As the first CEO of the United States Association of Blind Athletes, Molly provides oversight for association staff, operations, financials, fundraising, membership, brand, and reputation. She works with the board, staff, members, and other stakeholders to develop, implement, and achieve the strategic plan to increase membership, expand programs, and develop new revenue streams, among other goals. Molly also ensures a continued collaborative relationship with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) and other NGBs like US Soccer Federation. In the first two years of her tenure, Molly led the organization to become certified as the National Governing Body for the Paralympic team sports of Goalball and Blind Football (domestically known as Blind Soccer), named the first-ever USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team, and launched the USABA Sport Ambassador Program to create expanded opportunities for athletes. She has over 20 years of progressive experience in sales, sports marketing and philanthropy. Prior to joining USABA, Molly served as vice president, fitness and endurance partnerships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She is a lifelong sports devotee and is a masters swimmer who competes in open-water swimming competitions.
Email Molly: mquinn@usaba.org
Amanda’s primary responsibilities include planning, administering, and directing the High Performance and National Team Programs for the Paralympic sports of goalball and blind soccer. Additionally, she manages the implementation and evaluation of sustainable programmatic and membership growth encompassing all USABA sport programming. She joined the USABA team in December 2022 and has been a leader in the U.S. Paralympic movement for 15 years, having previously served as the Paralympic Triathlon Program Director at USA Triathlon. In this role, she directed, led, and grew the program from inception to back-to-back first place in the medal count at the first two Paralympic Games for the sport: Rio2016 and Tokyo2020. Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Adams State University and a Master’s degree in sport management from the University of Alabama. She lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys cheering from the sidelines of her kids’ sporting activities, volunteering in the local community and doing any outdoorsy activities.
Email Amanda: aduke@usaba.org
Bill is responsible for the planning and implementation of USABA’s marketing and communication plans. He oversees the promotion of the organization and communication with local, regional and national media. He also assists in the management of programs and events like the annual Breckenridge ski camp, tandem cycling and triathlon camps, and Breakfast with Champions fundraiser, as well as live stream broadcasts and commentary of regional and national competitions in goalball and blind soccer. Bill started working with USABA in 2019, having spent the previous 22 years in various communications roles with Olympic National Governing Bodies such as USA Cycling, USA Taekwondo, U.S. Biathlon, USA Pentathlon, U.S. Speedskating, USA Boxing and USA Archery. He has served as press officer for Team USA at five Olympic Games and one Paralympic Games. Bill has BA in Communications from Niagara University and enjoys attending his children’s sporting events and watching football on Sundays in the fall.
Email Bill: bkellick@usaba.org
Lance is responsible for developing and executing an integrated marketing plan that aligns with the organization’s dual mission. With a focus on both digital and traditional media channels, he implements and optimizes the marketing strategy while creating and managing USABA’s digital ecosystem. Within this process, he oversees adapting new channels to engage the membership and donor community, as well as exploring new channels to bring awareness to events. This includes collaboration with major brands, sponsors, athletes, and events. In his previous roles, he was responsible for the management and marketing operations at K-Swiss Global Brands and USA Field Hockey. He attended California State University Northridge and holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic media management. Outside of his professional career, he is an active International Field Hockey Umpire, with over 50 international caps, and helps mentor and train officials within the NCAA.
Email Lance: lsarabia@usaba.org
Catherine Raney Norman is a four-time Olympian in the sport of long-track speed skating. After her retirement in 2010, she has remained actively involved with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Catherine has over 10 years of non-profit and fundraising experience working with various organizations, including the Sundance Institute, US Ski and Snowboard Foundation, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, University of Utah Health, USA Climbing, and US Biathlon. She has attended Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management Center for Non-Profit Management, Plus Delta Partners, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. Catherine currently serves as chair for the Salt Lake City – Utah Committee for the Games to help bring the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Utah. She also co-chairs the Athletes Advisory Council for this effort. Outside of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, she loves hanging on her mountain with her husband, two pups, and little man River.
Email Catherine: craneynorman@usaba.org
A former member of the USA Women’s National Goalball Team and two-time Paralympic medalist, Marybai has transitioned to using her voice as an athlete to inform programming and development efforts across USABA’s sports. She won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and followed that up with a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Marybai oversees many aspects of event planning, coordination, and outreach, focusing on continuing and growing programs, including serving as a liaison with the USABA Sport Ambassador program which began in 2022. A psychology graduate from the University of Utah, she came to USABA after working in community outreach and marketing in Fort Wayne, Ind., assisting an organization in social media management and content creation. Marybai spends her days off painting, rock climbing, hiking, camping, paddle boarding, and assisting local nonprofits as a volunteer photographer.
Email Marybai: mhuking@usaba.org
A seven-time Paralympian, gold medalist and opening ceremonies flag bearer, Jen has a passion for sport and has spent the last 25+ years working in the field of adaptive sports. She is thrilled to be the USABA Blind Soccer Coordinator and to be a part of growing this exciting dynamic team sport in the U.S. Jen oversees the Inovate to Grow grant to build blind soccer across the U.S., working closely with specific grant sites but also leading the grassroots push for the sport. Jen comes to USABA after working most recently at Portland State University – Campus Recreation where she developed and oversaw the inclusive recreation department which grew to be the gold standard for campus recreation centers. Jen loves to spend her free time with her family exploring the outdoors of the Northwest, watching the kids’ activities, spending time on her bike and planning to try a 70.3 Ironman.
Email Jen: jarmbruster@usaba.org
Jake manages and works with the U.S. Women’s Resident Team at the team’s residential training center, Turnstone Center, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He accompanies the Women’s National Team to international and domestic competitions. Jake was first introduced to goalball in 2004 at a USABA Sports Camp in Colorado Springs. He began coaching the Arizona Sting club team in 2006 and was named Assistant Coach for the U.S. Women’s Goalball Team in 2010. Following a silver medal for the U.S. Women at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and the retirement of then Head Coach, Kenneth Armbruster, Jake was named Head Coach. He believes in a team-based system centered on the ability to be creative and adaptive without sacrificing fundamental mastery. When he’s not coaching, Jake enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. Jake’s wife, Lisa, has been a member of the U.S. Women’s Goalball Team since 1997. They have a son named Jay who, of course, is a huge goalball fan!
Email Coach Czechowski: jczechowski@usaba.org
John has assisted with the operation and play of the women’s national goalball team since 2018. He began volunteer work with USABA in 1994 serving in many capacities including program development and coaching, and internationally as a coach, team leader, delegation leader and chef de mission. John began working with the goalball program in 2003 when he helped the men’s team qualify for the 2004 Paralympic Games and earn a bronze medal. He has continued to work with the Paralympic goalball program since that time. As assistant coach of the women’s national team, John’s work contributed to their silver medal finish at the 2020 Paralympic Games. Additionally, he coaches a club team that competes in the national goalball program. John also serves as secretary of the goalball subcommittee for the International Blind Sports Federation where he plays a vital role in the continued growth of the sport. John lives in Shiloh, Ill., and enjoys running and cycling.
Email Coach Potts: jpotts2205@sbcglobal.net
Keith works at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) as a physical education teacher. He coaches the USA Men’s National Team at international and domestic competitions. Keith has served as the USA Deaflympic Taekwondo Team Head Coach, on the World Taekwondo Para Education Committee, and was a USA National Para Taekwondo Team Coach. In 2015, Keith led the FSDB Boys Goalball Team to the 2018 USABA National High School Goalball Championships. In 2019, Keith led the U.S. Men’s Goalball Team to the silver medal at the ParaPan Am Games in Lima, Peru, thus qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. When he’s not coaching, Keith enjoys spending time with family, reading, presenting at physical education conferences, and talking to organizations that serve the blind and visually impaired. Keith is married to his wife, Sam. They have a daughter, Abbey, who is a college student and works as a lifeguard.
Email Coach Young: kyoung@usaba.org
James works at Priority Toyota in Chesapeake, Va. He assists Coach Keith Young in the day-to-day development and play of the men’s national team, plus game analytics. James was introduced to goalball by his grandson, Christian King, in 2017 and started coaching the DC Eagles in 2018, helping them rise from a developmental team to the elite bracket. In 2019, James helped the U.S. Men’s National Team to a silver medal at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. James has been married to his wife Jayne for 35 years and she is a stay-at-home mother and grandmother. They reside in Virginia Beach, Va., along with his two children, Michael and Stephanie, and four grandchildren. James is an avid hunter and enjoys camping with his wife, long-distance shooting and the great outdoors.
Email Coach Wallace: jwallace@usaba.org
Linda is responsible for supporting the National Goalball Team head coaches by managing the administrative duties necessary in the planning and implementation of the USABA goalball program. She ensures that all athletes, coaches, and officials have current SafeSport, background checks, concussion training, and USABA membership before attending any sanctioned event. She also assists with grassroots development of goalball programs, educating coaches, players and officials to ensure beginner programs have what they need to be successful. Linda is also an international Level 3 official and head U.S. goalball official. She is responsible for scheduling goalball officials for each regional tournament and overseeing the recruitment and development of new officials. Linda is currently developing a “Goalball Map” which shows the location of players and teams across the U.S. to help interested parties get connected with groups in their area.
Email Linda: lwelborn@usaba.org
Katie Smith is a Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University specializing in visual impairments and adapted physical education. She also works for the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks-Therapeutic Recreation coaching blind sports and outreach for the community. She is the first USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team head coach. Katie was introduced to the sport in 2018 after attending a blind soccer camp through USABA. She then started her own team in Columbus called Ohio Blind Soccer. Ever since then, her team has grown and she has developed her coaching career through involvement in multiple national development camps for blind soccer across the USA. Her passion is growing the sport of blind soccer on all levels. Katie is married to her husband Corey, who is a senior application engineer, and they have one son Kai, who is soon to be a blind soccer fanatic.
Email Katie: ksmith@usaba.org
Ryan played collegiately for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and has held numerous coaching positions including associate head coach with the New Orleans Jesters (semi-professional), director of coaching for Slidell Soccer Club, director of coaching education for the state of Louisiana, Region III head coach with the Olympic Development Program, assistant coach with the Sewanee: The University of the South, high school coach with Northshore High School, coaching instructor for the US Soccer Federation and United Soccer Coaches, and head coach with the SuperClubs National Team. He graduated from the United States Sports Academy in 2009 with a B.S.S. in sports coaching. He currently holds his USSF A license, NSCAA premier diploma, UEFA B license, FIFA diploma in football medicine, ISSA strength & conditioning certification, NSCAA national goalkeeper diploma, NSCAA director of coaching diploma, Coerver 1 & 2 diplomas, NSCAA Futsal Level 1 and many more. Ryan currently resides in Slidell, La., with his wife Meridith and their son Luca.
Email Ryan: RMLazaroe@yahoo.com
A native of Durham, England, Fil currently resides in Charlotte, N.C., where he works for the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club as director of community engagement, director of Lake Norman Youth Academy and Recreation programs, director of adult soccer, and director of inclusive programs which include TOPSoccer and blind soccer. From 2014-19 he served as goalkeeper coach for the Johnson and Wales University soccer program in Charlotte. Fil’s coaching licenses include NSCAA Director of coaching, NSCAA Youth 1,2,3,4,5,6 diplomas, FA Level 1 and 2, NSCAA goalkeeper 1 and 2 diplomas, NSCAA Futsal Level 1, USSF goalkeeper, Youth 1,2 and 3, USSF F, E, D, 7v7 and 9v9 and Coerver Youth 1 and 2. He began his coaching career in England in 2003 where he led his college team’s training sessions. Fil also worked with MLS camps in 2005 before moving on to SISA in Mooresville, N.C., and then to the Lake Norman Soccer Club as assistant director of operations and director of community engagement.
Email Fil: filw@independencesoccer.club