Bulldog Women's Soccer Academy
Coaching Staff

Danielle Oswald-Thole
Assistant Coach

Danielle Oswald-Thole is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs

A year ago, for the second consecutive campaign six Bulldogs garnered All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades.  Laura Moklestad, who was named to the All-MVC first team, led the honorees, while freshmen Paige Dusek, Megan Fisher and Kalena Litch collected both second team All-MVC and All-Freshman team recognition

Oswald-Thole helped mentor a Bulldog squad that posted a 10-6-3 overall mark.  The 10 wins marked Drake's first double-figure win campaign since going 12-6-2 during its NCAA Tournament season in 2006.  Oswald-Thole was a senior on that 2006 squad.

In 2009, six Bulldogs earned all-conference laurels led by Elizabeth Woerle, who was named to the All-MVC first team.

In her first season as an assistant coach in 2008, eight Drake players garnered All-MVC accolades, led by senior Katie Sauer, who was tabbed a first team All-MVC selection.

Oswald-Thole is a former Drake women's soccer standout and in 2006 was named as the Missouri Valley Conference's Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Oswald-Thole played forward and defender for the Bulldogs in 2005 and 2006 after transferring from the University of Iowa prior to the 2005 season.

She appeared in 36 games for the Bulldogs, earning first team All-MVC honors as a senior in 2006. Oswald-Thole recorded three goals, seven assists and led the defense to 17 shutout victories over two seasons. She also guided the Bulldogs to a pair of MVC regular season titles and their first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

This marks the first collegiate coaching position for Oswald-Thole, who was a head coach at the Ankeny and Urbandale Soccer Clubs as well as the head coach of both the 1993 ODP and 1997 ODP girl's teams. She was also the assistant coach for the 1994 Iowa Olympic Development Program.

This fall, Oswald-Thole will be a training coordinator for the Iowa Rush U11 and U12 girls teams as well as the U5 rec coordinator.

A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Oswald-Thole holds her USSF 'B' coaching license.

She is married to Jason Thole.

Greg Velasquez
Assistant Coach - Goalkeepers

Greg Velasquez is in his first season at Drake serving as goalkeeper coach. Velasquez, a native of Muscatine, Iowa, played four years as goalkeeper for the Iowa State men’s soccer club team as well as one season in net at Simpson College.

Velasquez served as the interim head coach for the Simpson College women’s soccer program in 2009 leading the Storm to an 11-8 overall record and an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament runner-up finish.  Four Simpson players earned all-conference honors that season.  The Storm was stellar in net during the 2009 campaign posting a team 0.95 goals against average, while recording nine shutouts.

Velasquez made the leap to interim head coach after serving as an assistant coach for Simpson from 2005-2008. In 2006, the Storm went undefeated in conference play en route to capturing the regular season championship and conference tournament runner-up finish.  In 2008, Simpson reached the conference tournament semifinals.

Velasquez has also been on the staff as an assistant girls coach at Waukee High School since 2002. During his tenure, the Warriors earned 2011 and 2002 runner-up finishes, while advancing to the state semifinals in 2006.  His goalkeepers posted a 0.37 goals against average this past season, including 13 shutouts.

He currently coaches the West Des Moines Soccer Club and has received his USSF National 'D' license.