Up2Us Training Team
MEET THE TEAM
Up2Us Sports believes that a coach is a transformable figure in a young person's life and that everyone can develop the coach within themselves. With these core values in mind, Up2Us Sports training sessions are designed to teach strategies and techniques to use in real-time with fellow coaches, sports programming, and their community.
Up2Us Sports training sessions are led by our team of youth development experts who use research, data, and best practices, to develop and deliver engaging sessions that teach, example, and practice foundational topics in sports-based youth development.
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National Trainer
Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Marysol Flores is a Training Manager with Up2Us Sports where she is dedicated to developing the skills of coaches across the Los Angeles region, and the country, to make a difference in the lives of young people. Marysol served with AmeriCorps as an Up2Us Coach at local youth programs in South Central and East LA and has worked in youth development for the past four years. She is currently in the process of completing a Masters degree in Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, where she is studying the intersection of sports, peacebuilding, and community healing. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Lesley University, where she also played for their women's soccer team.
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National Director, Training
Resides: Miami, FL
Thomas has served as part of the training team at Up2Us Sports in the Southeast region since 2014. Before joining the team at Up2Us Sports he worked with the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins community outreach departments. Along with his work at Up2Us Sports, he has coached high school baseball for the last 7 years at McArthur High School and Cooper City High School in South Florida.
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National Trainer
Resides: Baltimore, MD
Samantha’s strong belief that coaches play a pivotal role in child development led her to join the Up2Us Sports team as a Training Manager in May 2022. Samantha attended the University of Maryland where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and her Master’s in Public Health. During her time at Maryland she worked as a manager for the women’s basketball team where she assisted with daily operations, player development, and recruitment efforts. Samantha has coached youth sports for several years, and currently coaches field hockey and basketball at Richard Montgomery HS in Rockville, Maryland.
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Training Manager
Resides: Rochester, NY
A proud Rochester, NY native, Alannah attributes most of her successes to her ability to play sports as a kid alongside thoughtful, supportive coaches. She graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst in 2021 with a degree in Sport Management and has since founded her own 501c3, Rising Phoenix Sports Program, which provides sports programs for girls+ in juvenile detention centers. Alannah worked on impact-generating research projects with UMass Amherst's Laboratory for Diversity and Inclusion in Sport and is a proud volunteer firefighter. Above all, Alannah is dedicated to advancing opportunities for women and girls in male-dominated spaces, as well as supporting coaches in the sports-based youth development space.
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Training Manager
Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Bio coming soon.
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Training Manager
Resides: New Orleans, LA
Sean brings over twenty years of experience in working with local youth through coaching, summer, and enrichment programming. A lifelong New Orleanian, Sean earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from Tulane University and a Master's of Science in Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans following four high school years at Brother Martin High School. Prior to joining Up2Us Sports, Sean served as the Physical Education teacher, Athletics Director, and Middle School Science and Math teacher at St. Stephen Catholic School. In addition to this role, Sean spent years with Partnership for Youth Development, Firstline Schools, Playworks New Orleans, and Jefferson Parish Recreation Department in various youth development coordinator and management positions. Through these experiences, Sean aims to provide New Orleans youth with safe and healthy opportunities to have fun and gain positive experiences through games, sport, and other enrichment activities. And while he loves staying busy in these roles, he also can be found enjoying New Orleans festivities, catching up on TV & movies, crafting, cooking, and when there's time, playing some video games!