Mauricio Pava has been named the St. Christopher’s Director of Soccer Coaching.
As STC’s Director of Soccer Coaching, Mauricio will be available to work with all five interscholastic teams (7th, 8th, Junior, JV, and Varsity) during practices; in this way he will lend technical and tactical insights to both players and coaches.
With no responsibilities to travel with our teams, he will be on campus to focus on helping provide a better training environment for all of our players. “We were fortunate to have Mauricio help the Varsity Soccer and Futsal teams last year,” said Varsity Soccer Coach Jay Wood. “I am very excited to have Mauricio as our Director of Coaching—all of our soccer coaches will benefit as we tap into his vast experience, and I am confident that our players at all levels will learn even more with his shared insights.”
Since 2007 Mauricio has been teaching US Spanish at St. Catherine’s where he has also been the MS Soccer Coach. Mauricio has a B.A. in Physical Education and Sports, Universidad Pedagogica Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia (1988); a degree in Specialization in Sports Coaching, Universidad Pedagogica Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia (1990); and an M.S. in Sports Management, VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity (2000). Mauricio worked as a Physical Education teacher for about 12 years in various schools in Bogotá. He has been teaching Spanish for the past nine years in Richmond after graduating from VCU.
Mauricio’s playing and coaching careers in his native Bogotá, Colombia are extensive. Mauricio played with La Equidad (Semi-professional club) for 2 years, Independiente Santa Fé (1st division professional club) for 2 years, and Universidad Pedagogica Nacional (College Futsal Division 1 Team) for 4 years. While playing for La Equidad and Santa Fé in Bogotá, Mauricio coached youth club teams of various ages within those organizations. Also in Bogotá, he served as the Universidad de los Andes Futsal coach for 2 years, the Carmel Club (Jewish Community) Director of Soccer Program for 5 years, and the Colegio Nueva Granada American School Soccer Coach and Athletic Director for 4 years. In Richmond, as a graduate student, he served as the VCU Women's Assistant Soccer Coach for 1 year. He has been coaching elite travel soccer teams with the Richmond Strikers for the past 9 years—almost all ages. Mauricio’s former club players for the Strikers include STC alums Marco De León ’08 and Wood Revercomb ’09.
Mauricio is the husband of STC LS 3rd Grade teacher Alisa Pava; they have two children: Alejandra (2nd at St. Catherine’s) and Nico (K at STC). “With his family’s professional and academic ties to now four divisions in the St. Christopher’s / St. Catherine’s community, Mauricio is a great addition to our staff,” said Coach Jay Wood.
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