Who We Are
Rooted in Faith. Driven by Family. Fueled by Fun. Defined by Fight.
Paladin Soccer Club exists to develop players of character, confidence, and skill — grounded in our four core values: Faith. Family. Fun. Fight.
We’re not just developing soccer players. We’re building leaders, teammates, and servant-hearted competitors who reflect the values of Christ on and off the field.
Mission
To transform lives through the game of soccer — developing athletes who play with purpose, lead with integrity, and live with faith.
Vision
To see every Paladin athlete grow through sport into a confident, faith-driven young adult who influences their community for good.
Coaching Philosophy
We believe in coaching the whole athlete — focusing on technical excellence, tactical understanding, physical growth, and emotional maturity. Our coaches teach patience, creativity, and courage under pressure — values that win both on the scoreboard and in life.
OUR FACILITIES
All of our Academy and Competitive teams train at Arizona Athletic Grounds! AAG boasts 20 top-notch turf fields, an unmatched experience for players and fans alike.
6321 S Ellsworth Rd
Mesa, AZ 85212
OUR COACHES
Academy
2018B – Nosiru
HC: David Nosiru
dell_332@icloud.com
Bio coming soon!
2018B – Karren
HC: Lindsay Karren
lindsaykarren@gmail.com
Bio coming soon!
2016B & 2017B
HC: Samy Castaneda
samycastaneda@yahoo.com
Coach Samy Castaneda has been coaching for 12 years and has coached all ages ranging from 3 years old to 18 years old. He has experience coaching basketball, soccer and flag football. Coach Samy played all sports growing up, most notably basketball and soccer but he decided he wanted to coach right out of high school because he loved teaching the game. Coach Samy is currently working on getting coaching licenses through US Soccer. He and his wife Krystal have 2 boys, Aaron (plays on U8) who is 6 and Austin who is 3. They also have 2 dogs named Butter and Honey. Coach Samy’s hobbies include coaching, playing sports, going to the gym and playing video games. He has been coaching with Paladin for about 3 years now and loves being open about his faith and spreading his faith with the players. He having grown up in a family of faith allows him to freely spread his own testimonies and encourage the players to do the same.Competitive
2015B
HC: Colleen Zinn
colleenmcasey@gmail.com
Coach Colleen grew up playing club soccer her entire childhood into to high school. She went to college on basketball scholarship where she played for 2 years. For the last 4 years her and her husband have been coaching youth sports, strength and conditioning. Together they have 2 sons who are involved in various sports in the Queen Creek area.
2014B
HC: Aaron Best
aaronabest@gmail.com
Bio Coming Soon
2012/13B
HC: Tim Van Ness
ta.vanness@gmail.com
We are excited to welcome Tim van Ness as our new soccer coach for the 2012/2013 Boys Club Team. As the Head Coach for Boys Soccer at Eastmark High School in Mesa, AZ, Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Paladin. In addition to coaching, Tim is a certified referee, contributing to his ability to teach and lead with fairness, precision and respect for the game. As a former player in the Celtix du Haut Richelieu program in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, Tim draws on his personal experience to inspire and guide players in their development.
Beyond the field, Tim is also a proud soccer dad, actively supporting and encouraging his son in his soccer goals. This personal connection to the game fuels his dedication to creating a positive environment where all players can thrive, believing that players perform at their best when they are having fun.
Tim moved to Arizona in 2023 for his job in the semiconductor industry, bringing his wife (Amanda), daughters (Ella and Amita), son (Derek) and dog (Barzal) on this exciting adventure. Tim’s dedication to his family and their support has enabled him to take on new challenges since living in Arizona, and he is looking forward to the opportunity to work with your child at Paladin.
Academy
2018G
HC: Melia Nunez
meliawatkins13@gmail.com
Bio coming soon
2017G
HC: Melia Nunez
meliawatkins13@gmail.com
Bio coming soon
2016G
HC: Lindsay Karren
lindsaykarren@gmail.com
Bio coming soon
Competitive
2015G
HC: Lindsay Karren
lindsaykarren@gmail.com
Bio coming soon
Goalkeepers Coach
Jason Best
Jason founded Paladin Sports Outreach in 2008. He has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels of play, from recreation to college. He is currently the Head Coach for Girls Soccer at Eastmark High School in Mesa, AZ. Jason was a collegiate two-sport athlete at Moorpark College and Chapman University and is a certified personal trainer with certifications in Performance Enhancement as well as sport-specific Strength & Conditioning for Soccer Players. Jason holds Level 1 and 2 Coaching certifications from FC Barcelona and is currently working on his USSF ‘D’ License. Jason received his MBA, Marketing in 2009 and has worked in professional sports since 2004. He and his wife, Cindy, have four children, Aaron, Hannah, Sarah and Carson.
