Coaching Staff

Ahmed Elgayar
Assistant Coach

Ahmed Elgayar begins his first season as an assistant men's soccer coach at La Salle in 2023. 

Elgayar comes to La Salle after spending one season as a senior staff coach with Philadelphia Union Youth. Prior to that, the Philadelphia native served as head coach at Chestnut Hill in 2021 and was top assistant at his alma mater, Holy Family, for six seasons.  Elgayar helped the Tigers to a pair of conference tournament berths in 2018 and 2019.

He also has extensive youth coaching experience, which includes his relationship with the highly-respected Philadelphia Ukrainians. He works directly with the U16 and U14 ECNL groups. He has also directed the nationally-ranked Philadelphia Soccer Club's 2004  Boys' team (2014-20), the FC Europa Soccer Club Boys Elite (2021-23) and worked as an assistant with Father Judge High School (2015-16). 

Richard Kessler
Assistant Coach

Rich Kessler begins his first season as an assistant coach at La Salle in 2023. 

Kessler spent the last two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Alvernia University, helping the Wolves to a pair of ECAC Tournament berths. Over  the last two seasons with Kessler, Alvernia won 25 matches and advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 ECAC Postseason Tournament.

A goalkeeper for Alvernia from 2005-08, Kessler has also served as the Director of Goalkeeping at FC Delco and held assistant coaching positions at Penn State Berks and Penn State Abington. Additionally, he  served as head coach at Cumberland County College (2018) and Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School (2019-23).