Toni Hernandez
ACADEMY DIRECTOR
LAFC Academy Director Toni Hernandez is responsible for overseeing all technical and developmental aspects of the academy and maintaining a player pathway from the academy to LAFC’s professional levels, including the LAFC first team. Hernandez began his role with LAFC in July 2025, joining the Black & Gold after spending nearly four years as the Academy Manager for Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy. The Valencia, Spain native previously worked as the Director of Methodology for the Valencia CF Academy of La Liga, working with Valencia CF World Academies in numerous countries.
Jake DeClute
DIRECTOR OF COACHING
Jake DeClute joined LAFC in the summer of 2022 after serving in coaching and player development roles across all competition levels including club, collegiate, and professional in both USL and MLS. DeClute holds a UEFA-A License.
Danny Califf
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COACH
Originally from Orange, California, Danny Califf is a former U.S. international defender who played professionally across Major League Soccer and Europe before moving into coaching and player development. Throughout his career, Califf made more than 300 professional appearances and earned more than 20 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He captured both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup titles with the LA Galaxy and brings championship experience and a professional mindset to his role, helping guide the next generation of players through the LAFC Academy pathway. Danny holds a USSF ‘A’ License.
Craig Von Wielligh
PERFORMANCE MANAGER
Craig Von Wielligh joined LAFC in 2023. Von Wielligh brings a wealth of experience in high-performance coaching and player development that spans elite landscapes globally, from the professional level in South Africa with AJAX Cape Town to the intricacies of college programs and academy teams in the U.S. Von Wielligh holds qualifications in Sports Performance, Coaching Science, and Organizational Psychology, and has obtained coaching licenses from South Africa, The Netherlands, and the U.S. Soccer Federation, reflecting his dedication to holistic player development and high performance.
Alejandro Guido

U-18 ACADEMY COACH
Originally from San Diego, California, Alejandro Guido brings a strong professional and international background to the LAFC Academy. The former U.S. Youth National Team midfielder began his professional career in Mexico with Club Tijuana in 2012 and went on to make more than 90 appearances for San Diego Loyal SC between 2021 and 2023. After joining FC Cincinnati 2 in 2024 as a player-coach, Guido transitioned into full-time coaching to help guide young players in their development toward the professional level. Guido, who is of Mexican descent, represented the United States at the U-17, U-18, U-20, and U-23 levels, including a call up for the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 World Cup.
Abraham Jacinto
U-16 ACADEMY COACH
Originally from Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, Abraham Jacinto joined LAFC in 2019 and was part of the coaching staff that led the LAFC U-19s to a 2021 Surf Cup title and UPSL Championship game. Jacinto came to LAFC from Boca Orange County where he served as the Technical Director. Prior to that, he led collegiate programs at Fullerton College, Santiago College and his alma mater California State University, Fullerton where he served as the Director of Player Development for the men’s program. Jacinto holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Fullerton and a USSF ‘A’ License.
Marius Rus
U-15 ACADEMY COACH
Originally from Romania, Marius Rus was a standout youth coach in Southern California with AC Brea before joining the LAFC Academy in 2018. Rus adds an important layer to the academy’s player identification and developmental process. He is currently in the process of completing his USSF ‘A’ License.
Andy Bru
U-14 ACADEMY COACH
A California native, Andy Bru joined LAFC in 2023 from the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) where he was a head coach for the LA Breakers in the 2007 and 2009 boys age divisions. Prior to the LA Breakers, Bru spent eight years with Real So Cal Soccer Club as a head coach in the 2007 and 2010 boys age levels. Bru holds a USSF ‘C’ License.
Artur Aghasyan
U-13 ACADEMY COACH
Artur Aghasyan joined LAFC in the summer of 2023 as an Academy Coach and brings experience in both playing and coaching. Prior to leading UPSL side Cal FC to a 2021 Premier Division Championship as a head coach, Aghasyan played professionally for Cal FC, LA Blues (USL), Real Salt Lake, and Chivas USA. Aghasyan most recently served as the head coach of NPSL’s SC Brave Lions and holds a USSF ‘B’ License.
Gustavo Gomez

U-12 ACADEMY COACH
A Los Angeles native, Gustavo Gomez joined LAFC with extensive experience developing youth players across Southern California and beyond. Gomez served as an assistant coach for Cal State LA’s nationally ranked men’s soccer program and worked with the SoCal Player Development Program identifying and training players for regional and national opportunities. He previously coached with the New York Red Bulls’ youth side and holds a USSF ‘B’ License along with NSCAA and Coerver Diplomas.
Michael Jacobson
ACADEMY COACH
Michael Jacobson joined LAFC in the summer of 2019, bringing with him a wealth of experience building programs and players. Jacobson helped build Cal State Los Angeles into a national powerhouse and has transformed El Camino College in Torrance, California into a nationally recognized program. The native Rochester, New Yorker, played at Syracuse University and then played professionally (USL) in New York and South Carolina. In 2021, Jacobson led the LAFC U-19 team to the UPSL Nationals Finals. Michael holds two master's degrees and his USSF ‘A’ License.
Adrian Padilla
ACADEMY GOALKEEPER COACH
Adrian Padilla officially joined LAFC as the Academy Goalkeeper Coach in July 2019. Padilla has experience both playing and coaching, previously serving as the goalkeeper coach for several prominent youth clubs including FC Dallas affiliate, Laredo Soccer Club and has years of personal experience tending goal, having done so from the youth through the collegiate level where he was a starter for Judson University in Chicago, IL. Padilla holds a USSF ‘C’ License.
Steven Barrera
ACADEMY ASSISTANT GOALKEEPER COACH
A California native, Steven Barrera joined the LAFC Academy as a Goalkeeper Coach in September 2023. Barrera brings experience in both coaching and playing, having served as goalkeeper coach for multiple youth clubs across Southern California and for El Camino College, Director of Goalkeeping for South Bay Surf Soccer Club, and played at both the collegiate and professional level. Barrera spent five years as a goalkeeper at California State University, Los Angeles (2013-2017), earning All-Conference and All-Region honors, and with California United Strikers FC (NISA) from 2018-2022. Barrera holds a USSF ‘D’ License.
Victor Garcia

VIDEO ANALYST
Victor Garcia joined the LAFC Academy as a video analyst, overseeing match and training footage to support player performance and tactical preparation. He works closely with coaches to provide visual feedback and data-driven insights that enhance player development and team execution. Before joining LAFC, Garcia spent over a decade with Cal State Northridge’s men’s soccer program, rising from Director of Video Operations to Associate Head Coach. He also served as Head Coach for LA Surf’s MLS NEXT and Elite Academy teams. Garcia holds a master’s degree in education and brings a strong background in player development and performance analysis to his role.
Michael Solano

ACADEMY PERFORMANCE SCIENTIST
Michael Solano joined LAFC as an Academy Performance Scientist, bringing experience across MLS and academy environments in strength and conditioning and athletic development. Before joining LAFC, Solano served as an Academy Performance Coach with D.C. United and previously worked with the LA Galaxy as a Volunteer Performance Coach, Youth Soccer Coach, and Talent Scout.
Pedro Moreno

ACADEMY PERFORMANCE SCIENTIST
Pedro Moreno brings over a decade of elite experience in soccer performance, sports science, and player monitoring to the LAFC Academy. He has worked with some of Brazil’s most prominent clubs, including Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, and Fluminense, where he specialized in physical conditioning, recovery strategies, and performance data analysis for athletes. Moreno’s expertise spans from GPS tracking, Power BI analytics, and recovery technologies, with a focus on player wellness and development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from IBMR Laureate Universities in Brazil and completed advanced sports science coursework through CONMEBOL and EXOS.
Albert Torres
HEAD ACADEMY ATHLETIC TRAINER
Albert Torres joined LAFC in the summer of 2023 after having spent three years at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona as an athletic trainer. At the club level, Torres brings experience providing match-day athletic training services to players within the ECNL and MLS Next programs at FC Golden State. Torres holds a Doctor of Athletic Training with a focus in rehabilitation and orthopedics from A.T. Still University.
Erika Clark
ASSISTANT ACADEMY ATHLETIC TRAINER
Erika Clark joined the LAFC Academy as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, bringing experience from both collegiate and professional sports organizations. She has worked with programs such as LSU Athletics and the Los Angeles Chargers, where she designed rehabilitation plans, managed athlete treatment logistics, and assisted with return-to-play protocols across football, basketball, swimming, and track & field. A graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a Master of Science in Athletic Training from Louisiana State University, Clark has also interned with the Tennessee Titans and Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. She is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Nationally Registered EMT, and a recipient of multiple national athletic training scholarships recognizing her dedication to athlete care and performance.
Michael Timoney

ACADEMY EQUIPMENT MANAGER
Michael Timoney brings extensive experience in game operations, logistics, and event management to the LAFC Academy. A long-time member of the LAFC organization, he currently oversees the setup and coordination of academy equipment needs. Since joining LAFC in 2017, Timoney has contributed in multiple capacities, including as a Game Operations Manager for LAFC2 and Stage Manager for LAFC. His background also includes roles with the Dallas Stars and Cerritos College, where he gained valuable experience in game presentation, event production, and team operations.
Zach Reyes
ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR
Zach Reyes joined LAFC in the summer of 2023 and brings a diverse background in sports management. Reyes came to LAFC from the baseball ops department at MLB where he focused on overseeing team operations for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Prior to that, Reyes spent a year with Fleetwood Town Football Club in England and also served as a team liaison on preseason tours with both Real Madrid and Chelsea FC.