Kelly Shirah comes to EAFC as owner and executive director. Kelly is a Covington, Georgia native and grew up playing at the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association (RYSA) where he played recreational, classic and semi-professional soccer.

At age 16, Kelly started his coaching career at RYSA and has now been with the club for 21 years. He is currently the Director of Facilities and staff coach for the U19 Classic 1 Boys, U14 Classic 1 Boys and U13 Classic Boys. Kelly holds his USSF National D license and has an extensive background in coaching and club management.

As the executive director of EAFC, Kelly is responsible for all business aspects of the club and ensuring that the day to day operations run smoothly. He is also over staff and player recruitment, as well as game day procedures and fan experience. His main goal as owner and director, is to ensure that East Atlanta FC holds itself and operates to the highest professional standards.

Kelly’s objectives for the club are to create an exciting family environment for all fans to enjoy affordable professional soccer and provide a program that is competitive on the national stage giving players a chance to grow and pursue a professional soccer career.

Head Coach - Sam Walker 

Sam Walker joins EAFC as head coach. Sam comes from a pedigree of USL coaches as he played under Marcelo Serrano (currently of FC Bold USL Championship) and played and coached under Mark McKeever (currently of Des Moines Menace USL League 2). 

Sam graduated from Young Harris College where he started his soccer career as a player and then coach. Following his time at Young Harris, he continued his coaching career with the youth teams at RYSA (Rockdale Youth Soccer Association), in Conyers Ga. He has always been involved with his local community and is excited to be a part of a USL League 2 Team in Rockdale County, where he will be working with players from around the area. 

Currently, Sam is the director of Soccer at Holy Spirit Preparatory School, where education and athletic development are the main values.

The passion, love for the game and opportunity to coach young athletes to prepare them for the next level of competition as well as to coach at high level has always been an ambition that has lead Sam to continuously embrace this project.

As head coach, his objectives for the team are to be competitive in the deep south division, compete and be ready to win and apply the team correctly. 

Sam’s experience proves that he has the mentality to create an instillment of belief and to be successful, giving the fans and the local community what they deserve.