OL Reign Announces 2022 Technical Staff

In 2022, OL Reign’s technical staff will continue to be led by head coach Laura Harvey. Harvey, who returned to OL Reign on July 15, 2021, is a three-time NWSL Coach of the Year and driving force behind OL Reign’s return to the NWSL semifinals during the 2021 season.

“I think obviously we are all really happy to be back. Year ten of the league is a massive thing. Every preseason tends to be similar... Everyone is excited to be back in, a little bit of nerves, new faces, new people, so for us coming away and being together for nine days is a real positive,” said Harvey.

Sam Laity, who has been with OL Reign since its inaugural season in 2013, will also return as OL Reign’s Assistant Coach. Last season, Laity stepped in as the interim head coach for OL Reign for six matches. He delivered 12 points in that time, beginning OL Reign’s notable comeback from the slow start to the season start to the season that garnered only seven points from seven matches.

A native of Plymouth, England, Laity has lived in the Puget Sound since 2001. In addition to his work with the first team, Laity previously served as a head coach with several teams with OL Reign Academy. He holds a UEFA "B" License and a NSCAA Master Coach Diploma, and has also worked as a regional NSCAA staff instructor.

“It doesn’t feel like year ten,” said Laity. “I can’t quite believe it, actually. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we started out on our first ever season. It’s been incredible to be here for ten years and I’m thankful for the opportunity that the Predmore’s gave me. It’s a privilege to have been with the club this long.”

Laity continued, reflecting on the start of the 2022 preseason. “I’m really looking forward to the 2022 season. I think this is probably the biggest turnover of new players we’ve had in an offseason. Lots of new energy here, new blood… it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to it.”

OL Reign goalkeeper coach Ljupco Kmetovski also returns for his fourth season with the team. The Macedonian keeper coach holds a UEFA “A” License and a UEFA “Pro” goalkeeper license. He played professionally in Europe and has coached at the professional and international levels, previously serving as the Director of Goalkeeping for the Football Federation of Macedonia, where he was responsible for overseeing the goalkeeping coaches for the Macedonia National Team.

Also returning to OL Reign’s staff for the 2022 season are Associate General Manager Santiago Gallo, Equipment Manager Isabella Pino, Team Administrator Kyllian Perrin, Clinical and Sports Psychologist Mariah Bullock and Sports Dietitian Bethany Chapman. All of OL Reign’s technical staff share a mutual goal of ensuring that player wellbeing is the top priority of the club.

Gallo said, “The new season just brings new energy, new feelings and new emotions to win a new championship. We are all renewed and ready to go.” He continued, “In terms of environment for the players, we are looking out for the players and always looking to give them the best experience that we can. I think the resources and that we have and the people that we have are always doing their best for the players. We are always trying to look out for their protection first and foremost, so they can focus on playing on the field and we can focus on the rest.”

Dr. Mariah Bullock, a former Reign player, joined the club last year as the sports psychologist and mental health counselor as part of OL Reign’s investment in the mental health of their players, something that is a top priority for the club. After retiring from professional soccer, Bullock pursued her PhD in Psychology at BYU and completed her doctoral internship at Lehigh University in 2020. She also currently works as an Athletic Psychologist at the University of Nebraska.

Chapman, MS, RD, CSSD is a Registered Dietitian and has a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition and Clinical Physiology from Central Washington University as well as a Master of Science in Sports Nutrition from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. She completed her dietetic internship at Bastyr University and is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. She has worked with collegiate and professional athletes as well as in clinical and community settings.

Video Analyst, Eric Rossitch, who joined OL Reign late last season, is also returning for the 2022 season. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2016 where he captained the men’s club soccer team to a 2015 National Championship and earned his degree in Exercise and Sport Science. He also worked with UNC Women’s Soccer and from 2016-2019 he worked in marketing at Atlanta United FC, before obtaining a MA in Communication Leadership from the University of Washington. He served as a youth coach for Cascade FC and as an Assistant Coach for Cultures United FC in the UPSL. He also works has a head coach in OL Reign Academy.

There are three new additions to OL Reign’s technical staff at the start of the season, including Director of High Performance Josh McAllister, Director of Rehabilitation Ellie Somers, and Head Athletic Trainer Caroline Durocher. Each addition to the technical staff features extensive experience in their field and is eager to begin contributing to the player-centered culture at OL Reign.

“I think we are all just excited to be in the sun and on the grass again,” said McAllister. “We feel like we have something really special here, just with the staff and this group of players. I couldn’t be more excited.”

McAllister brings to OL Reign a plethora of experience, having previously worked for over ten years at every level of soccer as a performance coach. He has worked for three clubs in Major League Soccer, one United Soccer League Club, a Division 1 Men's Soccer Program and the United States U16 and U19 boys’ national teams.

Somers has a Bachelors in Science in Exercise Science, Masters of Physical Therapy and Doctorate of Physical Therapy. The former Division I soccer player for Saint Louis University previously worked as the Team Physical Therapist for the Women’s United States Australian Rules Football Team, The Freedom.

“I’m very excited! Working in the NWSL has been a professional goal of mine for a long time,” said Somers. “My hope for the team is that we are really elevating what we do for them. They are the best athletes in the world, so I believe that they deserve the best. For me, that means showing up as much as I can to treat them as human beings and individuals. In the preseason, we meet with them individually and have discussions about their situation and make sure they are feeling prepped and ready. I feel good about saying that we that we have managed to get the players ready.”

Durocher added, “I am so excited to be starting my first season with OL Reign. It’s great to be down here in Arizona with an opportunity to get to know the players in a closed setting. Excited to see what we can accomplish out here together and excited to be back in the world of soccer.”

Durocher brings a lot of experience to the table including over a decade of work in college athletics and working as Head Athletic Trainer for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. She has spent her entire career working with female athletes and particularly in women’s basketball, but her previous patient population includes a wide range of sports including soccer.

2022 OL Reign Technical Staff

Head Coach: Laura Harvey

Assistant Coach: Sam Laity

Goalkeeper Coach: Ljupco Kmetovski

Director of High Performance: Josh McAllister

Director of Rehabilitation: Ellie Somers

Head Athletic Trainer: Caroline Durocher

Associate General Manager: Santiago Gallo

Equipment Manager: Isabella Pino

Team Administrator: Kyllian Perrin

Video Analyst: Eric Rossitch

Clinical and Sports Psychologist: Mariah Bullock

Sports Dietitian: Bethany Chapman