Rob Andrews is originally from Cary, NC. Since finishing his college playing career, he has coached at Appalachian State University, High Point University, North Carolina’s ODP Program, and is an adjunct staff member of the New York Red Bulls Youth Academy. He has also been the Director of Goalkeeping for HCSA in Boone, NC and PTFC in High Point, NC. He also acted as the Director of Coaching for the Challenge Division at Capital Area Soccer League in Raleigh, NC from 2008-2011.

Professionally, Rob assisted the Carolina Railhawks during the 2006-2007 seasons.

In addition to his Advanced National Diploma, Rob holds the Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA; the highest goalkeeper badge currently available in the US.

Contact: rob@sporthq.org

Professionally, Geoff holds and maintains certifications with the NSCA, Titleist Performance Institute, Bionetics, New Leaf Metabolics, IFTA, and American Red Cross.

Contact: geoff@hqperformance.com

Tia, originally from Missouri, graduated with honors from Columbia College with a BS in Business Administration with a double major in marketing and management. She completed her internship at University of California San Diego in the fitness department while working with athletes, students and staff. She later continued her education and received her Masters in Business Administration.

Tia has been a certified trainer and group exercise instructor for over a decade and holds a number of fitness certifications including ACE CPT, AFAA CPT, TRX Specialist, Spin, Krankcyle and Yoga certified – just to mention a few. She also works for AFAA as an examiner to certify new trainers and instructors in the fitness industry.

Professionally, she has held the roles of Fitness Director, Marketing and Sales Director, General Manager and President of various gyms across the country. She is excited to work with elite staff and athletes of HQ Performance.

Contact: tia@sporthq.org

Gretchen Zigante, as a player, won a DI national championship with UNC-Chapel Hill in 1986 and played for the US Women’s National Team from 1986-1990. She was honored in 2007 by the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a “Pioneer in the Sport of Women’s Soccer”, for her participation with the early years of the US Women’s National Team programs, and was the first American woman to play professional soccer, doing so in the Japan Ladies Soccer League for Fujita Tendai Mercury from 1991-1994.

Turning to coaching full time in 1994, Zigante earned and US Soccer “A” License and has coached collegiately at CSU-San Bernardino DII where she was Conference Coach of the Year in 1995, San Diego State University DI, then ranked eighth nationally and producing the starting goalkeeper for the Mexican Women’s National Team, and Cornell University DI, where she both assisted and head coached in the Ivy Program for five years. The Cornell goalkeeper went on to play in the Italian Serie “A” in 2004-2007.

Zigante has also worked extensively with premier club, state, regional, and national ODP, and assisted with the professional team, Shiroki FC, in the Japan Ladies League in 1994.With club and regional teams, Zigante has developed many players to college ranks at all levels, regional and national teams, and even professional opportunities for women.

Prior to joining Apex Soccer, Zigante was the Director of Coaching for TC United Premier Soccer Club, a developmentally oriented club model for the small town of Ithaca, in Central New York; and in just it’s fourth year; 80% of the club’s senior class is now playing collegiate soccer at D1,2,and3 levels.

Zigante specializes in goalkeeper training and IT.

Contact: gretchen@apexsoccer.com

Nenad “Ziggy” Zigante, a native Croatian citizen, was a professional player in Former Yugoslavia, Austria, England, and the United States. Professional teams included Dinamo Zagreb, Plamen Grahorova (futsal), FC Kapfenburg, FC Corinthinans, Wichita Wings, and the San Diego Sockers.

Zigante obtained a university degree as a “Sport Specialist – Soccer”, as well as a degree in Economics, from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, in 1986. He holds a US Soccer national “C” License, and a National Level 7 Referee grade.

Since leaving full professional play in 1990, and turning towards coaching full time, Ziggy has worked with premier club, ODP, college, regional , national, and professional teams and players, including assisting with the US National team, the MLS San Jose Clash, San Diego Sockers, Cornell University and many others. He has served as a national director for Soccer Plus Goalkeeping Camps for over 22 years.

Over the past several decades, Zigante has developed players to premier levels, collegiate rosters, regional and national teams and professional teams both in the US and abroad.

One of his recent students, Joe Cannon, currently plays for the San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS and is rostered with the US Men’s National Team.

Andres earned a Graduate Degree in Physical Education and Sport in Madrid Spain.  He is currently the only futsal coach in the world who is dual UEFA certified as a Futsal Team Coach as well as a Physical Trainer.

Andres has had the privilege of assisting the Spanish National Team in the 2008 World Cup campaign in Brazil. He continues his work with the National team currently in preparation for the European Cup in 2010.

Of his many players, Falcao the Brazilian superstar sponsored by Nike is the most recognized.   He has won 3 Spanish League Titles, 1 World Cup, 4 UEFA Cup Championships, and 7 Spanish Cups.

Contact: preston@sporthq.org

Michael handles all of our digital media and marketing needs. He is responsible for building and updating our websites, producing videos and designing our marketing campaigns. Originally from Hendersonville, North Carolina, Michael grew up playing soccer and lacrosse, and was a member of the Western North Carolina Youth Lacrosse Club. During the summer of 2010 he was a Digital Media Intern for Discovery Communications inc. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a focus on Multimedia from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in college, he was the Lead Designer for Upper 90, an online soccer magazine created by UNC Journalism Students.

Contact:  michael@sporthq.org