Coaches – LK United Soccer

LK UNITED Varsity Coaches

Jeremiah Burley

Varsity BOYs Head COACH

I was born and raised in Oregon and played Basketball, and track and field as a kid. As an adult I played church basketball/softball and the occasional pick up soccer game. We moved to Huntsville about 5 years ago and my children were introduced to soccer and now love the game. Since I played team sports as a kid and as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate the fun, discipline and perseverance that comes with playing on a team. My wife Katherine and I currently live in the Madison/Harvest area raising our 6 sons and one daughter.

I believe that in whatever we do, we should do it unto the Lord and for His Glory. I believe soccer is like life and I’m excited for this new boys team and the lessons that will be learned.

I love Hebrews 12:1–2 “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Whether Basketball, cross-country, or soccer, let us run the race set before us, unto Him, by His strength and for His glory. Go LK United!

Nathan Mount

Varsity Boys Assistant COACH

Bio Coming Soon!

Adam Bilyeu

Varsity Girls Head COACH

I was born and raised in Indiana, but have been in Huntsville now for 23 years. I played basketball and ran track, but didn’t play a lot of soccer. It wasn’t as popular when I was a kid like it is today. I served in the Air Force for almost 8 years in North Dakota working on nuclear missiles. I left the Air Force, went back to school, and graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering. I graduated with and stood next to Drew Brees! Mara and I moved to Huntsville, in 2001 after graduating college and have been here ever since.

I’ve been involved in soccer since 2016, when one of our girls started playing for the Lady Knights with Mary Claire. I figured since I’m going to be at the field, I might as well help out where ever I can so I started helping coaching with Chris Blewett. Soccer has since been a big part of our lives and I love watching, playing, coaching, and encouraging the LK United!

I love Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” If you glorify Him and make Him known, God will surely fill our hearts with joy. He has blessed me with my wife Mara, and our 4 daughters!

Looking forward to another great year of soccer! Let’s go LK!

Scott McKune

Varsity Girls Assistant Coach

I have been involved in soccer with my daughter for over ten years. She attends Athens Bible School, where they did not have enough players to maintain an active soccer team. We were grateful to discover the Lady Knights, allowing her to play the sport she has loved since childhood.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I watched some incredible players and teams showcase their skills. I admired their teamwork and patience in controlling the ball, which made a lasting impression on me. As a child, I played soccer and studied the tactics employed by those great teams. During my four years as an assistant and coach at the recreational league in Athens, Alabama, I applied those tactics to better understand the impact of positioning and ball control on the game. I also served as an assistant coach for the Junior Girls FC in Tanner, Alabama, until the team disbanded during COVID-19, after which the remaining players transferred to United in Huntsville, Alabama. I volunteered to become a referee for the team and completed my U.S. Soccer Federation certification course.

I met my wife, Gayle, in Athens, Alabama, in 1996, and we have been happily married for 19 years. I retired from the military after 23 years in the Army Reserves, where I served as a Unit Supply Sergeant and an Automated Logistics Specialist. I was deployed to Iraq from 2006 to 2007 and had multiple mobilizations to Central America, specifically Honduras and El Salvador, to support the rebuilding of areas affected by natural disasters. In the civilian sector, I work as an IT Specialist and field service technician, continuing to support our troops and their missions.

LK UNITED JV Coaches

devin Rosen

JV BoYS Head COACH

I grew up playing soccer with friends in North Georgia, but never on a team. At 18, I joined the Army and was stationed Colorado Springs, CO, where I met my wonderful wife Kristin and our three boys were born. Our boys started playing soccer at an early age and we have enjoyed many wonderful years watching them play and grow. I have served as an assistant coach for two AYSO seasons, and am excited to be a part of launching the LK United boys team. I am especially looking to forward encouraging young men as they develop their skills, discipline, and character.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8

John Kirkwood

JV Boys Assistant COACH

Bio Coming Soon!

Katy Kirkwood

JV Girls Head COACH

I grew up in a soccer family in Birmingham, and played a little in middle and high school, but refereed much more than I played. I am married to John and we have been in Huntsville for over a decade now, raising our four kids. As our kids grew out of diapers, and my daughter's team needed a coach, I jumped at the chance to get involved again with my favorite sport. I have been coaching in various capacities for four years now, and LK United is my favorite team to be a part of by far.

Anica Williams

JV Girls Assistant COACH

Bio coming soon!

LK UNITED Specialty Coaches

Jared Hunt

Goalie Coach

First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He is first in my life and in the lives of my family (my beautiful wife and two lovely daughters). We desire to live out 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This means that even the way we pursue sports is done with the goal of glorifying God.
I absolutely love the game of soccer, no matter whether I’m playing, coaching, or just watching. I grew up playing soccer from age 6 in Colorado. I was blessed to be able to play for over 20 years, including in college and post-college with a semi-professional indoor soccer team in Colorado Springs.
However, what I didn’t realize until moving my family from Colorado to Alabama was that, in reality, I had pursued soccer as something I idolized (i.e. I worshiped playing, watching, and living the game for myself, rather than worshiping and living for the Lord). God graciously revealed that to me, and so much more, and ultimately brought me to salvation in Jesus in 2009. From that point on, He has been renewing my perspective on the game more and more so that I can enjoy all the aspects of soccer from a better perspective.
What all this leads to is a love for coaching, mentoring, and guiding young players in pursuing excellence of skill and ability, for the glory of God. My focus as a coach is providing the players with the knowledge and ability to play soccer at the highest level they desire, while constantly encouraging them to remember that their hearts are yet more important. Through this, my hope is that all their efforts, both on and off the field and through high school and beyond, won’t simply be spent on themselves, but instead will be used to love and serve God and others (Mark 12:30).

Mary Claire Thomas

Conditioning Coach

I have served in the past as both Coach and Assistant Coach of the Excalibur Christian School's Lady Knights Soccer Team. Prior to that, I played soccer for the Lady Knights including at the AYSO Regional Championships and the National Homeschool Soccer Championships multiple times. Over all I have played soccer for 18yrs, assistant coached several seasons and head coached for several seasons and captained an adult team. In my spare time, I function as part owner of the Piper and Leaf Tea Company of Lacey's Spring, Alabama, and with my husband, Micah, raise three rascally (and cute) young girls / future soccer players. I have also mentored several running groups including Rocket City Marathon, Bridge Street Half, and Oak Park Challenge. I have also, completed in numerous 50ks local and out of the country, several marathons and too many to count half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks. Currently, I am training for 15k in September.

MarA Bilyeu

Team manager

I grew up in North Dakota and many can still hear the “twang” in my voice despite being in the south for 23 years now. I was a swimmer- not a soccer player, but started to love the sport since my girls play. We have been with Lady Knights since 2016, when one of our older girls played for Mary Claire.

I have a bachelors degree in Nursing and am known to be safety patrol on and off the field. I was a trauma nurse so it’s ingrained in me. I homeschooled our four girls. I say I homeschool, but really I just manage and guide now for most of their classes. I have been married to my hubby, Adam, for 27 years. I truly love to organize and plan and am happy to serve. This year I will be teaching a Bible Recap class, y’all need to check out the book if you haven’t already!