Tormenta FC Academy is proud to announce the coaching staff that will lead the club’s National 1 (N1) teams during the league’s inaugural 2026-27 season. The experienced group of coaches brings decades of collegiate, professional, and youth coaching experience as the Academy continues to strengthen its player pathway and commitment to elite player development.
Mark McKeever and Terri Chawirah will lead the Academy’s boys National 1 teams, while Martyn Blankley and Jason Bouchea will guide the girls program.
Boys National 1 Coaches
Mark McKeever
McKeever enters his first season leading Tormenta FC Academy’s National 1 boys program after serving as Head Coach of South Georgia Tormenta FC during the club’s 2025 professional campaign.
After joining Tormenta FC as an assistant coach in August 2025, McKeever was named interim head coach before leading the club to one of the most successful stretches in its professional history. Under his leadership, Tormenta finished the regular season on a nine-match unbeaten run, earned the club’s second-ever USL League One playoff appearance, and posted a 13-11-6 record with 45 points, the most regular-season victories in club history.
McKeever brings nearly two decades of coaching experience, beginning his collegiate coaching career at NCAA Division II Young Harris College in 2006 before serving as head coach of USL League Two clubs Mississippi Brilla FC and Des Moines Menace. A proven winner throughout his career, he guided Des Moines to a USL League Two division championship and multiple postseason appearances before helping establish One Knoxville SC as one of USL League One’s top contenders. His track record of building winning cultures and developing players makes him a strong leader for Tormenta FC Academy’s National 1 program.
Terri Chawirah
Chawirah returns for another season after leading Tormenta FC’s USL Academy program in both 2025 and 2026, following his role as assistant coach during the 2024 campaign. In addition to USL Academy, Chawirah also led Tormenta FC Academy’s U17 and U19 MLS Next teams, guiding the U19 squad to qualification for the MLS NEXT Cup.
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Chawirah played collegiately at the University of Charleston and Mars Hill University before continuing his career professionally with Appalachian FC, where he competed in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Charlotte Independence.
Now entering his eighth year of coaching, Chawirah continues to develop players through a player-centered approach and holds a U.S. Soccer National C Coaching License.
Girls National 1 Coaches
Martyn Blankley
Blankley will lead the girls National 1 program while continuing to serve as Tormenta FC Academy’s Girls Select Director and College Recruitment Coordinator, reinforcing the club’s commitment to elevating the girls pathway and positioning Tormenta FC as a premier destination for elite female player development.
With more than 20 years of coaching experience, including nine years in NAIA men’s soccer and 11 years at the NCAA Division I women’s level, Blankley has helped build nationally competitive programs while mentoring student-athletes on and off the field.
Throughout his career, he has coached championship-winning teams and guided numerous players toward collegiate and professional opportunities. His background in recruiting and talent identification continues to strengthen exposure and advancement opportunities for Tormenta FC Academy athletes.
Blankley holds a U.S. Soccer C License and is currently pursuing his UEFA B License. His coaching philosophy emphasizes technical excellence, game understanding, confidence, leadership, and long-term player development.
Jason Bouchea
Bouchea brings 17 years of coaching experience and has played a key role in the growth of Tormenta FC’s girls pathway.
After serving as an assistant coach for the Academy’s USL Academy girls program in 2023 and 2024, Bouchea became head coach in 2025. He also spent four seasons as an assistant coach with South Georgia Tormenta FC’s USL W League team, helping guide the club to its first-ever league championship in 2022.
Bouchea currently holds a U.S. Soccer B License and remains committed to providing players with a challenging, development-focused environment that prepares them for the next level.
About National 1
Tormenta FC Academy was accepted into the National 1 League (N1) for the 2026–27 season, with five boys and girls teams set to compete in the Southeast District 1 Conference.
National 1 is a new competition formed through a partnership between US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, bringing together top clubs from across the country into a unified team-based league focused on player development, meaningful competition, and long-term growth.
For Tormenta FC Academy, the move to National 1 strengthens the club’s player pathway while positioning the program in a league that offers opportunities to advance to the ECNL Regional League and aligns with the evolving U.S. Soccer Talent ID model.
The National 1 League was created to simplify the youth soccer landscape by consolidating leading competitions into a single structure that provides families with greater clarity and reduces unnecessary travel. The league also offers players increased visibility through stronger regional competition and expanded opportunities to be identified by college coaches.
Tormenta FC Academy National 1 Teams
Boys
- Tormenta FC B08/09 Ibis I GA (U19)
- Tormenta FC B09/10 Ibis I GA (U17)
- Tormenta FC B10/11 Ibis I GA (U16)
Girls
- Tormenta FC G08/09 Ibis I GA (U19)
- Tormenta FC G12/13 Ibis I GA (U14)
Looking Ahead to the 2026–27 Season
The inaugural National 1 season kicks off in August, with Tormenta FC Academy’s teams competing throughout the Southeast while continuing to benefit from a comprehensive player development and college recruitment pathway.
As part of the Academy’s commitment to maximizing collegiate exposure, the club will participate in several premier recruiting events throughout the season, including the Dick’s Sporting Goods Charlotte Invitational & Showcase, NCFC College Showcase, Disney Girls Soccer Showcase, and Charlotte Independence College Showcase. In addition, Tormenta FC Academy is actively coordinating exhibition matches and showcase opportunities for our U19 Boys and Girls teams against local collegiate programs, providing players with valuable opportunities to compete in front of college coaches and continue their development in a high-level environment.
In addition to its showcase schedule, Tormenta FC Academy hosts annual Boys and Girls College ID Camps, providing players with the opportunity to train and compete in front of college coaches from across the Southeast while showcasing the area’s top local talent
Through elite competition, meaningful showcase opportunities, and direct connections with collegiate programs, Tormenta FC Academy remains committed to providing players throughout Southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry with a professional development environment and a clear pathway to compete at the highest levels of the game.
To learn more about the National 1 League, visit national1league.org. For more information about Tormenta FC Academy and its programs, visit tormentafc.com/academy.
