Coaching Staff
Brett Suhayda
Head Coach
Brett Suhayda was named the first head coach in Rockford FC history in February 2020.
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Suhayda has coached at Waubonsee Community College for the last 12 years where he has won five conference championships and has been named coach of the year four times.
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Suhayda led the Chiefs to a 13-5-1 record in 2019 and also took WCC to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the first time in school history back in 2017.
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Suhayda graduated from Oswego High School in 2001 and went on to play at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He also played and coached with Aurora Borealis SC.
Christian Bitangalo
Assistant Coach
Rockford FC named Christian Bitangalo as an assistant coach in February 2020.
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo native comes to RFC after graduating from Guilford High School.
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Bitangalo was the team captain for the Vikings before playing at the University of St. Francis for two seasons where he started 36 games as a defender for the Fighting Saints.
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Bitangalo has coached kids at the Rockford Panthers Soccer Club and served as an assistant at Illinois Valley Community College.
Mauricio Espinoza
Assistant Coach
Rockford FC named Mauricio Espinoza as an assistant coach in February 2020.
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The native Ecuadorian moved to the United States in the late 1990's after playing professionally for C.S.D. Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial.
Nick Roman
Goalkeepers Coach
Rockford FC named Nick Roman as the goalkeepers coach in March 2020.
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The Belvidere H.S. grad is currently the Director of Goalkeeping with Rockford Raptors FC, working with players from U8 through the U23 teams.
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Roman is also the Director of Coaching for the Junior Raptors as well as the Director of Goalkeeping for the Illinois Olympic Development Program.
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He is the owner and founder of C.Rome GKA, a specialized training academy geared towards goalkeepers from the youth level to all divisions of college as well as the professional level.
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Prior to Raptors, Roman was the goalkeeper coach for his alma mater, Ashford University, as well as Rock Valley College.
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The Belvidere native holds the career record for shutouts and goals against at Ashford. Roman was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2016.
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Before he became a coach, Roman played for the Quad City Eagles (NPSL) and Chicago Inferno (PASL Premier).
