COACHING STAFF
NATE BAKER
Achilles FC Technical Director, U17 Academy & U19 Academy Head Coach
Baker joined D.C. United as the Director of Scouting and assistant coach for the U19, U17, and U14 groups before becoming the U17 Head Coach (June 2019-2020). MLSsoccer.com recognized Baker in the article The 5 MLS Academy Coaches Ready to Make the Jump to the First Team for his work with U17 team and his part in developing homegrown players from the academy for the first team including current D.C. United players Kevin Paredes and Moses Nyeman.
Baker spent the prior seven years as a first assistant at NCAA Division 1 level spending five years at the US Naval Academy (2012-2016) and two years at the University of Nebraska Omaha (2017-2018). Both programs enjoyed their best periods in their history.
At the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), Baker helped guide UNO to its first ever trip to the NCAA tournament in the history of their athletic department defeating Denver in the Summit League Final in 2017. UNO opened the season with six straight wins and rose to No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches/NCAA Top 25 poll. Baker worked with 11 All-Summit performers, including Xavier Gomez who was drafted 41st overall by Minnesota United (MLS).
In 2018, Top Drawer Soccer tabbed Baker as one of the Men’s Division I ‘Assistant Coaches to Watch’ as he helped lead UNO to repeat appearance in the Summit League Final.
At Navy, Baker helped lead Navy to winning their first NCAA tournament match in 29 years and first tournament win 35 years (2013). The Midshipmen advanced to the NCAA Second Round and had an overall record of 16-4-2, capturing the Patriot League’s regular-season crown and tournament titles. Navy closed the season ranked No. 25 in the NSCAA national poll.
In 2014, Baker helped the Midshipmen to an 11-4-5 overall record and a 6-1-2 conference mark, which earned Navy the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. The Midshipmen finished the season on an 11-game unbeaten streak at 7-0-4. Navy spent three weeks ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 and went 2-0-1 against nationally ranked opponents, which included a 2-1 win over #10 Maryland.
In addition, Baker was instrumental in developing the first MLS player in Navy history. Joe Greenspan was selected with the 26th overall pick by the Colorado Rapids and would go on become USL Defender of the Year in 2019.
From 2015-2016, Baker held positions at Navy of Interim Head Coach, Associate Head Coach and Director of Navy Soccer Camps before leaving for UNO.
Before beginning his college coaching career at the Naval Academy, Baker was the founder and Executive Director of Soccer Means More, LLC, a training company that worked as an adjunct to club training, writing an age-specific curriculum for every level that stressed technique on and off the ball. The program created the most affordable seasonal programs in the state of Maryland and put together free workshops for any interested child regardless of their background in the game.
Baker has also spent his early coaching years as a staff coach for Freestate Soccer Club and Maryland Olympic Development Program from 2010-2013.
Baker has his United States Soccer Federation “A” Coaching License and Talent Scout License.
Playing Career
As a player, Baker played four years professionally for the United Soccer League’s Harrisburg City Islanders and Real Maryland Monarchs. As a starter on both squads, Baker helped his teams defeat DC United (2007) and the New England Revolution (2009) to gain quarterfinal berths in the US Open Cup as well as winning the USL Championship in 2007.
Collegiately, Baker was a four-year starter at American University and helped lead the team to the Patriot League Championship in 2004, as well as serving as a two-year captain (2005-2006). He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from American University in 2007.
As a youth, Baker grew up in Bowie, MD where he was captain of the Potomac Cougars, Maryland ODP and his St. John’s College High School teams. In 2002, Baker was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Player of the Year and First Team All-Met by the Washington Post.
Baker and his wife, Brittany, have three daughters, Anna, Corinne and Kennedy. They currently reside in Bowie, MD.
VINCENT CACCAVALE
Achilles FC Director of Youth Development, U12 Academy & U13 Academy Head Coach
Vin played his youth soccer for Hicksville Strikers before joining Albertson Academy at U17. Vin attended the New York Institute of Technology on a full scholarship where he became a 2-time NSCAA All-American as well as a 2-time NSCAA Academic All-American. He was the first player in school history to achieve such honors. While at NYIT, Vin was also named to the First Team All-East Coast Conference four straight years, First-Team All-Region three straight years, and led NYIT to a conference championship in 2011. Vin sits in the NYIT record books 2nd in career assists and 5th in points. In 2014, Vin was named to the MLS Super Draft List but unfortunately wasn’t selected by an MLS franchise.
After graduating from NYIT, Vin went on to coach for two years at Bethesda Soccer Club and Player Progression Academy. In 2016, Vin became the Assistant Varsity Coach at St. John's College High School before heading to Australia where he played in the 2nd Division for Blacktown Spartans FC. Vin played with the Spartans for 2 seasons and returned home to coach at Achilles FC and St. John's College High School in 2018. Coach Vin helped the Cadets to their first DCSAA State Championship since 1986 and continues to develop players to play at the highest level possible.
JESSE LAURITSEN
Achilles FC Head Coach
Jesse grew up in DC and played for Bethesda SC from U10-U19, for great coaches like Trevor Martin, Emile Mbouh, and Pete Mehlert. He met Sal at the age of 8 at Sal’s summer camp. Jesse trained with Sal for many years prior to Sal becoming the head coach of Wilson High School during Jesse’s sophomore year. Together they won two DCPS Championships, before Jesse went on to play 4 years of Division 3 college soccer at Oberlin College where Jesse worked his way into the line-up as a freshman and became a starter in midfield his sophomore year. After earning a starting spot, Jesse played every minute of every game and captained Oberlin his senior year earning First Team All-NCAC his Junior and Senior year. He returned to DC to coach with Sal at Achilles FC in 2018.
JOSHUA SLAGER
Achilles FC Head Coach
Joshua (a.k.a. "Slager") grew up in DC and first attended Sal's soccer camp when he was around 9 years old. Slager played for Bethesda from U11 to U19.
He captained St. John's College High School to their first DCSAA championship since 1986. After high school, Slager attended Franklin and Marshall College, a D3 school in Lancaster, PA, where they made it to the NCAA tournament every year and constantly ranked in the top 25 teams.
During COVID-19, Slager went to the Netherlands and played for a club in the Netherlands, SVA Papendorp.
After graduating, Slager moved back to DC. He is currently the assistant coach at Marymount University and has been coaching with Achilles for two years.
LIAM WALSH
Achilles FC Head Coach
Liam grew up in DC and played for Coach Sal at Wilson High School where they won two DCPS championships together. He captained the Wilson team his senior year and led the team with 13 goals, which earned him an All-Met selection.
Liam also played for Potomac Hotspurs Pre-Academy, Team America FC, and ASA Milan Black Hawks before going to Los Angeles to play for Occidental College.
Walsh was a four-year starter at Occidental and a three-time All-SCIAC selection. Liam was the captain his senior year and scored a league-high 17 goals, which earned him the SCIAC Conference Player of the Year and 1st Team All-West Region.
Liam took Occidental to their first conference final in school history during his senior year and finished as the all-time leader in goals and points in Occidental College history. Liam was recognized by Occidental with The Dunlap Award: given annually to the senior male and female students who, in the department's opinion, excelled in a team sport while shining in the classroom. During his study abroad, Walsh played one season with ASV Arsenal in Amsterdam, Netherlands, quickly becoming a starter and helping turn the team around to avoid relegation in the Dutch Tweede Klasse.
Liam completed his U.S. Soccer Grassroots Coaching Licenses in 2021 and joined the Achilles FC coaching staff in March 2022.
JORGE TELLO
Achilles FC Head Coach
Jorge grew up in Maryland and played for clubs like Bethesda, Baltimore Celtic, and Olney.
Throughout his playing career, Jorge competed in various top-level showcases and played in regional and national championships, with two regional championship wins and one national championship win. He played high school soccer all four years and became captain of his high school soccer team as a sophomore.