Coaching Staff
Alan Koch | Technical Director & Head Coach
Originally from Durban (South Africa), Alan Koch has followed the beautiful game across many countries and continents and in recent times has made Western Canada his home base. Alan is entering his first year at Olé and will serve as the Academy Technical Director and Head Coach of Western Suburbs FC.
Alan will be integral in helping the academy further elevate standards, and reinforce the academy as a platform for Olé Football players to earn scholarships and professional contracts across the globe. He will be involved across the Academy, working with players from Juniors to First Team, educating coaches and overseeing Olé player placement and pathway management.
Mark Atkinson | Head of Performance Phase Coach
Mark Atkinson is a highly experienced coach and former professional player. He began coaching at the academy in 2018, after relocating from Auckland with his family. He currently coaches within the senior academy and primarily works with the G2 training group.
Mark holds an AFC/AFF B-License and boasts an impressive resume, having played against the likes of Ronaldinho and represented New Zealand at the international level. Before joining Olé, Mark spent 8 years playing at the highest level in Singapore and Australia, and even played for New Zealand’s first professional club, Football Kings FC, in the Australian National Soccer League.
Tyler Logan | Head of Foundation Phase Coach & Performance Analysis
Tyler Logan joined the Olé Football Academy coaching team in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience from various football environments in Christchurch. He holds a Bachelor of Sports Coaching, a NZF Junior Level 3 certificate, and an OFC/NZF B-License.
Tyler has a deep understanding of the training methodology and pedagogical framework at Olé FA. Tyler operates as our Head of Foundation Phase & Performance Analysis whilst also serving as the 1st Team Assistant Coach.
Paul Whitmarsh | Development Phase D17 Coach
Paul began coaching at the academy in 2023 and is an experienced coach and former player. Before embarking on his coaching journey Paul played over 20 seasons of Senior Football, including playing in the UK, with Team Wellington in the New Zealand National League, he was also part of a successful Western Suburbs team that won the Central League and the Chatham Cup.
Oliver Arrowsmith | Development Phase D15 Coach
Ollie joined Olé Football Academy as a player in 2014. He came right the way through the Olé system, from Skill Builders through to our G1 Training Group, where he played 2 seasons in the Central League for Western Suburbs.
Ollie has been working in a coaching position at Olé since 2020. As a coach of the RED Training Group, Ollie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Olé environment to the pitch.
Jarrod McKechnie | Foundation Phase D12 Coach
Jarrod has come through the Olé FA system as a player since he was 13 years old. He was part of the team that won the central league in 2019 and is familiar with how it feels to play in all the different age groups.
Jarrod has been playing at Liberty University in the U.S the last two years and has come back for a gap year. He is super enthusiastic to be back involved with the academy both as a player and a coach.
Reilly Marlow-Jones | Foundation Phase D11 Coach
Reilly joined the Olé Football Academy as a young player in 2014. He has come through the Olé FA system up until now, and currently plays with the first team. He has two seasons worth of experience in the Central Football League.
Reilly has been working in a coaching capacity position at Olé since 2022, assisting with all age groups. He bring practical knowledge to sessions as an experienced player, providing quality guidance and performance based proficiency to the pitch. He is in the process of completing his NZF junior level 3 license.
Cameron Mackenzie | Head of Strength & Conditioning/Performance & F11 Head Coach
Cameron joined Olé FA as a player in 2016, before leaving at the end of 2018 for university. After graduating in 2023 from Auckland University of Technology, Cameron has returned to Olé FA as Head of Strength and Conditioning Coach and F11 Head Coach.
Cameron is passionate about ensuring the senior players are optimally conditioned on and off the field to reduce the risk of injuries, while also improving the athletic capabilities that are required to play football.
Olé Wānaka Staff
Blair Scoullar | Head Trainer & Operations
Blair has been collaborating with Olé in and around their academy since 2020. He recently came on board full-time after successfully planning and launching the Olé x Wanaka AFC Academy. Originally from Dunedin, Blair and his family have been residents of Central Otago for 15 years, and he is now based in Wānaka.
As a FIFA/NZF C-license Level Coach, Blair leads the Wānaka Academy as Head Trainer while also overseeing operations & communications. He is a former professional player who has played in Northern Ireland, Germany, and the United States, and also had brief stints in Sweden and Australia.
Olé Football Academy Staff
Mike Wilson | General Manager
Growing up in Porirua, Mike has had a solid football background over the course of his life. Starting out early in his chosen career path and playing for Western Suburbs for his Junior and Senior years, Mike has been instrumental to the football community at large and for his country of New Zealand.
While excelling in his personal and team performances as a youth and young man, Mike now oversees the Olé Football Academy as General Manager, directing the academy’s operations and administration with over 180 players annually, since 2010.
He was an integral player for the Central League’s winning squads in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s and played with the U17 and U20 secondary school teams of New Zealand. He also played for New Zealand’s national team from 2003 – 2006.
Amy Koch | Director of Operations, Media Manager
Having lived in Vancouver for the majority of her life, Amy Koch has spent the better part of her career in the meetings and conventions industry.
Over the last few years, she has worked with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as Chief Invigilator and the Ontario Tribunals in Canada. Prior to that, for just over the better part of a decade, Amy worked at the award winning double platinum LEED certified Vancouver Convention Centre in the Sales and Marketing department. She collaborated with global fortune 500 companies in bringing their meetings and conferences to the beautiful city of Vancouver. She was also part of the 2010 Winter Olympic community at the VCC which was the international media headquarters.
She is married to Alan and they share two lovely daughters, Paris and Aurora, who live in Cork, Ireland and Toronto, Canada respectively.
Olé Staff News
The Olé Football Academy in New Zealand is excited to open up applications for an on-site medical coordinator position...
Are you passionate about food and interested in joining a dynamic team? Olé Football Academy is seeking an enthusiastic...
Olé Football Academy Welcomes Alan Koch as Technical Director in 2023 We are pleased to announce that Alan Koch...
Olé Football Academy’s South Island Hub is Expanding In 2021 Olé Football Academy partnered with Wānaka AFC to create...
