Chelsea Piers Coaches Embrace Lifelong Learning

August 30, 2024

By: Kevin Burton, Athletic Director, Chelsea Piers Athletic Club

Throughout my journey as an athlete, coach, and now Athletic Director, I've had the extraordinary opportunity to witness the profound impact that sports can have on individuals. Sports are about so much more than just victories and accolades; they're about the adventures, the invaluable lessons, and the personal evolution that occurs along the way. At the heart of this transformative journey are the coaches who mentor our athletes, honing their skills, shaping their character, and often influencing their futures. At Chelsea Piers Athletic Club, our coaches passionately adopt the philosophy of lifelong learning, expanding their expertise by working with teams on local, national, and international stages.

In the fast-paced world of sports, staying updated with the latest trends, techniques, and strategies is vital. Our coaches embody a growth mindset and are deeply committed to their own continuous development. This dedication sets a powerful example for our athletes, demonstrating that improvement is an ongoing journey. Such an approach not only elevates the athletic prowess of our athletes but also equips them with essential life skills, such as resilience, adaptability, and an enduring love for learning.

I want to take a moment to commend several of our staff members who have wholeheartedly embraced versatility, evolving into well-rounded, adaptable, and knowledgeable professional coaches.

Danny Simpson, Chelsea Piers Soccer Club Boys Director

Danny Simpson is a mainstay in Fairfield County soccer. He was the girls’ varsity coach at Greenwich High School from 2005 to 2016 and a three-time Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference coach of the year. He now manages the sideline at Brunswick School, serving as head boys' varsity soccer coach since 2017. Simpson shares, “I have coached across most platforms in US youth soccer from rec through national USL over the years and draw unique aspects from each of these experiences directing the boys program here at Chelsea Piers.”

Dave Flower, Chelsea Piers Soccer Club Girls Director

Dave Flower also acquired extensive experience in local high school soccer, guiding the girls’ varsity team at Westhill High School from 2007 to 2019 and Greenwich Country Day from 2019 to 2022. Dave’s continued rise in the coaching ranks extends to the collegiate level, joining the Fordham University women's soccer program as an assistant coach in 2022.

As a Division I coach, he takes knowledge from the highest level of college sports back to the club. “I am a happier and better person for the players I coach when I am learning something new and I recognized that the best way to support our athletes who potentially want to play at the collegiate level was to learn from the inside and make connections with other coaches. I found as soon as I started working at the D1 level that players in our club have the athletic and technical ability to compete at the level, and the real thing that sets the athletes apart is their dedication to continue to improve as older teenagers and persistence to reach their goal. I am continuing to learn each day about the different college levels but the theme that I see across every level of soccer, and I think all sports is that it has to be fun!”

Jamie Calandro, Chelsea Piers Volleyball Director

Jamie Calandro, a former Division I athlete at Fairfield University, has been an assistant coach at Division III Manhattanville College since 2020. Jamie has helped guide the Valliant’s to two consecutive Skyline Conference championships and NCAA tournament berths in 2022 and 2023, in addition to the three MAAC championships she won as a player. She regularly advises our athletes on what it takes to be recruited and succeed at the next level. “Getting to experience college conference championships both as a player and now as a coach has been a great privilege. Everyone wants to be the one to beat you, so you have to train that much harder. I train the girls here in our CP program with that exact mentality: push that 1% harder, 'empty the tank' on every game as if it was a conference final match and play every single point like it is a championship game point. When you do, there is no losing," added Calandro.

Will Newnham, Chelsea Piers Squash Director

Will Newnham boasts an impressive background as a varsity athlete at the University of Rochester and a professional at several elite racquet clubs, including Ox Ridge in Darien. He has also served as head coach at King School and was recently named head coach of the boys U13 US National Team. This past summer, he led the team to victory against Canada at the Battle of the Border in White Oaks in August. "Coaching at the international level, such as leading the US National Team Boys U13, provides an exceptional opportunity to refine my coaching skills and insights. Being around some of the best coaches in the US allows for the constant exchange of ideas and continuous learning to become better coaches. This experience enables me to bring back the training mentality of the world's best players to our young grassroots level athletes. We already have a couple of players ranked in the top 40 nationally, but that success doesn't happen overnight. With a solid foundation, I am committed to nurturing the potential of our young players, many of whom are U11 and demonstrate immense promise. By incorporating mindsets from the highest level, I can help them develop their skills and achieve their full potential within our inclusive and effective coaching environment."

We take immense pride in the diversity of coaching experiences and the commitment to ongoing education. This dedication ensures that our young athletes receive unparalleled experience, inspiring them to strive towards becoming the best versions of themselves. We believe that through the continuous growth of our coaches, we can provide a nurturing environment that fosters not only athletic excellence but also personal development, preparing our athletes for success both on and off the field.