Kos Donev

Head Coach/Camp Director

Kos Donev begins his 29th season atop the Florida Atlantic mens soccer program, surpassing 200 wins in the 2013-14 season.

In 2007, Donev had arguably his best year as a coach, leading the Owls to a 6-0-1 Atlantic Soccer Conference mark and the programs second regular season and first tournament title.

Donev came to FAU as a student-athlete in 1985. He soon made the transition from player to coach and has been instrumental in the evolution of the FAU soccer program. He has witnessed and been an integral part of the move from NAIA to NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I, the addition of womens soccer, the construction of five on-campus lighted soccer fields, and the transition from four conference realignments

Named the fourth coach since the programs inception in 1980, Donev holds the record for most matches coached (485) and most coaching victories (205). Donev was named the 1989 Florida College Mens Soccer Coach of the Year by the Florida Intercollegiate Soccer Coaches Association just four seasons after he entered the profession as a student-coach at FAU in 1986. Following the 1986 season, Donev was elevated to interim coach and in 1987 he assumed the position on a full-time basis.

After taking the helm, Donev quickly guided the Owls to their first NCAA Division II ranking (1989). FAU returned to the polls in 1991 with a No. 9 national ranking and were again ranked in 1992 at No. 7. Donev has had 44 all-conference players and led 10 of his squads to an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.

In 1997 and 1998 Donev guided the Owls to conference tournament semifinal appearances. The 1999 team managed two shutouts in the tournament before falling in the championship game. After making six straight appearances in the conference tournament, the Owls missed postseason play in 2002. However, Donevs 2003 squad returned to conference tournament and reached the championship game before falling to UCF 3-1.Donev finally broke through in 2004, guiding FAU to the first regular season conference championship in program history.

A one-year stint in the Atlantic Soccer Conference during the 2007 season proved fruitful as the Owls won their second regular season conference title and first conference tournament title. The championship game against Longwood was a nail-biter as the game was tied 1-1 going into a five-shot shootout. FAU was able to win the shootout, in part due to a key save by the goalkeeper. Donev then faced the challenges of bringing the Owls into the highly competitive Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2008. That year the Owls qualified for the first round of the MAC Tournament. In 2013, Donev led the team through their first season as a member of Conference-USA finishing 7-7-2.

As part of the universitys move to Division I, FAU added womens soccer in 1991. Donev was instrumental in both adding the team and developing the womens team to a nationally-ranked contender. That year also marked the first season FAU played its matches on campus with the addition of two lighted fields, which Donev helped plan and design. With Donev again overseeing construction, two more fields were added for the 1996 season. A fifth field was completed in 1999 which serves as the current home for FAUs mens and womens soccer games.

An outstanding collegiate player, Donev was a three-time letter winner at Flagler College, where he earned NAIA All-District 25 honors as a midfielder. He then transferred to FAU in 1985 to finish his collegiate playing career.

The 1987 FAU graduate was born in present day Macedonia (part of the former Yugoslavia), where he lived until moving to Ft. Lauderdale in 1975 (age 13). He was a prep standout at South Plantation High School in Ft. Lauderdale.

Giovanni Dela Rosa

Assistant Coach

Giovanni dela Rosa returned to his alma mater as the as the mens soccer assistant coach in January of 2013.

Originally from Colombia, dela Rosa spent three years on the varsity team at Miami Spring Senior High School, where he served as team captain during his senior year. He went on to play for two years at Miami-Dade Community College before joining the Owls from 1989 to 1991. In his first year playing for FAU, dela Rosa made the NSCAA All-South Region Team and competed in the FISAA All-Star Game.

He led FAU to its first-ever NCAA Division II rankings, No. 15 in 1989 and in 1991 the team held a No.9 national ranking.

Since his time playing for FAU, dela Rosa has coached players who have qualified for state and regional teams, as well as three players who made national pool teams. More than120 players coached by dela Rosa have received college soccer scholarships and six former players have won college national championships.

His career includes coaching jobs with Miami Jackson High Schools varsity soccer team, Miami Shores Girls U-16 and U-17 teams, and the Margate Shasta Blitz where he served as a coach and as Director of Coaches.

With an educational background from the United States Soccer Federation and National Soccer Coaches Association of Americas, dela Rosa will assist Donev in the growth and enrichment of FAUs soccer team as it trains for the 2013 season.

Jason Versage

Instructor

Jason Versage, began his soccer career playing for Spanish River High School here in Boca Raton where he led the Sharks to a State Championship in 1997. He was selected as an All Area player in both 1997 and 1998. Jason began his coaching career with the St. Andrews High School girls team in 2001 and led the Scots to a District and Regional Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was chosen as Coach of the Year in 2002.

Jason presently serves as one of our Boys Staff Trainers and will be coaching our Boys U18 White team. Coach Jason led our U14 Boys two years ago to the Regional Division State Directors Cup Championship and was the National Directors Cup Finalist.

Jason also served as the Head Boys Coach at Boca Raton High School, where he led the Bobcats to the 2004 District Championship. Jason holds a USSF National Coaching license.

Moishe Aquart

Instructor

Originally from Jamaica, played travel in United States with P.A.L and Western Programs. Competed in Junior Olympic Programs in the U.S. Also played high school soccer at Hillel Academy and at Prior Preparatory School in Jamaica. Enlisted in Jamaica Defense Force and then returned to play in Goald Coast League in South Florida, Moishe is currently a physical education teacher at the Hillel Day School located in Boca Raton Fl and director of “Sunday Soccer” at H.D.S.

Additionalk coaches will be added as needed which are part of the FAU Soccer Staff and other college coaches will take part in Advanced Trianing Academy for the high school group.

Fernando Yanez

Coach

Coach Fernando Yanez known as “Coach Ferny” has been working with kids in the community since 1990 when he came to play soccer for the FAU Owls! He is currently a coach at Team Boca & SABR and has been involved in the club since 2001. Coach Ferny also returned this year (2015/2016) as the Boys Varsity Head Coach for St. Jhon Paul II High School. He served as Head Boys Varsity Soccer Coach at American Heritage Boca/Delray from 2002-2005, being named Palm Beach County Coach of the Year in 2004 & 2005 and directing the team to the State Class 2A Semi-Finals in 2005 and the State Class 2A Finals in 2004. His tenure at American Heritage also included 3 District Championships and 2 Regional Championships.

Coach Ferny played college ball at both Coastal Carolina (1989) and FAU (1990-92) and played one year in the USISL in 1993.

Currently Ferny is a Physical Education Specialist at the Nadel Center for Early Childhood Education in Boca Raton and owner of Sports United Academy in Boca Raton. He also can be found during the summer serving as a camp co-director for FAUs “Goal to Goal” Summer Soccer Camps.He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Coach Ferny holds a USSF coaching license.

Alex Teixeira

Coach

Education

George Mason University – Fairfax VA – BA Advertising

Coaching Licenses & Certifications

Brazilian Soccer Federation A License
USSF B National License (Also holds the USSF C and D Licenses)
USSF National Youth License
Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football = Soccer) Beach Soccer Professional License
PCA (Positive Coaching Alliance) – Certification
Concussion in Sports – Certification

Ethan Cornelio

Travel Team Coach at Boca United FC

E & D Coaching Licenses