Paco Saavedra - Director of Coaching
Coach Paco has held many positions in the Hawaii soccer arena since 1997. In the Summer of 2005 he began teaching the Summer Soccer Sessions at Le Jardin Academy where he is now the boys and girls soccer team Head Coach and Director of The Le Jardin Soccer Academy.
Coach Paco's Professional experience includes stints as a midfielder with the Hawaii Tsunami's (USISL) as well as multiple Division 1A clubs in Mexico. Coach Paco possesses a National Diploma and a "C" coaching license.
Lawrence Smalls - Head Coach
Coach Lawrence joined Le Jardin Soccer Academy in January 2008 and brings experience from professional and top collegiate levels. Smalls was the first ever player from UC Irvine to be drafted into the MLS by the LA Galaxy in 2002, where his first professional match was played against the Korean National Team in a friendly. Smalls ended his professional career in 2006 where he played reserve matches for the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. Smalls also coached four seasons at his alma mater UC Irvine, where they reached their highest NCAA division 1 national ranking ever at 7th in 2006. Coach Lawrence possesses a National "D" coaching license.
Shannon Pelkey - Head Coach
Coach Shannon moved to Hawaii in 2007 and began coaching with Le Jardin Soccer Academy in 2008. Her coaching experience includes camps, multiple high school teams, and youth teams of a variety of ages.
She played college (NAIA-I) soccer at The University of Puget Sound and obtained a degree from Seattle Pacific University in Exercise Science. She is a National Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a USA Olympic Weightlifting Coach. She possesses a National "D" coaching license.
Theresa Greaney - Assistant Coach
Coach Theresa began playing soccer with Kailua AYSO in high school and volunteered to play goalie from day one based on her prior training on the basketball court. She went on to play goalie for Punahou School and Stanford University. She has coached many Kailua AYSO teams and has been assisting with LJSA teams since 2005.
Don Mangiarelli - Assistant Coach
Coach Don grew up playing American football and baseball where he learned about being competitive and playing as a member of a team. Through the years he became interested in soccer (The Beautiful Game) and learned the intricacies and strategies from the likes of Coach George Kuntz and Coach Paco Saavedra. Don moved to Hawaii in 1991 and began playing soccer at the tender age of 42. He is an avid fan of the game and enjoys working with the kids and seeing them grow in their soccer knowledge. He began assisting with the club in 2006. Coach Don possesses an "E" coaching license.
Toni Green - Assistant Coach
Coach Toni began assisting with the LJSA program during the summer of 2005. Prior to that she coached youth teams in Hawaii and California. Toni played NCAA soccer at UC San Diego, was an All American, the MVP-defense of the NCAA National Tournament, and a NCAA Women's Soccer National Champion in 1989.