H.E.R. Coaching Scholars attend ECNL International Course in Portugal

RICHMOND, VA (Via ECNL) – The Girls Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) awarded three female coaches – Sade Ayinde, Monica Gonyo and Shannon Rhodes – scholarships to attend the 2018 ECNL International Coaching Course in Portugal.

The 2018 ECNL International Coaching Course is an incredible learning and development opportunity, including two different instructional segments, one led by S.L. Benfica staff and the second led by Raymond Verheijen of the World Football Academy. The course began on December 9 in Lisbon and continues through December 16.

The H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship Program is designed to encourage and support more female players entering the coaching profession. This is the second year of the ECNL International Coaching Program, and the second year that H.E.R. Coaching Scholarships have been awarded to participants.

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Ayinde just finished her third season as an Assistant Coach for Stony Brook Women’s Soccer, and is also a coach with East Meadow SC. Ayinde played collegiately for the University of Maryland and currently holds her USSF “C” License.

Gonyo is the Pre-ECNL and Goalkeeping Director for FC Wisconsin, where she also played and is an ECNL Alum. She played professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Chicago Red Stars for one season after a stellar career at Loyola University where she set several all-time records for the women’s soccer program.

Rhodes is a software engineer at ESPN. She is a Match Fit Academy ECNL Alum, and went on to Villanova University. She has earned her USSF “D” License, and coaches with FSA FC.