Our Staff
Experience. Passion. Purpose.
Backgrounds That Run Deep
The Own Touch staff brings together professional playing experience, collegiate coaching, youth development, mentorship, and diverse soccer backgrounds.
While each coach brings a different perspective to the training environment, our staff shares the same commitment: creating purposeful, challenging, and positive experiences that help every participant continue developing their game.
Greg Simmonds
Greg Simmonds brings an extensive playing and coaching background to Own Touch. A former All-American at Sherwood High School, Greg continued his career at Howard University, where he remains one of the program's most accomplished goal scorers.
His professional career included time with the Hershey Wildcats, D.C. United, Miami Fusion, Rochester Rhinos, Richmond Kickers, Charleston Battery, Virginia Beach Mariners, and Puerto Rico Islanders. Over the course of his professional career, Greg recorded 75 goals and 37 assists and earned multiple individual honors, including USL Rookie of the Year and team MVP awards.
Greg also represented Jamaica at the youth and senior national-team levels.
Following his playing career, Greg transitioned into player development, founding soccer and futsal programs before becoming Co-Founder and President of both Own Touch Soccer and FutsalRVA. He holds a U.S. Soccer National A License and has spent years helping build development environments that have produced collegiate, professional, academy, and national-team players.
At Own Touch, Greg continues to shape the organization's long-term vision while remaining deeply connected to player development and the culture of the program.
Carlos Pedraza
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Carlos Pedraza brings more than a decade of experience in youth development, methodology design, and high-performance soccer environments.
Before joining Own Touch, Carlos spent seven years at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, working within the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA), widely recognized as one of the country's leading environments for elite player development. During his time there, he worked with players who later progressed to NCAA Division I, MLS, USL, and professional leagues in Europe.
Carlos was also part of the SIMA Águilas staff that won the USL League Two Southeast Conference and reached the national semifinals.
He created the SIMA Individual Position Optimization program and later directed the SIMA Pre-Academy, where he helped implement a holistic player-development model. He also worked within the Orlando City development environment, contributing in coaching, talent identification, video analysis, and individualized development planning.
At Own Touch, Carlos oversees sporting direction, methodology, curriculum development, and training structure. His approach emphasizes purposeful repetition, technical detail, progressive challenges, individualized feedback, and the connection between technique and real-game application.
Carlos also serves as an Assistant Coach with VCU Men's Soccer at the NCAA Division I level, where he is involved in training design, tactical preparation, recruiting, and player performance.
His goal is to create training environments where players develop with clarity, consistency, confidence, and purpose.
Peter Pearson
Originally from Virginia Beach, Peter Pearson brings professional playing experience, leadership, mentorship, and a strong understanding of athlete development to his role at Own Touch.
Peter began his collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he was part of a National Championship team, before completing his college career at VCU. At VCU, he served as a team captain and helped the program win a regular-season conference title.
He went on to play professionally for six years in the United States and Germany, representing clubs including South Georgia Tormenta FC, Oakland Roots, North Carolina FC, Greenville Triumph, and TuS Ennepetal. Internationally, Peter represented the Saint Lucia National Team in World Cup Qualifying, Nations League competition, and the Gold Cup.
At Own Touch, Peter helps translate the organization's methodology into the training environment. His coaching emphasizes decision-making, spatial awareness, movement, confidence, and the ability to understand not only how to execute an action, but when and why to use it.
Peter also leads the Own Touch Soccer / FutsalRVA Leadership & Mindset Program, where his background in Sociology, mentorship, and community work supports athletes in areas such as confidence, resilience, leadership, communication, and personal growth.
His approach centers on developing the person behind the athlete and helping players become more confident, accountable, and prepared for the challenges they face both on and off the field.
Kodie Tannor
Kodie is from Midlothian, Virginia, and soccer has played an important role in shaping both his personal development and his approach to coaching.
As a player, Kodie developed at Richmond United Academy before continuing his career at Randolph-Macon College, where he was a four-year starter. He also brings six years of coaching experience, working with players ranging from five years old to the professional level.
Kodie is passionate about helping players understand the details that can elevate their game. His coaching emphasizes technique, spatial awareness, decision-making, and the courage to want the ball and solve problems under pressure.
His style is demanding but caring. He brings energy, toughness, passion, and high standards to every session while creating an environment where players feel supported, challenged, and motivated to improve.
Micaiah Agyei
Born in Italy with Ghanaian roots, Micaiah Agyei grew up with soccer as an important part of his identity. Being connected to two cultures with a strong passion for the game shaped the way he sees soccer — not only as a sport, but as a way to connect, communicate, and express yourself.
Micaiah played NCAA Division II soccer at Virginia State University and has continued building his experience through coaching and training young players. His approach emphasizes strong technical foundations, creativity, confidence, and individual growth.
As a coach, Micaiah values being a positive role model and helping players discover ways to express themselves through the game. He encourages athletes to strengthen their mentality, work with purpose, and continue challenging what they believe they are capable of.
His coaching style is patient, calm, and detail-oriented. Micaiah brings creativity and a strong focus on technical detail while creating an environment where players feel supported, challenged, and confident enough to keep growing.
Immanuel "Manny" Akpeme
Immanuel, better known as Manny, grew up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to Nigerian parents before moving to the United States at age 17 to continue his education and pursue soccer at a higher level.
He became a five-year student-athlete at Barton College at the NCAA Division II level before spending time in Germany with FC Oberneuland in the Oberliga.
Manny's passion for coaching is deeply connected to his own journey. Growing up without many of the soccer resources available to young players today has shaped his desire to help others maximize their opportunities and potential.
His coaching style is detailed, demanding, and individualized. Manny encourages players to problem-solve, think for themselves, and understand that mistakes are an important part of development.
Beyond technical ability and soccer IQ, he places a strong emphasis on developing resilience, effort, and what he calls a "warrior mentality" — preparing players to face challenges both on and off the field.
Pierce Boerner
Pierce is from Midlothian, Virginia, and grew up as a two-sport athlete in soccer and basketball. Competing in both sports helped shape his adaptability, movement awareness, and approach to player development.
His soccer background includes FC Richmond, James River High School, and Hampden-Sydney College, along with experience at the NPSL, UPSL, USL League Two, and Pro23 levels with Grove Soccer United, FC Richmond, and Charlottesville Blues.
Pierce values the selfless side of coaching and takes pride in helping players improve through consistent work and support.
His approach emphasizes the connection between the mental and physical sides of performance, helping players understand the importance of decision-making, adaptability, persistence, and purposeful repetition.
Pierce's coaching style is patient, focused, and persistent. He aims to create an environment where players can remain composed, think clearly, and continue challenging themselves to improve.
Zack Koenig
Zack Koenig is from Richmond, Virginia, and has been involved in soccer from a young age. Growing up in the local soccer community helped shape his work ethic, competitive mindset, and passion for the game.
As a player, Zack developed with Richmond Strikers, Richmond Kickers, and Richmond United before continuing his career at the University of Lynchburg.
Zack enjoys seeing players improve over time and, just as importantly, watching them grow in confidence. His coaching focuses on helping players build strong technical foundations, become more comfortable on the ball, and develop the ability to make decisions for themselves.
His coaching style is energetic, positive, and demanding of effort. Zack brings a strong work ethic to every session and aims to create an environment where players are challenged, supported, and motivated to keep improving.
Kofi Riddick
Kofi Riddick was born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Richmond, Virginia. With Belizean and Honduran roots, soccer has been a constant part of his life and identity. Spending time living in Central America also helped shape his perspective on the game and deepen his appreciation for the culture surrounding it.
As a player, Kofi competed for four years with Richmond Kickers Elite during high school. He is also continuing his coaching education and is currently working toward his U.S. Soccer 7v7 Grassroots License.
Kofi is passionate about helping young players enjoy the game while continuing to improve. For him, development should never come at the expense of the joy and self-expression that brought players to soccer in the first place.
His coaching style is passionate, patient, and individualized. Kofi works to meet players where they are, encourage them to challenge their limits, and create an environment where they can grow with confidence while maintaining their love for the game.
Sally Fotovat
Originally from England, Sally Fotovat moved to the United States in 2000 after earning a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Her professional background includes more than 20 years of experience across early childhood education, office management, customer service, and organizational support.
As General Manager, Sally oversees many of the administrative and operational responsibilities that keep Own Touch running effectively. She works closely with the leadership team on scheduling, communication, organization, planning, and day-to-day operations.
Sally also serves as an important connection between Own Touch and its families, helping parents and participants navigate programs, schedules, and the overall Own Touch experience.
Her organization, communication, and understanding of young people and families play an important role in creating the welcoming and supportive environment Own Touch strives to provide.
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