STATESBORO, Ga. – June 6, 2024 – South Georgia Tormenta FC is thrilled to announce the boy’s USL Academy coaching staff for the 2024 season. Each coach comes with a unique, wide array of experiences to provide players with a well-rounded soccer education.
Head Coach Drew DeJohn
Drew DeJohn rejoins the USL Academy coaching staff for the 2024 season as head coach, while also acting as an assistant coach and performance coach for the professional USL League One team. DeJohn has been a part of the Tormenta FC organization since 2019, serving in various roles. He holds a master’s degree in Exercise Science from Georgia Southern University. While at Georgia Southern, he worked as a research assistant within the Human Performance Laboratory, focusing his research on training load and match demands in soccer. Prior to his move to Georgia he played soccer at the collegiate level at Cortland State University in New York. He holds the USSF C-License and CSCS to further inform his coaching tactics. DeJohn works with each athlete holistically, working to develop each individual player to their highest potential on and off the pitch.
Assistant Coach Terri Chawirah
Terri Chawirah, a Johannesburg native, turned Savannah local, acts as a Tormenta FC USL Academy assistant coach for the 2024 campaign. Prior to coaching with Tormenta, Chawirah played soccer at the University of Charleston and Mars Hill University. He would then go on to play professionally at Appalachian FC, where he notably played in the U.S. Open Cup against Charlotte Independence. Chawirah is entering his sixth year of coaching and is in the process of obtaining his National D license to continue garnering more tools to use in his coaching practices.
Assistant Coach Phillip Neiland
Phillip Neiland serves as one of the assistant coaches for the 2024 USL Academy boys team. Neiland has a deep history of coaching, working as the first team Assistant Coach at Quang Nam FC and Binh Dinh FC in Vietnam, the Maldives National Team Opposition Analyst during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the Technical Advisor and Scout at Nadm Soccer Club in Ghana, Co-Head Coach at Cork Institute of Technology, First Team Assistant Coach at Douglas Hall AFC in Ireland and as the Academy Director, U15/U13 KFA League Head Coach in South Korea. The breadth of his experiences informs his coaching tactics. Neiland has the UEFA “A” License from the Scottish Football Association, UEFA “B” License from the Football Association of Ireland, United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, Barca Sport Psychology Certificate, Asia Football Confederation Fitness L2, and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
Fitness Coach Ayomikun Fajemisin
Ayomikun Fajemisin, previously the 12G Statesboro and 07B Statesboro coach, joins the boy’s USL Academy coaching staff as the fitness coach. Fajemisin played Third Division soccer for a Nigerian team and currently holds his National D license. With a rich playing and coaching history, Fajemisin ties in his lived experiences to his coaching approach. Fajemisin has worked with the Tormenta FC Academy for more than three years and continues to strengthen and inform his coaching techniques by working toward advanced coaching licenses.
Strength and Conditioning Coach, Sports Analyst Diego Castro-Diaz
USL Academy Assistant Coach Diego Castro-Diaz has worked with South Georgia Tormenta FC since 2022 and has since continued to grow and evolve alongside the club. He originates from Kings Bay, Georgia and has since integrated himself into the Statesboro community. Castro-Diaz holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology, which he uses to educate his coaching techniques and practices. He infuses his academic knowledge with his extensive coaching history to bring in unique perspectives to the game.
Goalkeeping Coach Sam Jones, Boy’s and Girl’s
Sam Jones, of Savannah, Georgia, serves as the USL Academy boy’s and girl’s goalkeeping coach and has a proven track record of dedication to South Georgia Tormenta FC. Jones himself played in the Tormenta FC Academy in his youth career before moving on to play collegiate soccer for Winthrop University. After college, Jones played on the South Georgia Tormenta FC USL League Two team and the New Jersey Copa FC League Two team. Jones found his love of coaching with Charlotte Independence before becoming the director of goalkeeping for the Tormenta FC Academy and goalkeeping coach for the Tormenta FC W League, overseeing the goalkeeping curriculum for both teams.
