Sports Academy Administration

Ian Kennedy

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

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 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 of the Langara Falcons men’s team and the West Vancouver Highlanders grade 9 boys team. 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 one silver medal 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.

Paul 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 a number of 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. Presently, Paul is the head coach of the Langara Falcons men’s team and the West Vancouver Highlanders Junior boys team.

Tara Ledingham

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

Leo Nash

Leo Nash

Head Coach

Head Coach

  • 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

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
Des Tachie

Des Tachie

Coach
  • Technical Lead – Divisional Boys U11-18
  • WVFC Tech Lead and Assistant Director of Academy: 2022-Present
  • West Van FC Age Group Technical Coordinator and Staff Coach: 2012-Present
  • Canada Soccer National Youth Licence
  • West Van FC Metro Coach: 2013-2022
  • Capilano University Men’s Team-Assistant Coach: 2013-2022
  • TSS Rovers PDL Team-Assistant Coach: 2018-Present
  • Kotoko FC Head coach: 2014 to Present
  • West Vancouver School District Premier School Academy Coach: 2017-’19
  • West Van FC Women’s Head Coach: 2013-’16
  • West Van FC Men’s Premier Team-Player: 2009-’19
  • Capilano University Men’s Soccer -Player- National Champs: 2002-’03
  • Played professionally with BK Freman Amager, AaB11 (Denmark) and Kaposvar VSC Hungary
  • Played professionally in USL with Charlotte Eagles, Toronto Lynx and Edmonton Aviators and Ottawa Fury
  • BC Soccer Association B Provincial Certified Coach
  • First Aid -C- with AED Certified
Adam Aziz

Adam Aziz

Coach
  • Technical Lead-Grassroots Boys & Girls U5-U7
  • West Van FC Age Group Technical Coordinator and Staff Coach: 2009-Present
  • West Vancouver School District Premier School Academy Coach
  • West Van FC Street Soccer Program-Head Coach: 2018-Present
  • Canadian National Powerchair Soccer Team – Assistant Head Coach: 2010-’12
  • Founder of Freekicks Society of Canada (Freekicks.org)
  • BC Soccer Association B Prep Certified Coach
  • First Aid -C- with AED Certified
Martin Vaca

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
Jeff Kim

Jeff Kim

Coach
  • Staff Coach and AGTC
  • West Van FC Age Group Technical Coordinator and Staff Coach: 2012-Present
  • West Van FC Men’s U21/Reserve Team player: 2019-Present
  • West Van FC Metro Coach: 2018-Present
  • West Van FC Metro Assistant Coach: 2014-Present
  • West Van FC Div 1 U11/12 Development Teams Head Coach: 2017-Present
  • West Van FC Women’s Assistant Coach: 2013-2015
  • West Vancouver Secondary School Soccer Program Head Coach: 2015-’19
  • West Van FC Men’s U21 Team (U21 VMSL Cup Champions, Provincial Cup Champions)
  • CMFSC Selects from U13-U16 (U14 Provincial Champions)
  • CSA B diploma (in progress)
  • BC Soccer Association C License Certified Coach
  • First Aid – C – with AED Certified
Dardan Latifi

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
Grace Stanley

Grace Stanley

Coach
  • West Van FC Junior Staff 2017-Present
  • West Van FC girls ’07 Metro Assistant Coach 2019-Present
  • West Van FC girls ’09 United Head Coach 2020-21
  • BC Soccer C License (in progress)
  • First Aid – C with AED Certified
Danielle Ferreira

Danielle Ferreira

Coach
  • GU11 Div 1 Head Coach: 2021-22
  • GU12 Div 1 Head Coach: 2021-22
  • AGTC GU13
  • BC soccer C License Certified
  • CATT – Concussion Awareness Training Tool Certification
  • Keeping Girls in Sport Certification
  • Capilano University – player, Provincial Finals: 2017, 2018
  • WVFC Metro Player: 2014-15
  • Britannia MWSL player: 2019-20
  • Micro FC – Women’s program coach: 2019
  • KLM FC academy – U11 team coach: 2018-20
  • Capilano University – Advanced Business Adminstration Certificate: 2017-’19
  • University of Victoria – Psychology Program: 2015-16
Jordan Gibbons

Jordan Gibbons

Coach
  • West Van FC staff Coach, 2018-Present
  • West Van FC Age Group Technical Coordinator, 2021-Present
  • West Van FC Boys ’08 Div 1 Head Coach, 2020-Present
  • West Van FC Boys ’06 Metro Assistant Coach, 2020-Present
  • BCSA Provincial C License
  • First Aid -C- with AED Certified
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