Staff Bios

Jon Lowery

Jon Lowery is currently the Head Coach of the University of Hamline Pipers after winning an NCAA Division I championship with Wake Forest University. Lowery served as an assistant with the Demon Deacons during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. During that time, the team compiled a 43-4-2 overall record, and had the highest winning percentage in college soccer for both seasons. The program also produced nine All-Americans, nine Major League Soccer draft picks and a Hermann Trophy winner during those two years.

In 2007, Wake Forest set the school record for wins while posting a 22-2-1 record en route to the NCAA Division I national championship. Under his guidance, goalkeeper Brian Edwards, set a school record for shutouts (13) during that championship season, and let in just 14 goals. Edwards went on to be selected 28th overall in the MLS Super Draft by Toronto FC.

The following season, the team collected the 2008 ACC regular season championship, the 2008 NCAA tournament #1 seed, and a 2008 NCAA semifinal College Cup appearance. Goalkeeper, Akira Fitzgerald, gave up just 17 goals while compiling a 21-2-1 record, and tied the school shutout record of 13 set the year before. The 2008 squad spent 12 straight weeks as the #1-ranked team in the NSCAA national rankings, landing at #2 in the final rankings.

Prior to joining the staff at Wake Forest, Lowery was an assistant coach for his alma mater, Ohio State University, from 2005-07. During the 2005 season, Lowery worked with starting goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr. who became the Big Ten Conferences best goalkeeper earning All-Big Ten honors before being the first goalkeeper selected in the 2006 MLS Super Draft (30th Overall) by FC Dallas. During the 2006 season Lowery worked with starting goalkeeper and former two-time high school All-American, Casey Latchem. Latchem, finished the season as the Big Ten leader in Shutouts (10) and is currently Ohio State’s all-time leader in career shutouts (27) and Goals Against Average (.87).

He also served as an assistant coach with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst men’s soccer team from 2002-04 under head coach Sam Koch, who has compiled over 225 wins in 22 seasons as a head coach in college soccer. At Umass, Lowery worked with former Minuteman goalkeeper, Colin Burns, who currently plays in the Norwegian First Division for Sarpsborg 08 and previously featured in the Swedish First Division for Ljungskile SK.

A three-year goalkeeper at Ohio State University, Lowery was the first player in Buckeye history to be named to the All-Big Ten first team twice (1997, 1998). During those same two seasons he also earned NSCAA second team All-Midwest honors.

Lowery went on to play four seasons of professional soccer after graduation from Ohio State. A native of nearby Apple Valley, he was the starting goalkeeper for the 1992 State Championship team before being named Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the year in 1994. As a professional, Lowery played three seasons with his hometown Minnesota Thunder (1999, 2000, 2002), and one with the Carolina Dynamo (USL) before being called up to Major League Soccer by the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Along the way he played alongside retired goalkeepers John Swallen (Minnesota Thunder), Scott Garlick (Tampa Bay Mutiny) and former Olympic Team and National Team member Adin Brown who went on to play in Norway for Aalesund before currently being under contract with the Portland Timbers.

Lowery holds a USSF “A” license, an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA and an “International Diploma—Germany 2010 from the NSCAA.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio State in 1999, before moving on to earn a master’s in sport management from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2005. Lowery and his wife, Gretchen, live in the Twin Cities.

Tom Kleczewski

Tom has been the goalkeeper coach at the University of St. Thomas since the fall of 2005.  Currently the Head Coach of the Academy of Holy Angels boys soccer program, Tom was named the 2006 Minnesota State High School League Assistant Coach of the Year before being promoted in 2008.  He also serves as the Assistant Director of Coaching and Director of Goalkeeper Training for Edina Soccer Club, and works as a trainer for Coerver Coaching.  Tom is an ODP State Team coach for the 1996 boys, and works as a ODP Staff goalkeeper coach for all ages. 

From 2003-2007 Tom worked for Wings SC as a team coach and goalkeeper coach, winning a State Cup title with the U14 boys as well as an MYSA State Championship with the U12 boys. While at Wings SC Tom trained numerous goalkeepers that have reached the highest levels of competetion in youth and collegiate soccer, including Brown University's Paul Grandstrand, University of Evansville's Phil Boerger, and Cody Cropper of the US U17 National Team.  

Tom graduated from Macalester College in 2005 with a B.A. in Sociology after attending the University of Rhode Island where he played for two years before finishing his playing career at Macalester.  He holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, NSCAA National Goalkeeper Diploma, as well as a USSF "D" License. 

Before college Tom played for Minnesota's nationally ranked Tsunami Gold, winning State Cup titles in 1998, 1999, and 2000.  He was named First Team All-State, playing for Mounds View High School in 2000. 

Tom also played for the Minnesota Thunder Development team in 2003-2004. 

Joe Warren

Joe is currently playing with the NSC Minnesota Stars in their Innagural season.  Joe has been the Goalkeeper Coach and the Assistant Coach for St. Olaf College since 2004.

Warren was an outstanding athlete at the University of St. Thomas, earning 11 letters in four different sports. He was a four-time soccer letterwinner earning All-MIAC honors his last three season. He also helped his team win one MIAC title and gain an NCAA bid. He finished his college career with 22 shutouts.

In track, he was a three time All-MIAC performer in the javelin helping his team to three MIAC championships. He also was a two-year player for the Tommie basketball team, shooting 56 percent from the field while netting the team's defense MVP honors as a senior. As a punter for the football team his senior year he established a school punting record in his first game with a 78 yard effort.  He was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

After his graduation from St. Thomas Joe earned a spot on the Minnesota Thunder professional team, an A-League member. He played at the second highest level of professional soccer in the U.S. with the Thunder for 10 years, six of which he was the starter. He retired as the longest tenured player in the club's history.

Joe and his wife Christina live in New Brighton with their daughter, Veronica.

Matt Van Oekel

Matt currently plays for the NSC Minnesota Stars in their inaugural season.  Before 2010 Matt was rostered with the Minnesota Thunder where he signed after graduating from Rutgers University.  At Rutgers Matt played in 47 Games earning 20 wins. 

Born in Chesapeake Virginia, Matt Now resides in Minnesota where he has coached for Minnesota Thunder Academy, as well as Dakota Rev Soccer Club.

Lindsey Dare

Lindsey played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2004-2008.  Her senior season the Gophers made it to the Sweet 16 round of the National Tournament and won the Big Ten conference both for the first time in the program's history.  Lindsey now is the goalkeeper coach for the University of Hamline Women's Soccer program.

Mark Mullaney

Mark played his entire club career for Wings SC (now MN Thunder Academy). A three-year starter for Armstrong HS, he played on their 2004 State Champion team, and was a two-year captain. At Macalester College, Mark has started for two years, winning the 2009 MIAC Playoff Championship and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. He has been honored for his on- and off-field performances with numerous recognitions, including the MIAC Player of the Week, Macalester Athlete of the Week, MIAC All-Academic team, and MIAC Sportsmanship team.

Matt Carlson

Matt played club soccer at the premier level for 10 years with St. Croix Tsunami, and played his high school soccer for Stillwater Senior High where as a 4 year starter he became the state record holder for shutouts, GAA, was 3-time All-Conference, and 2-time All-State.

Matt played in college for the University of St. Thomas where he earned All-Miac Honors as a sophomore, before transfereing to Augsburg College to finish his collegiate career.  Matt Also played with the Thunder Reserve Squad in 2006.

Currently Matt is the assistant coach at Stillwater Senior High, the head coach of the Stillwater sophomore team, and is a club team coach for St. Croix Soccer Club.  He holds an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA and is working towards his Masters degree in counseling. 

Pascaul Venter

Pascaul played his senior season for Augsburg College in 2009 making 55 saves and holding opponents to a .859 GAA for the season. 

In 2006 Venter was honored with awards including: MIAC Payer of the week two times,  D3Kicks.com All-American second team, D3Kicks All-FarWest First Team, NSCAA Division III All-Far West Region Third Team, and All-MIAC First Team.   Venter also set a single-season shutout record with 12, breaking the old single-season mark of eight set by Augsburg Athletic Hall-of-Famer Mark Anderson in 1980.  His 13 career shutouts are now second-most in Augsburg history.  He also compiled a personal shutout streak of 1,101:05 (929:54 this season and 171:11 from last season), the third-longest individual goalkeeper shutout streak in NCAA Division III history. 

Pascaul now coaches for Woodbury Soccer Club

Luke Strom

Luke played club soccer for Maplebrook Blast at the Premier level from U-13 to U-18. Luke won 2 State Championships, participating at the US Youth Soccer Regional tournament twice.

Luke played high school soccer for Wayzata, winning a State Championship in 2005. In 2006, Luke was awarded All-Conference, 1st team All-State, team MVP, and MVP of the All-State Senior Classic.

Luke currently plays soccer for Gustavus Adolphus College. A 3-year Varsity starter, Luke has appeared in 38 games for the Gusties since 2007. In 2007, Gustavus reached the NCAA tournament after claiming a share of the MIAC regular season title and winning the MIAC playoffs. Luke has compiled 109 saves for the Gusties and 13 shut-outs. He will be finishing his Senior year this upcoming fall.