Steve Knapp earned his undergraduate degree in Physical Education from Malone University in Canton, Ohio, and later completed a master’s degree in Sports Science and Coaching from the University of Akron.
Steve has been a Health and Physical Education teacher at Hudson High School since 2015, where he also serves as the Head Boys' Soccer Coach. Under his leadership, the team has reached the district finals nine times, winning seven district championships.
Before his tenure at Hudson, Steve coached at Everest Soccer Club from 2008 to 2014 and was an assistant coach for the Walsh Jesuit Girls' Soccer team from 2012 to 2014. He also spent a decade as the Head Boys' Soccer Coach at Waterloo High School from 2001 to 2011, building a strong foundation for his coaching career.
Mark Bezdek, also known as Coach Bez, grew up in Mayfield, Ohio, where he began his soccer journey at the age of six as part of the first team for the Mayfield Soccer Club. His high school team made it to the state semi-finals, and his teammates were his closest friends growing up. Mark has always cherished the sense of community that soccer brings, a bond that continues today as he regularly plays soccer with a group of Hudson residents, keeping the competitive spirit alive.
Mark is an 8th-grade teacher in South Euclid/Lyndhurst and resides in Hudson with his wife and four children. All of his children have played for Hudson United at some point, with two of them pursuing soccer seriously. Beyond soccer, Mark and his family love to travel, recently completing a mission to visit all 50 U.S. states.
Mark has been coaching soccer for 31 years, splitting his time between coaching boys and girls. He previously coached varsity boys and girls where he teaches but transitioned to Hudson United once his children became involved in the club. He’s been coaching with Hudson United for the past 18 years and currently serves as an assistant coach for the Hudson High School girls' varsity team, in addition to his coaching responsibilities with Hudson United.
Mark finds great fulfillment in helping young players develop a love for soccer. After years of dedication and hard work, he enjoys seeing the progress of the players he’s coached as they advance to high school and achieve success. He takes great pride in being part of Hudson’s strong youth soccer program, which prepares players for success at the local, club, high school and collegiate levels.
Tina Gaither grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Streetsboro, Ohio. Outside of soccer, Tina enjoys traveling, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountain climbing, and spending time with her family.
As a child, Tina was active in basketball and softball, playing multiple sports year-round. Back then, there was less overlap between the seasons of sports like basketball, baseball, hockey, and football, allowing her to enjoy each one fully. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she and her family were avid supporters of Philadelphia teams, watching them during each sports season.
Tina earned a college basketball scholarship, but it was her college roommate who introduced her to soccer. She began playing in the college club and eventually became a referee. After transferring to a smaller college, she made the men’s varsity soccer team, marking a significant accomplishment in her sports career.
Tina's coaching career began in 1999 when a referee from one of her soccer games asked her to coach a U9 girls’ team in Green. Despite not knowing how far Green was from Hudson, she accepted and started her coaching journey. Since then, she has coached for several clubs, primarily at NC Soccer, and joined Hudson United in 2022. Currently, Tina serves as the Director of Coaching at Hudson United and also coaches for the Ohio Olympic Development Program (ODP). One of her favorite coaching memories is from a U10 playoff game, where a young defender, who had scored an own goal, was reassured by the goalie with the words, “It’s ok. We are going to get it back!" The team went on to win that game, a testament to the power of support and teamwork.
Tina’s coaching philosophy emphasizes developing strong team relationships, building confident foot skills, establishing solid defensive shape, and promoting creativity in offense. She believes that kids learn and develop best by fostering a positive team environment, mastering technical skills, and encouraging creative problem-solving on the field.
Tina supports Arsenal in the English Premier League. She became a fan of the club thanks to Thierry Henry, whose unmatched composure and calmness on the ball inspired her. She also admires Arsenal's former manager Arsene Wenger and current manager Mikel Arteta for their creative, attacking style of play.
Tina believes that one of the best things young players can do to improve their game is to spend 10-15 minutes a day working on foot skills or speed touches on their own. She emphasizes that small, consistent efforts can lead to significant improvements on the field.
Dan Bestic grew up in Austintown, Ohio, and attended Fitch High School. Now living in Hudson, Ohio, with his family—his wife Michelle and their children Samuel (11), Vivian (11), Tyler (8), and Nicholas (5)—Dan’s household is deeply connected to soccer, whether it’s coaching, playing, or watching. The family loves outdoor activities like hiking and traveling and are active in many sports. His children attend Seton Catholic School in Hudson.
Dan’s soccer journey began at a young age, playing for his local rec team before advancing to a travel team and eventually a premier team, Sons of Italy. By age 11, he was playing for Cleveland United and later Cleveland F.C. Alongside soccer, Dan enjoyed football, basketball, and track. For him, sports were a way to bond with friends and family, as well as an opportunity to work together toward common goals.
In high school, Dan helped lead his team to two regional finals, though they lost to the eventual state champions both times—St. Ignatius and Strongsville. His team won three consecutive district championships, and Dan earned first-team All-State honors his senior year, as well as being named to the All-District team three years in a row. He went on to play Division I soccer at the University of Dayton for four years, where he earned Verizon All-American honors in his senior year. Dan also made the Olympic Development Program (ODP) state, regional, and national pools in his senior year of high school. He played one additional year of club soccer at Ohio State University.
Dan began coaching soccer while in college and has since coached boys and girls across a wide age range, from 5-year-olds to high school athletes. He holds a USSF National C professional coaching license. His favorite coaching moments are when a team develops such strong chemistry that everyone enjoys practices and games. While winning tournaments is exciting, he finds greater satisfaction in seeing players work hard and put in their best effort.
Dan’s coaching philosophy is straightforward: work hard and do your best at every practice and game. He believes that if players consistently put in the effort, the desired outcomes will follow. As a coach, he emphasizes motivation and positive reinforcement, celebrating small achievements along the way. While he raises his expectations as players grow older, he approaches this with respect and encourages them to think for themselves, make mistakes, and embrace creativity.
As a fan of Manchester City and the Columbus Crew, Dan admires players like Kevin de Bruyne and Luka Modric for their calmness, creativity, and selflessness on the field. He appreciates how they elevate the play of those around them. Some of his favorite soccer experiences include attending a Bayern Munich vs. Lyon Champions League match in Munich, a World Cup match between Switzerland and Romania in the U.S. when he was 13, and several USA vs. Mexico matches.
Dan believes the best thing young players can do to improve their game is to simply play and have fun with a soccer ball every day. Whether it’s juggling, shooting, dribbling, or just playing backyard games, consistent practice is key to growth and enjoyment in the sport.
