as a goalkeeper, she has trained with Foothill College and brings both skill and enthusiasm to the field. She is also a full-time college student, pursuing her education with the same energy and dedication she brings to the game. Her coaching philosophy centers on teamwork, sportsmanship, and helping each player reach their full potential — while having fun along the way.

Coach Kaya

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Kaya grew up in Santa Clara area playing club soccer for MVLA (under current Girls Unite DOC - Kilee!). Coach Kaya played soccer at SF State for 3 years and is now diverting her attentions to classwork and coaching. She's been coaching for about 5 years now and absolutely loves it! She can't wait to share her perspectives with young players here at Girls Unite!

Coach Anna

Camp Director / Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Bio coming soon!

Coach Lexy

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Lexy has played competitive soccer for most of her life, and along the way discovered a deeper passion for the game — one fueled by playing alongside teammates who poured their hearts into every match. Her coaching philosophy centers on empowering young athletes to believe in themselves and develop a true understanding of the game. She believes the most successful players are those willing to take risks, embrace mistakes, and carry the confidence to learn and grow through them.

Coach Isabel

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Isabel is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has played competitive soccer since she was seven up until high school. She also played with her high school team, earning two state titles. She has coached soccer for 6 years ranging from middle/high school teams as well as competitive teams.

Isabel received her bachelors of science from Louisiana State University in Biochemistry and is preparing for professional school. She finds inspiration in every athlete’s unique journey, aiming for building inclusive, supportive communities where every individual feels valued and empowered. Serving as a youth soccer coach has allowed her to bring this into practice.

Coach Marlen

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Coach Marlen is a graduate of UC Berkeley and now works full-time in the healthcare field. She played soccer through middle school and high school, developing a lasting love for the game. She has coached with Girls Unite at their summer camps, helping young players build skills, teamwork, and confidence on the field. This season, she's excited to bring that same energy and dedication to Ignite Coral!

Coach Melanie

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Mel grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts where she fell in love with soccer watching her older brother play. Her own soccer journey began with neighborhood street soccer, continued through high school and club teams, and ultimately led her to Colby College in Maine where she played at a Division III level. She now enjoys playing in San Francisco’s adult leagues. Mel has been leading private training sessions for years and enjoys working one on one with players to build confidence and find creative approaches to their goals. Outside of soccer, Mel works as a Children’s Advocate at the Asian Women’s Shelter in San Francisco. She is looking forward to working with the PandaWolfettes this season!

Coach Avica

Avica grew up in Los Angeles, CA, competing in high‑level soccer environments including Premier, ECNL, Academy programs, and four years of varsity at Notre Dame High School. She continued her soccer career at Academy of Art University, playing NCAA Division II soccer and earning the PacWest Academic Award (2018–2022) and Team MVP in her final season. From 2022–2024, Avica volunteered as a collegiate coach for the Urban Knights after completing her BFA in Art Education. She currently plays for San Francisco Hibernian F.C. and is excited to coach young athletes in women’s sports.

Coach Melissa

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Melissa Castillo is a lifelong educator, advocate, and soccer enthusiast who believes in creating spaces where children, educators, and communities can grow, connect, and thrive. She grew up playing both recreational and competitive soccer, and since 2005, she has had the joy of coaching soccer teams throughout San Francisco. Some of her favorite moments have been watching young players find their confidence, discover their strengths, and learn what it means to be part of a team.

That same spirit has shaped her more than 20 years in early childhood education. As a preschool director and ECE leader, she has spent her career working alongside children, families, and educators. Today, much of her work is dedicated to uplifting San Francisco's early educators — making sure teachers have a voice, opportunities to lead, and a strong community behind them.

When she's not working, you can usually find Melissa searching for the best matcha latte on the block, Zumba rocking, or on the sidelines of a soccer field, cheering on one of her two kiddos and probably coaching just a little from the sidelines. She looks forward to meeting you.

Coach Laura

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Laura grew up in Upstate NY and was obsessed with basketball until she discovered soccer in middle school. She played all four years of high school. Upon discovering that her college, Marist University, didn’t have a women’s soccer team, she joined forces with a small group of women to build a club program which went on to become Division 1. After college, Laura joined a Manhattan-based team in the NY Metropolitan Women’s Soccer League. She moved to San Francisco in the late 90’s and began working at Soccer America Magazine where she met her next soccer community (and husband!). She has enjoyed years of playing soccer in the Golden Gate Women’s Soccer League and on various co-ed and indoor soccer teams.

In addition to playing, she has managed and assisted the coaches for her daughter’s youth soccer team, holds a USSF ‘F’ coaching license and is an avid soccer fan of her daughters and the SJ Earthquakes. Laura is looking forward to teaching her U8 Girls Unite team the skills they need to enter competitive club soccer and build their love of the game.

Coach Alex

Head Coach / USSF Grassroots License

Alexandra has been playing soccer for 25 years. She brings experience playing for competitive clubs in California and The Netherlands, as well as with the City College of San Francisco. Currently, she plays for the semi-pro club San Francisco Nighthawks in all on-field positions (including goalkeeper), giving her a unique and complete offense to defense perspective. In addition to playing, her on field experience extends to refereeing at the youth level, further strengthening her players’ understanding of the laws of the game.

Alexandra currently coaches with the Girls Unite Development Academy, bridging the gap between recreational and competitive player journeys. In addition to youth coaching, she has lead adult soccer programs on the coaching, training development, and operations for marginalized communities here in the SF Bay Area.

Her favorite teams to watch include the Portland Thorns, Bay FC, Ajax, FC St. Pauli, and SF City FC. Her favorite players to watch include Rose Lavelle, Jordan Silkowitz, Thomas Müller, and Luka Modrić.

Alexandra currently holds the official US Soccer Grassroots Coaching License.

Are you Ready?

Change Lives

We are currently seeking enthusiastic new and experienced coaches that can mentor young girls build soccer skills, confidence and community

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Junior Coaches Program

Calling All Youth Mentors

Our Junior Coaches program exemplifies youth leadership and professional modeling. The program is open to experienced high school soccer players. Junior Coaches are hired based on their capability, enthusiasm, level of responsibility, and availability. Selected Junior Coaches will assist the head coaches with player training, demonstrations and other fun assignments. Junior Coaches receive a stipend or can use their coaching hours toward community service.

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