Leadership Team
SHANI WILCOX
Director of Education
With over 20 years of experience in education, Shani has dedicated her career to supporting student success and fostering academic growth. She began her journey in the classroom as a teacher’s assistant from 2004 to 2008, gaining valuable insight into student learning and instructional support.
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In 2009, she transitioned into a teaching role, first as a 2nd grade teacher, then 3rd grade, and has been teaching 5th grade since 2013. As a lead teacher for the past eight years, she has taken on additional responsibilities in curriculum planning, mentoring peers, and driving instructional excellence.
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Shani holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education and is certified to teach grades 4–8 in all subjects. She also holds certifications in ESL (English as a Second Language), Reading Academy, and CPR, reflecting her commitment to both academic achievement and student well-being.
FABIAN VEGA
Director of Soccer
Fabian Vega brings over 35 years of elite experience as both a player and coach in the worlds of soccer and futsal. A native of Peru, Fabian began his professional playing career at the age of 18 with Deportivo Municipal in the Peruvian first division. His impressive playing résumé includes stints with top-tier clubs such as Sport Boys (Peru), Dragons (El Salvador), and several U.S. A-League teams including the Long Island Rough Riders, Minnesota Thunder, and Maryland Mania. He also trained and competed with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and represented his country with the Peruvian National Team.
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Transitioning from player to coach, Fabian has made a lasting impact on the development of soccer and futsal in the United States. He has coached premier clubs, soccer academies, and nationally ranked youth teams across the country. Fabian holds a KNVB Dutch License, USSF A License, NCSAA Level 1 Futsal License, LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 1 certification, and a prestigious FIFA CONMEBOL Professional Coaching License issued by the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF).
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Also a futsal coach, Fabian has led both men’s and women’s professional teams in Virginia and built a youth futsal program that has claimed multiple state, regional, and international championships—including back-to-back titles at the World Futsal Championship.
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In 2018, Fabian founded Ballers Elite, a high-level youth soccer and futsal program focused on supporting development throuhg soccer - now headquartered in Southern California. Under his leadership, Fabian has coached and developed some of the best youth players across the country and Ballers Elite has earned national acclaim and expanded its footprint through strategic partnerships in Virginia, New Jersey, and Texas. As Director of Soccer at Sisu Soccer Academy he will design and lead a player development curriculum that emphasizes not only technical excellence, but also personal leadership.
MARIO VEGA
Director of Technical Development
Mario brings a diverse international playing background shaped by high-level competition in both youth and professional football. His career began in the Division I youth ranks with Atlético Chalaco in Lima, Peru, before continuing in the United States at the semi-professional level with the Washington DC All-Stars in Arlington, Virginia. He later competed professionally with Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rico and returned to Peru to play professionally for Atlético Chalaco, gaining valuable experience across different football cultures and competitive environments.
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Complementing his playing career, he holds an extensive set of coaching certifications and technical licenses recognized nationally and internationally. His qualifications include the U.S. Soccer Federation E License, multiple National Soccer Coaches Association of America diplomas and specialized courses, advanced futsal credentials through the National Association of Futsal Coaches, and a Brazilian A License. He also holds FIFA-recognized Category B and Technical Director A Licenses from the Peruvian Football Federation, affiliated with FIFA and CONMEBOL, reflecting a strong foundation in both traditional football and futsal development.
