Carlson is joined by Mattern, Stelling, Duval, Vinson & Thompson for third season
Greenville, SC (May 1,2024)- The Greenville Liberty Soccer Club has announced its 2024 Technical Staff ahead of its Home Opener on May 10th. The all-female coaching staff is spearheaded by long-time Head Coach and Technical Director, Julie Carlson.
Julie Carlson has been with the club since its inception in 2022 and returns for her third season. She coached the team to the USL W League Semifinals, South Atlantic Division title and a 6-0 home record in its inaugural campaign. Carlson will continue her role leading the day-to-day operations of the team and the club’s USL Academy programming. She is also a member of the Greenville Triumph Coaching Staff and USL Pro Preseason Residency Program. Carlson brings over 25 years of coaching experience in the youth, collegiate, pre-professional and professional environments.
Blakely Mattern is on board as the Assistant and Sports Performance Coach of the Greenville Liberty. Mattern has been in the industry since her playing days at the University of South Carolina. From 2015-2023, Mattern was the Co-founder and COO of 11.11 Training, a soccer development facility for aspiring college athletes. She brings years of experience competing in professional league across the world, including the Netherlands’ FC Twente, Sweden’s Mallbacken IF and the Atlanta Beat in the U.S. Prior to her professional journey, she was a 4-year starter at USC, 2-year team captain, First-team All-American (first in program history), and 2007 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Mattern’s ties with the Gamecocks remain strong, as she was inducted into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022, only the second women’s soccer player in program history.
Alison Stelling will serve as the Assistant Coach and Video Analyst for the team. This will be her third season as part of the technical staff. Stelling’s main focus is coaching the Mauldin High School Mavericks girls soccer team and teaching mathematics. This is her second year as Head Coach and seventh year on the Mauldin staff. In her first season at the helm, she was named Region 1-AAAAA Coach of the Year and holds an undefeated record of 18-0 and top-five national ranking.
Reaghan Duval is a former Liberty player and newly appointed First Assistant for women’s soccer at Robert Morris University. Duval will spend the summer as Greenville’s Goalkeeping and Assistant Coach. Prior to accepting her new role, she had a successful fall season at Lenoir-Rhyne University as the Assistant Goalkeeping Coach while pursuing her master’s degree. She was a member of the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Southeast Regional Staff of the Year. Outside of the collegiate game, Duval has coached NC Olympic Development teams and USL W League side, FC Carolinas. Before entering the coaching world, she demonstrated her savvy in the net at D’Youville University and Campbell University. Duval holds a B.S. from Campbell University and is in the process of earning her USSF “D” License.
Alex Vinson returns as the Athletic Trainer for the Greenville Liberty. Vinson has been providing athletes with recovery and preventative care since 2017 and is the owner of Greenville Athletic Training Company. In addition to helping with the first team, Vinson also assists with club clinics, the USL Academy Cup and high schools across the Upstate including Southside, Travelers Rest, Berea and Northwest Middle. Prior to starting her own practice, Vinson previously covered sports for Prisma Health and Drayer Physical Therapy. She is BOC Certified, BLS certified by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross CPR/First Aid certified and a member of the National Association for Athletic Trainers.
Lyndsey Thompson also joins the Liberty technical staff, where she will serve as the Equipment Manager. Thompson is currently pursuing a management degree from Greenville Technical College. She is a graduate of Mauldin High School and brings experience in customer service, facility and equestrian operations.
