About Coach Yan Garcia
Coach Yan Garcia is the founder of Suffern FC, a fast-growing community soccer club based in Suffern, New York. With deep roots in the Hudson Valley and a lifelong passion for the game, Yan launched Suffern FC to unite families and neighborhoods through soccer — fostering friendship, belonging, and personal growth on and off the field.
Early Life & Education
Growing Up in Sloatsburg and Suffern
Raised in Sloatsburg, just outside Suffern, Yan Garcia has always been connected to the local community. He attended Sloatsburg Elementary, later transferring to Suffern Middle and High School, where he began developing his identity as both a student and athlete. His early years on the field laid the foundation for his belief in soccer as a force for good — one that can build confidence, discipline, and connection.
Academic Leadership at SUNY Oneonta
At SUNY Oneonta, Yan majored in Business Economics while captaining the university’s NCAA soccer team. His leadership extended beyond the field: he was chosen to represent the athletics department at the NCAA National Leadership Convention at the Epcot Center in Orlando and hosted an ESPN segment for the college. Yan earned the Hal G. Chase Award twice — an honor reserved for student-athletes who demonstrate integrity, leadership, and positive impact within the campus community.
Career Before Suffern FC
Corporate & Entrepreneurial Background
After graduation, Yan entered corporate America, gaining experience at top-tier companies like LG Electronics and ADP. He later joined BMW Financial Services in Woodcliff Lake, NJ as an analyst, where he sharpened his skills in strategic planning and data-driven decision-making.
Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, Yan founded a digital marketing agency that became the exclusive online marketing channel for LifeVac, a life-saving device. In just over a year, the business generated more than $100,000 in revenue, further proving Yan’s ability to build and lead from the ground up.
Coaching Journey
From Red Bulls to Rockland County
Before founding Suffern FC, Yan worked with the New York Red Bulls as a staff and training development coach, gaining first-hand experience with elite youth training models. He also coached at clubs throughout Rockland County, including Clarkstown SC and Ramapo, and helped shape the development of players from age 4 to 19.
Transition to Education
Empowering Students Through Language & Soccer
Inspired by his family’s immigrant story — including his father from the Dominican Republic — Yan pursued a second calling in education. He became an ENL (English as a New Language) teacher, working with multilingual learners and students with disabilities in a Special Act district in Westchester. He holds a Master’s Degree TESOL has plans to earn his School Building Leader (SBL) certification to expand his leadership impact in public schools.
Yan uses soccer as a tool in his classroom to build trust, promote language development, and help students feel seen.
Founding Suffern FC
A Club Built for Community
In 2025, Yan founded Suffern FC with a bold vision: to create a youth soccer club in Rockland County that emphasizes community, accessibility, and development over profit or prestige. Whether it’s a first-time 4-year-old player or a 14-year-old refining their skills, Suffern FC welcomes all.
Through seasonal programs, summer camps, and individualized training, the club offers a safe, inclusive space for kids to play, learn, belong.
Our Mission
At Suffern FC, our mission is simple: to bring people together through the love of soccer.
We believe that the game should be fun, inclusive, and empowering, and that every child deserves the chance to grow as a player and as a person. With strong local partnerships, family engagement, and experienced coaching, we’re building more than just a team. We’re building a movement.
Join Us
We’re proud to build a movement with Coach Yan Garcia and Suffern FC at the heart of it. Whether you’re a parent, player, coach, or community member, we invite you to be part of something special.