Personnel

John Galas

John Galas Head Coach

In his return to Lane United FC, Galas brings with him over 20 years of coaching experience. He began his career in the collegiate ranks, with stops at Florida State, Oregon, and Arizona. Galas has acquired experience at the pro level with the Portland Timbers (USL), the Real Salt Lake Academy, the Portland Thorns, Villarreal B in Spain, and FC Tucson (USL League One), where he was the head coach from 2020-2021. John holds a Master’s Degree in Football Industries from the University of Liverpool and, of course, was a co-founder of Lane United FC and the original Head Coach/Sporting Director from 2013-2018.

Joao Ehlers Assistant Coach

Ehlers holds a National “C” License from the USSF as well as licenses from the English FA and Universidade do Futebol (Brazil). Currently the Head Coach at Bushnell University, his previous experience includes 5 years as an assistant at NAIA Montreat College in North Carolina.

As a player, Joao starred at Ohio State University, where he helped the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title in 2015, and also played for two seasons at University of the Cumberlands.

Jürgen Ruckaberle Head Coach

Our Women’s Team Head Coach, Jürgen played and coached in Germany before he arrived in Eugene, Oregon. He is currently the Director of Coaching for Eugene Metro FC and has coached in our community for the last 20+ years. Jurgen coached many boys and girls club teams, directed the South Eugene HS boys program for 12 years, and coached the EMFC Women’s team Azul in the WPSL for 10 years. He holds a USSF A and German B license and continues to enjoy the beautiful game. Jürgen also holds a Masters Degree in History from the University of Oregon and enjoys life with his wife Evon here in Eugene.

Halle Meadows Assistant Coach

Currently the Head Coach of the Women’s Team at Bushnell University, Meadows holds a National “D” License and previously was the Head Coach at Southwestern Oregon Community College, where she was named NWAC Southern Region Coach of the Year in 2022, and at her alma mater Frontier High School in Bakersfield, CA.

Meadows’ playing career took her to the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota for a year before she returned to her hometown for a couple of seasons at Bakersfield College.

John Schneider Goalkeeping Coach

The GK coach for the women’s team, John is also currently the GK Director at Eugene Metro Futbol club. He holds a USC Level 2 Goalkeeper license. John was a North Carolina Football Club Youth Goalkeeping coach and has worked at NCFC’s College Showcase, UNC-Chapel Hill Goalkeeper Camps, NC State Wolfpack Soccer GK camps, and as a staff coach for Focus Goalkeeper Academy. John has also coached Triangle Futbol Club Alliance.
Originally from Smithtown, NY, John played GK at St. Joseph’s College, as well as various youth clubs in the Long Island Junior Soccer League and at St. Anthony’s High School. After living in North Carolina for over 8 years, John, his wife and 3 children moved to Eugene in July 2019.

Cesar Ocampo Athletic Trainer

Cesar grew up in San Francisco where he attended S.F. State University and played for their men’s soccer team. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 1995 before moving to Eugene and earning his Master’s degree in athletic training at the University of Oregon in 1998. In addition to serving as Lane United’s Athletic Trainer, he currently works as the Certified Athletic Trainer for North Eugene High School.

Dave Galas Managing Director

Dave studied mathematics and biology at the University of Oregon and has since worked in software and hardware engineering at the Los Alamos National Labs, UO Neuroscience Labs, and PMC Sierra. He founded Lane United in 2013 seeking to put a team in the vacant Civic Stadium. Dave’s hard work with the Eugene Civic Alliance towards that goal has paid off with Civic Park set to open in 2020.

His passion for soccer extends back to his childhood in Europe watching Liverpool FC, St. Etienne, and the Dutch national team. His favorite footballers of all time are Kenny Dalglish and Johan Cruyff.

Perry Hammond General Manager

Perry grew up playing soccer in the Bay Area in California before playing in college at DIII Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He lived in Madrid, Spain after graduation and served as a translator for Atletico Madrid for five seasons.

He interned for Lane United FC in 2013-14 while a second-year MBA student at The University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and returned to the club in his current capacity at the beginning of 2020. His favorite players of all-time are Michael Owen, Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres.