Steve Spirk
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Steve Spirk has established himself as one of the top coaches in collegiate soccer. Under his guidance, the Quakers made their sixth straight appearance in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament in 2011.
Winning is the standard, not the exception, in Spirk’s life in soccer — both as a player and coach. As a prep star at Northmont High School in Dayton, he was a three-time All-Ohio selection. He continued his playing career at Wilmington College, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American. From 1977 to 1980, Spirk racked up numbers that have stood the test of time. His name is still atop virtually every WC statistical category, including career goals (74), career assists (43), career points (191), single-season points (57 and 54) and season goals (22 twice).
No player had a bigger role in the genesis of Wilmington College soccer than Spirk. His Wilmington squads of the late ’70s compiled a 53-15-3 (.768) record as the WC men’s team grew to national prominence.
In 1996, Spirk’s accomplishments were acknowledged by his induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame. By that time, Spirk also was making a name for himself in the coaching ranks.
Spirk took over a Wilmington team in 1992 that had suffered through back-to-back losing seasons. In 1993, Wilmington finished 17-3-0 and the 1994 team went 19-3-0 and made the school’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA National Tournament.
And the winning has continued. In 20 seasons on the Wilmington sideline, Spirk has put together a 248-116-30 record, qualified for six NCAA tournaments and advanced to the Sweet 16 three times. Getting back to the NCAA remains atop the Quakers’ set of goals.
“I love this game. I knew early I was going to remain involved with soccer,” Spirk said. “Being part of the game is important to me, and I have learned over time that every year is a fresh start. You don’t dwell on past years — you build on them. I think we have a lot to build on from last season. We made it back to the OAC Tournament, and we have a young team. The future looks good for us.”
A 1992 Wilmington College Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Spirk has earned the respect of his coaching peers, both regionally and across the nation. He was the Association of Mideast Colleges Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 and the OAC Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003. He was named the Mideast Region Coach of the Year and finalist for National Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1996.
Spirk’s teams are as good in the classroom as they are on the field. His teams have earned the Women’s Collegiate Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America 16 of the past 18 years. The Lady Quakers are epitome of student-athletes.
“When we recruit good athletes, we’re looking for the top students who also excel on the soccer field,” Spirk said. “It’s very rare that we get a player who doesn’t have the same kind of success academically as they do on the soccer pitch. It’s really something that we expect to achieve every year.”
Spirk also is WC’s director of athletic development. (Article courtesy of WC Sports Information)
Mark Rinehart
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Mark played soccer in High School where he was named MVP. He went on to play at Wilmington College and played in 3 National Championships. Mark began coaching right out of college as a High School Boys Assistant and U17 Club coach. He was Head Varsity Girls Coach at Xenia HS for 10 years where he built the program into a top 10 state team. He was named Coach of the Year multiple times for the Miami Valley area and has also been named State of Ohio Coach of the Year. Mark is currently ranked number 10 on the All-Time Most Wins OHSAA Girl’s List.
Mark also has extensive Club soccer coaching experience working with several different age groups both boys and girls. He currently is the Head Coach of the Club X United 97 Girl's Premier and the Club X Lightning 97 Boy's Premier.
Mark has worked camps for the Wright State Soccer School, Spirk Soccer School and Wilmington College camps. He holds a USSF National D License, NSCAA Youth Diploma, NSCAA High School Diploma, and is a USYSA Certified Youth Coach.
Mark is married to Melissa and they have 3 children, Evan (Club X Lightning 97), Emily (Club X United 97), and Ian (Club X Attack 04)
Jim Lamb
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Jim is the former Women's Head Coach for Xenia High School. Jim compiled a 56–14–10 record at Xenia High School. Jim was the 2004 Greater Western Ohio Conference Coach of the Year. His teams won two District titles (2003 & 2006).
Jim was Steve Spirk’s Assistant Coach at Wilmington College for 6 seasons. Jim helped guide the Lady Quakers of Wilmington to three Ohio Athletic Conference championships and participation in three NCAA III National Tournaments (three berths into the NCAA III "Sweet Sixteen”).
Jim has worked with Steve Spirk and the Spirk Soccer School for the past 10 years. Jim has helped establish and evaluate the school’s curriculum. He has led the on-field instruction for the Spirk Soccer School and greatly enjoys the school’s competitive environment.
Jim has been a coach and/or trainer for Club X Soccer teams since the club’s inception in 1997. Jim’s past teams include the Club X Strikers and the Club X Sting. Both teams were highly competitive throughout the Midwest Region. The two teams won multiple MVYSA league titles and several tournament championships including titles at the following tournaments: Creek Classic (Beavercreek, OH), Hendersonville Ladies Classic (Hendersonville, TN), Bluegrass Invitational (Lexington, KY), Louisville Cup (Louisville, KY) and River City Classic (Cincinnati, OH).
Jim holds his USSF National C License and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Patrick Higgins
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Patrick has coached soccer for 20+ years. He has coached both boys and girls select teams for Club X Soccer. He coached 11 seasons as the JV coach and varsity assistant with the Xenia High School girl's soccer program. During his 11 years he enjoyed 3 District titles, a combined record of 152-38-25, over 110 shutouts and was twice named All Dayton South Assistant Coach of the Year.
He has also coached and trained Club X teams since the club's inception in 1997. He currently coaches the boys 19U Club X Inferno and the boys 14U Club X Attack. He also trains in the summer for the Spirk Soccer School soccer camps run by Steve Spirk of Wilmington College.
Patrick is a dedicated student of the game. He currently holds his USSF National D License, NSCAA High School Diploma, NSCAA Youth Diploma, and is a USYSA Certified Youth Coach. In addition, he also holds first aid/CPR certifications. He is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, World Class Coaching, and Success in Soccer to stay abreast of the game. He watches EPL games incessantly.
His training philosophy is individual technical technique pushed to the highest speed of play possible while allowing the players to maintain decision making abilities. Patrick can frequently be seen on the field involved in the game with the players encouraging them to make their decisions and play at a higher pace.
Kevin Brown
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Kevin has been playing soccer the past 18 years of his life and was also the coach alongside Patrick Higgins for the Club X Arsenal. He has played for many club teams including the Fircrest Invaders (97-98 in WA), Warner Robin Wizards (99-00 in GA), Celtic (02-03), Dayton United (04-05) and is currently playing for Arsenal (OH) in an adult men's league in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Kevin also played for four years at Xenia High School (Div. 1) and was second team all conference his senior season. Kevin then went on to play four years (07-10) at Wilmington College (NCAA Div. 3) where he faced competition from other college and professional teams in multiple states and countries including Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, Holland, Belgium, Italy, and others. While at Wilmington College he earned 4 varsity letters for soccer, was a part of the team that won the Bob Allen Nissan Classic (2007) in Danville , Kentucky and had an assist in the tournament clinching win, and also was awarded the 2010 Wilmington College Sean Arnold Coaches Award. Along with coaching under Coach Higgins for two years, Kevin has also helped train with Wilmington College Women's soccer coach Steve Spirk at his Spirk Soccer School soccer camps. Usually one can find Kevin playing soccer, coaching soccer, watching soccer, or talking about soccer, most importantly Kevin loves soccer more than anybody else does in the entire world.
Julie Lehman
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Julie graduated from Urbana University in 2008 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Julie made the Urbana University Varsity soccer squad as a freshman and played in every game through her senior year. She was named captain as a senior and earned 2nd Team All-Conference. Julie graduated from Xenia High School in 2004. Her Xenia High School squad played in the Regional Semi-final her senior year. She played for Club X Soccer her senior year of high school. She also played three years for Team Dayton. In 2014 Julie trained and coached her first team, the CJ United U11 girls. The team's record improved from the previous year. For the last eight years Julie has been officiating at all levels from U9 girls to Semi-Pro. The past two years Julie was chosen to officiate OHSAA State Finals at the Columbus Crew Stadium. Julie loves the game and is eager to train for Club X Soccer.
Shawn Woods
Club X Soccer Staff Keeper Trainer. Please send an email for all training requests.
Shawn has been coaching for over eight years in Xenia and has spent most of his time as the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach and Goalkeeper trainer for the Xenia High School Women's Soccer Program. Shawn is a three-year veteran and is currently on staff at the Spirk Soccer School under the direction of Wilmington College Head Women's Coach, Steve Spirk. Shawn specializes in all levels of goalkeeper training from novice to elite.
Shawn holds his USSF National D License and NSCAA Goalkeeper Diploma I.
Jessica Orner
Availability varies. Please send an email for all training requests.
Jessica played soccer for 17 years including four years at Xenia High School followed by
four years at Urbana University. While at Urbana, she earned a starting spot freshman year,
appeared in every game for her four years, was named a two-time captain junior and senior
year, and received numerous athletic awards. Since her college graduation she severed one
year as a graduate assistant at Urbana, training the women’s collegiate team followed by seven
seasons of coaching JV women’s soccer at Lebanon High School. Since then she and her
husband Dustin have started their own family of two little girls (Jillian, age 3 ½ and Crosley, age
1 ½). Jessica started coaching Club X Academy last fall for the U4/U5 age group and returned
this spring with the U4’s. She currently holds a NSCAA 4v4 Diploma and is eager to start training
at all levels at Club X.