Technical Staff Update

Experienced Leadership Returns as Liberty Prepares for New Season

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Greenville, SC (March 14, 2025) – The Greenville Liberty Soccer Club has revealed its 2025 Technical Staff in anticipation of the Home Opener on May 14th.

Julie Carlson, Head Coach & Technical Director – Entering her fourth season, Carlson has guided the Liberty to a USL W League Semifinals appearance, a South Atlantic Division title, and a perfect 6-0 home record in the club’s inaugural campaign. She continues to lead day-to-day operations and the new U20 Girls USL Academy League squad. With over 25 years of coaching experience across youth, collegiate, pre-professional, and professional levels, Carlson remains a cornerstone of the club’s development.

Blakely Mattern, Assistant & Sports Performance Coach – Entering her fourth season in this role, a former professional player with FC Twente Netherlands, Mallbacken IF Sweden, and Atlanta Beat USA, Mattern brings years of experience in elite player development. A University of South Carolina Hall of Fame inductee, she was the program’s first-ever First-Team All-American and a two-time team captain. She previously co-founded 11.11 Training, a soccer development facility for aspiring college athletes.

Joise Rix, Player Development & USLW Talent ID Coordinator – Josie Rix joins the Greenville Liberty technical staff ahead of the 2025 season. Rix began her third year as an assistant coach at the University of Florida in the fall 2024. Before joining the Gators, she spent four seasons as associate head coach at Samford University, where she helped lead the Bulldogs to Southern Conference championships every year she was on staff (2018, 2019, spring 2021, and fall 2021). Under her guidance, Samford also captured the Southern Conference Tournament titles in 2019 and fall 2021, earning NCAA Tournament berths both years. As a Player Rix played 40 matches for the University of Alabama from 2009-2012, helping the team reach its first NCAA Tournament since 1998. She was named to the 2011 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and 2012 SEC Community Service Team. After graduating, she played semi-professionally for the Knoxville Lady Force. Rix was inducted into the Girls Preparatory School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.

Steven Diaz, Goalkeeper Coach – Diaz joins the Liberty SC from Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League, where he specialized in goalkeeper development and tactical training. His coaching career includes goalkeeper coach roles with the New York Cosmos and assistant/goalkeeper coach at Briarcliffe College (2011-14). As a player, he competed for Briarcliffe College (2008-09), Cortulua Professional Soccer Team (2010), FC New York (2011), Real Murcia (2013), and the New York Cosmos (2014-18).

Alison Stelling, Assistant Coach & Video Analyst – Returning for her fourth season, Stelling balances her role with coaching the Mauldin High School girls’ soccer team, where she was named Region 1-AAAAA Coach of the Year in her first season as head coach. She holds an undefeated 34-5-2 record and a top five national ranking with Mauldin, they currently have a 4-2 record for the 2025 season.

Jenna Tomlinson, Athletic Trainer – Tomlinson joins the Greenville Liberty as a member of Prisma Health where she will be providing coverage for the Greenville Liberty Women’s soccer team and Presbyterian College Women’s soccer team. after working at Flagler College and East Carolina University, specializing in athlete care, performance, and injury prevention.

Lyndsey Thompson, Equipment Manager – Returning for her second season, Thompson is currently pursuing a management degree from Greenville Technical College. Thompson brings valuable experience in customer service, facility operations, and equestrian management.

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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 10^th. 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.