Welcome to Royals Soccer!

Head Coach: Stephani Church

Coach Church is entering her fourth season as Head Coach of the Girls' Soccer Program at Upper Darby. Coach Church began playing soccer when she was 4 years old. She earned All-State Honors in high school, was the team MVP and earned a scholarship to play Division 1 Soccer at Binghamton University. She played for Binghamton University Women’s Soccer Team from 2012-2016. During her career, she tied the team record for most game winning goals in a season. At the end of her career, she made her way on the top 10 goal scorers list for the program. While her primary position was forward in college, Coach Church's primary position was goalkeeper until she entered high school. She made the transition to midfield and forward based on the advice of her high school coach. After graduating from Binghamton, Coach Church became a graduate assistant coach for the Siena Women’s Soccer Team, a Division 1 Program in Loudonville, NY. She remained on the staff for 3 seasons while obtaining her master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Advanced Certificate in School Psychology.  In addition to coaching at Siena College, Coach Church has coached a variety of youth soccer teams with three different clubs in the Albany, NY area ranging from ages u5 to u18. She had her own soccer training business during graduate school where she facilitated individual and group lessons, along with camps. She has a NSCAA Level 4 and USSF F Coaching License. She is looking forward to her third season with the program!

Varsity Assistant Coach: Dana Gentile

Coach Gentile is entering her third season as Varsity Assistant Coach for Upper Darby High School Girls Soccer Program. Coach Gentile began playing soccer when she was 4 years old. She is a UDHS Alumni, (class of 2008) where she played Varsity all four years, earning First team all Central League, the leading scorer junior and senior year, and MVP for her team. Throughout her soccer career she has played many different positions, splitting her time between stopper and striker at UDHS. Coach Gentile went on to play Division 3 Soccer at Delaware Valley University and was a starter all four years. Her first two years she primarily played outside back and then finished her last two years playing striker. While in college she was MAC freedom second team ALL-STAR, MAC freedom women’s soccer offensive player of the week, and the MVP for her team. After graduating college with a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management, coach Gentile traveled to different states to work in the rehabilitation of marine life and wildlife. After many years of traveling she moved back home and started her career as an emergency/critical care and surgical veterinary technician. Coach Gentile still plays soccer in a competitive women’s league and cannot imagine her life without soccer in it. She is excited to be a part of the Upper Darby Girls Soccer team again.

Junior Varsity Head Coach: Brooke Kern

Coach Kern is entering her first year as the JV Coach for the Upper Darby Girls Soccer Program. Coach Kern began playing soccer at 3 years old and has played competitively and recreationally since. She played for the Kutztown Area School District and was a starting varsity forward all four years. She went on to play competitively on the Varsity team as a starting forward for Penn State University, Berks Campus, for two years after high school. After graduating, she relocated to Florida and sought out opportunities to play in recreational leagues in the area while completing her master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology. Coach Kern has since moved back to the area to be closer to family and is excited for the opportunity to incorporate her love for soccer back into her life as a coach, help develop the talented young players, and grow with the UDHS girls soccer program!