Ricardo (Ricky) Antonio Banuelos is an incredibly passionate soccer youth coach and determined to help kids love and learn the beautiful game. Ricky has several years of experience working in special education, helping him understand how kids learn differently, as well as experience with coaching and refereeing soccer through park districts, assisting with high school soccer programs, leading a competitive E-Sports program at the high school level, and has also coached soccer camps with clubs like Regent Soccer Club, Arsenal FC and Real Madrid CF. Coach Ricky was a volunteer coach for several months at Olympiacos Soccer Club Chicago before receiving an official position and later going on to win a first place division title with the U8 team during the NISL – Spring 2025 season.
Year Joined Olympiacos Chicago: 2024
Philosophy
“Every child is a special individual that learns in their own unique way but the universal method of learning to love the game is cultivated through playing, practicing and the support of good human beings to help to them grow a passion for the game while also teaching them important values like work-ethic, discipline, resilience, teamwork and everything else that makes up an outstanding individual.”
Licenses
- USSF “C” License
Certifications
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Heads Up – Concussion In Youth Sports
- U.S. Center for SafeSport
- Emotional and Physical Misconduct
- Mandatory Reporting
- Sexual Misconduct Awareness