Meet the BoardMeredith Payne - President
Meredith works for Northern Indiana Education Foundation in Michigan City. She was born and raised in Michigan City and graduated from Michigan City High School. Meredith attended Ball State for a few years before moving to Denver and receiving her degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. She lived in Albuquerque for a couple years before she moved back to Indiana. Meredith got involved with the Michigan City Soccer Club in 2011, first as a parent/coach, and eventually as the Vice President before it disbanded. Meredith became passionate about soccer because her children enjoy playing it so much. She wants to make sure that future generations will be able to enjoy soccer in Michigan City. Meredith can be found on the sidelines watching her children play soccer and baseball or attending dance recitals and plays that they are acting in.
Michael Ramsey - Vice President
Mike is a language arts teacher at Barker Middle School in Michigan City. He was born and raised in Michigan City and attended Marquette High School. He played soccer at Marquette and at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Mike has been the head coach of the Michigan City High School Lady Wolves soccer team since 2017, and has coached both the Michigan City middle school boys and girls soccer teams since 2014, focusing on the girls team the past several years. He is a member of the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association and United Soccer Coaches. He coaches because he enjoys helping young people succeed, because he loves the game of soccer, and because he wants to make a difference.
Justin Ward - Treasurer
Justin is a graduate of Michigan City High School. During his high school career, he played for Michigan City as well as travel and club. He is an Army veteran with time stationed in Germany. During his time in Germany, he enjoyed playing soccer until he was deployed to Iraq. He previously coached for the Michigan City Soccer Club for eight years. He began coaching for the under 6 age group and moved to each group to be able to coach his two daughters. His two daughters are now 12 and 14. In addition to coaching, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and multiple sports teams. His passion is soccer. He enjoys coaching and working with children who strive to be the best they can be on the field. Coaching kids brings a smile to his face. He embraces the vision that soccer should be about teamwork while being able to laugh and enjoy one another. Justin and his family are residents of LaPorte but he never forgets his roots in Michigan City. He is committed to giving the kids a quality program that will grow every year.
Brian Parker - Board Member
Brian is a math teacher at Michigan City High School. He has been teaching for ten years. Brian started as a substitute teacher for one year and transitioned to a full-time teacher from there. He received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. He has also been the pastor at Temple Missionary Baptist Church for ten years after attending seminary at Michigan Missionary Baptist Seminary South Haven. Brian has six children ranging in ages 3 - 20 and started coaching his kids through the Michigan City Soccer Club. He got into soccer to help his son be the best player he could be. Brian's son is now playing at the collegiate level and he is hoping to help his daughters accomplish as much as they can in their soccer hopes and dreams, which is why he continues to coach soccer to this day. Brian has been the assistant coach of the Michigan City High School Lady Wolves soccer team since 2019.
Sara Dailey - Board Member
Sara Dailey is an Athletic Director at Renaissance Academy in Michigan City. She was born and raised in Michigan City and attended Michigan City High School. Sara competed in gymnastics and basketball at Michigan City High School. She is head coach of Marquette High School’s Lady Blazers soccer team and had coached for Michigan City Soccer Club for 10 years. Sara also currently coaches volleyball for Renaissance Academy. Sara coaches because she wants athletes to not only succeed at a sport but to also love the sport they are playing.
Chris Williams - Board Member
Chris is a graduate of the inaugural year of Michigan City High and a 15 year member of the United Steelworkers. He played soccer for most of his young life and then in high school, becoming a member of the first boys soccer team at the newly unified high school. He started coaching his children in 3rd grade at Coolspring Elementary School on the soccer field and basketball court. Since then, he has been involved in coaching whenever he can. The last few years have been spent as an assistant coach for the Lady Wolves Soccer Team at the high school. Meeting a lot of great people along the way is only part of the fun for him. He enjoys seeing new players to the game evolve into student athletes with real talent they didn’t know they had. He knows this game will make you a better person not only physically but mentally as well. He works to instill teamwork, heart and dedication. Chris, his wife and 2 children live in Michigan City and spend a lot of time in or around sports even in the off season from soccer. He looks forward to a long and fruitful soccer club that does well for its community and brings people together that enjoy the game of soccer.
Brad Kiser - Board Member
Brad is a lifelong resident of Michigan City. He attended MCAS and graduated from Rogers High School. He coached and assistance coached his four sons for over 25 years through the Michigan City Soccer Club. He is a member of the Wolves Soccer Club. He has a dream and goal of seeing soccer grow for the youth of Michigan City. He would like to see youth soccer become a feeder system for the MCHS soccer team, making soccer come full circle in our community.
Brett Whittenburg - Board Member
Brett was born and raised in Michigan City. He graduated from MCHS Class of 2004. He is an army veteran and steel worker. He’s been coaching here for a few years now. Brett started at first because they just needed bodies, but now he does it because he loves giving back to our city. It’s always For The Kids.
Paul Brooks - Board Member
Paul was born and raised in Michigan City and graduated from Michigan City High School. He went on to graduate from Purdue University and West Virginia University. Paul enjoys watching sports in his free time and is a big Leeds United fan. He currently coaches his nephew in soccer and t-ball. His goal is to see the Wolves Soccer Club continually grow and offer more opportunities for all ages and skill levels for children in the area.