KIM BJÖRKEGREN
Head Coach
Björkegren — a native of Sweden in his 15th year coaching — most recently led Cyprus’ Apollon Ladies FC to an undefeated season before being named Racing’s coach on Dec. 9, 2021. Apollon Ladies took 64 of a possible 66 points and advanced to the Champions League’s second round. Cyprus’ players association awarded Björkegren its Coach of the Year award as a result.
Björkegren spent about a year and a half coaching in the island country following stints first in his native Sweden and then China.
Björkegren’s playing career ended prematurely due to injury at age 23. He took a two-year coaching course to move on to his next calling, initially leading fourth division Karle IF’s men’s side in his hometown of Linköping, Sweden. Along the way, Björkegren switched to the women’s side and climbed the coaching ladder.
He was in 2017 appointed manager of reigning first division winner Linköpings FC and repeated, clinching the league title with two rounds to go. The club also advanced to the Champions League quarterfinal before falling to English powerhouse Manchester City.
Björkegren spent 2018 in China, coaching Beijing BG Phoenix in the nation’s Super League. There, he also oversaw transfers, signing Spanish international Verónica Boquete, and made the semifinal round of two cup competitions before moving to Apollon Ladies FC in 2019.
BEVERLY YANEZ
Assistant Coach
Yanez, 34, joined Racing after two years as an assistant at NJ/NY Gotham FC, where she helped the team reach the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup final and the 2021 playoffs. The former NWSL Best XI selection and two-time NWSL Shield winner as a player will work closely with Racing players on individual development and serve as the top lieutenant on head coach Kim Björkegren’s staff.
Before her coaching career, Yanez was a standout midfielder and forward in Australia, Finland, Japan and the U.S., including six seasons with the club now known as OL Reign. Yanez helped OL Reign win back-to-back NWSL Shields and reach two NWSL finals, tallying 25 goals and nine assists in 123 appearances. She was a Best XI selection and MVP finalist in 2015.
In addition to her two years with Gotham as a coach, Yanez has worked as an assistant for the U-15 U.S. Soccer Youth National Team. Before moving to Gotham, she coached youth soccer at the club level. with stints at the OL Reign academy as well as the Juventus Academy and COPA Soccer Training Center in California.
SERGIO GONZALEZ
Goalkeeper Coach
Sergio Gonzalez has joined Racing after a stint as Indiana University’s women’s associate head coach coach. He boasts more than two decades of coaching experience, including eight years with both women’s and men’s Big 10 Conference programs. Internationally, he has also coached goalkeepers for the U-16 and U-17 national teams.
JULIE TWADDLE
Head of High Performance
Twaddle joins Racing Louisville after most recently spending time in England as Durham Women FC’s head of performance. Prior to that, she served as Manchester City’s head of strength and conditioning. She worked at Man City with current Racing defender Gemma Bonner and forward Nadia Nadim. Twaddle earned her MSc in Exercise Science at Central Connecticut State University, where she was a member of the school’s first women’s soccer team. She was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year in 1998 and was inducted into CCSU’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
Support Staff
CAITLYN FLORES-MILBY
Director of Operations
Flores has spent the past two years as Soccer Holdings’ facility manager. She previously served as the National Events Coordinator with the Elite Clubs National League, serving in a vital operations role for the top youth soccer circuit in the country. Flores holds a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the University of Louisville and a master’s degree in sports leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she played collegiately.
SARAH KANUCH
Head Equipment Manager
Kanuch joined Racing in the spring of 2022 after working with Georgetown University Athletics and the Washington Spirit. A graduate of the Univeristy of South Carolina, she also spends time working with the U.S. Soccer and its Youth National Teams during the offseason. Kanuch is also the proud owner of a mini-poodle mix named Sparky.
TARA CONDON
Head Athletic Trainer
Condon is joining Racing after spending the past two years working with New York City FC’s youth academy. She has also served as an assistant athletic trainer and graduate assistant Grand Canyon University and the University of North Carolina. A native of Tomkins Cove, N.Y., Condon has presented research at conferences across the globe and holds ATC, CSCS, PRI and BFR certifications.