Atlanta United announced the hiring of its academy coaches on Friday.

The academy, led by director Richard Money and managed by Tony Annan, will house teams at age groups U-12, U-13, U-14, U-16 and U-18. The teams will play at the headquarters currently under construction in Marietta.

The academy coaches are: Rodrigo Rios, Kristofer Bertsch, Michael Lynch, Matthew Lawrey and goalkeeper coach Liam Curran. Money will coach the U-18 team. The team didn’t specify which coach would lead the remaining teams.

Rios was the Silverbacks’ director of operations in 2010. He has a USSF A License.

Bersch was most recently assistant men’s soccer coach at Louisville. He was also an assistant Xavier and Syracuse. He also has an A License.

Lynch was formerly women’s soccer coach at Clayton State. He also has an A License.

Lawrey was formerly at Richmond Strikers, a youth program in Virginia. He also has an A License.

Curren was formerly an assistant at Clemson.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Kirby Smart (left) and Georgia beat Brent Key and Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes last November in Athens. The Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets bring Clean Old-Fashioned Hate off campus for 2025, playing at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2024)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller