Premier Soccer Academy
Personnel
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Ian KennedyDirector of Instruction
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Paul EberhardtVice Principal Academies
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Tara LedinghamAssistant
Ian Kennedy
Director of Instruction
Prior to becoming a Director of Instruction in West Vancouver Schools, Ian has served in a variety of positions:
- Vice-Principal at West Vancouver and Rockridge Secondary Schools
- Director of Instruction and Head of Wentworth Campus at Collingwood School
- Principal at Carson Graham Secondary in North Vancouver
Ian has three decades of experience in education, as a teacher and administrator. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Victoria and his Master’s degree in Education from Simon Fraser University.
Ian has a rich background in public and independent schools and is passionate about the evolution of education, the development of teachers, and the transformation of our public education system.
Ian has a proven track record of guiding innovation and his leadership work around school improvement has been recognized locally and nationally.
Ian is a former National Team athlete and has always been involved in coaching and supporting school athletics. He is a resident of the North Shore and is an active member of the community.
Paul Eberhardt
Vice Principal Academies
A Vancouver native Paul began his coaching career in 1982 while he was still a student at Magee Secondary and continued coaching as he got both his Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education Degrees from the University of British Columbia. He also earned his Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2005. He began teaching in the Richmond School District in 1989 where he spent 28 years prior to moving to the West Vancouver School District in 2018 to take on the job of Vice Principal for the Academy Programs.
During his career Coach Ebe has coached just about every sport but his main passion is coaching basketball which he has coached at every level including High School, College, Provincial Teams, and the Canadian National Team. Presently Paul is the head coach for the West Vancouver Highlanders senior boys’ team. Last season he led the team to a final four appearance at the AAAA BC Championships. Paul has been recognized as one of top coaches in the Country as he was selected as the 2013 Canadian Colleges men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. He has also been selected by Sport BC as the Coach of the Year in 2014 and Basketball BC has named him the College Coach of the Year in 2013 & 2014 and the High School Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2011. Paul’s colleagues also recognized him as the PACWEST Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014 & 2017 as well as Richmond Coach of the Year in 2011 and the Lower Mainland Coach of the Year in 2007.
Paul has been chosen to lead our BC Provincial teams on numerous occasions winning five gold medals and one silver at the Western Canada Games and two silver medals and three bronze at the Canadian National Championships. Paul was also selected to be an assistant coach with the Canadian Men’s National Basketball Team from 2000 to 2004.
Coach Ebe is also one of only two coaches in the Country to have won both a High School Provincial Championship which he did in 2011 with the Palmer Griffins and a Canadian College National Championship in 2014 with the Langara Falcons.
Paul has also been very actively involved in athletic administration as he was an Athletic Director for over 20 years, and he has also served on the Board of Directors for the Nighthoops Program which works with at-risk youth in Vancouver. Paul has also worked with Basketball BC on several occasions serving as the chair for a variety of elite programs and he was the longest serving President of the BC High School Boys Basketball Association serving from 2014 to 2018. For all his volunteer work in high school sports BC School Sports recognized Paul with a Special Merit award in 2018.
Tara Ledingham
Assistant
Tara was raised in West Vancouver and attended UBC and SFU, graduating with a double major in Sociology and Communications.
Since graduating, Tara has been employed in the human resources field for over twenty years. She initially worked as a recruitment specialist for Medical Recruiters International Canada, placing medical professionals in hospital and clinic settings in the United States.
After taking time off to raise her two children, Tara was hired by Mackay CEO Forums as a meeting and event planner before starting with West Vancouver Schools in 2016.
Tara has also enjoyed contract work with BC Children’s Hospital and the Crystal Ball Foundation and was registrar for the North Shore Inline Hockey league.
Being a part of the West Vancouver community has always been important to Tara and she spent several years managing her children’s sports teams and volunteering at the school level.
Teacher/Coaches
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Leo NashHead Coach
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Matt WalkerCoach
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Martin VacaGoalkeeper Coach
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Dardan LatifiCoach
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Jordan GibbonsCoach
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Grace StanleyCoach
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Perino ZambonWVS Supervising Teacher
Leo Nash
Head Coach
Head Coach
- Director of Football for WVFC
- West Van FC Director of Academy, Age Group Coordinator and Staff Coach: 2009-2021
- West Van FC Men’s Premier Team-Head Coach: 2015 – Present
- West Vancouver School District Premier Academy Head Coach: 2017 – 2022
- West Van FC Men’s Premier Team: 2007-2015
- Capilano University Men’s Soccer Team-Assistant Coach: 2006-2010 (National Champions 2009)
- Capilano University Men’s Soccer Team-Player and Captain: 2002-2006 (National Champion 2003)
- Whitecaps Reserve Team Player: 2007, 2008
- Canadian National Team: U17 and U18
- BC Provincial Team Player: U14 to U18 (National champion 2000)
Education
- Canada Soccer National Children’s Licence Certification (A Licence equivalent)
- Bachelor of Business Degree and Advanced Diploma in Marketing – Capilano University 2011
- BC Soccer Provincial “B” Certified Coach
- BC Soccer Technical Director Diploma
- First Aid -C- with AED Certified
- BC Soccer Technical Planning Diploma
- BC Soccer Respect in Sport Certificate
- US Soccer – Intro to Grassroots, 4v4,7v7, 9v9 Certificates
- NCCP – Making Ethical Decisions Certificate, Emergency in Sport Certificate, Safe Sport Training – Decision Making Certificate, Safe Sport Training – Direct Athlete Contact Certificate, Safe Sport Training – No Direct Athlete Contact Certificate, Sport Nutrition Certificate, Making Head Way in Soccer Certificate
- Sport for Life – Intro to Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity Certificate, Intro to Physical Literacy Certificate
- Respect in Sport Activity Leader Certification
- Respect in the Workplace Certification
- Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) Certificate
- Jumpstart – Supporting Positive Behaviour Certificate, Keeping Girls in Sport Certificate
- Commit to Kids (C2K) certification
- CCMHS – promoting the power of mental health through coaching practice
- CCMHS – powering coach wellness and performance through self-care
- CCMHS – maximizing coach potential through the power of the mental triad
Matt Walker
Coach
- Technical Lead-Girls U8-U18
- WVFC Tech Lead and Assistant Director of Academy: 2022-Present
- West Vancouver School District Premier Soccer Academy Coach: 2017-Present
- West Van FC Assistant Director of Academy, Age Group Technical Coordinator and Staff Coach: 2005-Present
- Canada Soccer National Youth Licence
- West Van FC MSL coach: 2013-Present
- BC Provincial BU13 Team-Assistant Head Coach: 2013
- Cap University Men’s Soccer Team-Player: 2000-’02
- West Van FC Men’s team: 2003-’08
- Coach Initiation in Sport
- BCSA Provincial “B” Coaching License
- First Aid – C – with AED Certified
- Psychology of Performance
- Safe Sport Training
- NCCP Emergency Action Plan eLearning
- Mental Health in Sport
- Leading a Return to Sport Participation
Martin Vaca
Goalkeeper Coach
- Technical Lead – Goalkeeper Coach for Boys & Girls U10-U18
- West Van FC Staff Goalkeeping Coach: 2015-Present
- West Van FC Metro Head Coach: 2020-Present
- Capilano University Men’s Team – Goalkeeper Coach: 2015-Present
- TSS Rovers PDL-Goalkeeper Coach: 2017-Present
- TSS Staff Goalkeeper Coach: 2014-Present
- Played Professional soccer in Bolivia
- Bolivian National Team U20
- Played professionally in Germany at TSV Weistal
- Canada Soccer National Goalkeeper Licence Certified
- BC Soccer Association C License Certified Coach
- Grassroots U13+ goalkeeping
- Goalkeeping Diploma
- First Aid – C – with AED Certified
Dardan Latifi
Coach
AGTC Boys U13 – U18 and Staff Coach
- West Van FC AGTC BU13-U16: Present
- West Van FC BU17 Metro Head Coach: Present
- Director at AFC Lightning: Atlanta, GE
- Head Coach Girls DPL (2009, 2007, 2006, 2005 teams): Atlanta, GE
- Grassroots academy coach
- National C License – USA
- National B License Candidate – USA
Jordan Gibbons
Coach
Grace Stanley
Coach
Perino Zambon
WVS Supervising Teacher
WVS Teacher at Rockridge Secondary since 2004
Physical Education and Strength & Conditioning
Some Highlights
- Since 2004: Head Coach, Rockridge Secondary
- Six-time Rugby AA Provincial Champions
- BC Rugby Assistant Coach U16
- BC Rugby Manager U16
- Selector of Rugby BC U16, U19 & Canada U17 Teams
- Selected as Guest Coach to Western Province Rugby Institute Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Assistant Coach: UBC Thunderbirds – 2019 World University Rugby Invitational Tournament Tokyo, Japan
- Currently assisting with UBC Men’s Rugby Thunderbirds – 2022 Rounsefell Cup Champions, who are also the 2021 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Champions