The 2023 season is J. Landham’s fourth year with the Montana soccer program, his second as associate head coach. His primary responsibility is training the team’s goalkeepers.

Landham, initially hired in June 2019, coached at Montana for three years, the 2019, ’20 and ’21 seasons, then spent the 2022 season at Villanova before returning to Missoula in January 2023.

In his first three seasons at Montana, Landham coached goalkeepers Claire Howard and Camellia Xu to record-breaking accomplishments.

Howard was voted the 2020 Big Sky Conference Goalkeeper of the Year after breaking the league record for career shutouts. She finished with 32 for her career.

Xu was named the 2021 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year and six times earned Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors. She finished her freshman season with 11 shutouts, a program record.

In three seasons with Landham on staff, Montana allowed 38 goals in 50 matches and posted 26 shutouts.

The Grizzlies have won two regular-season Big Sky titles under Landham and twice advanced to the NCAA tournament.

In 2022, Landham’s goalkeepers at Villanova had a 0.94 goals-against average, with 15 goals allowed in 16 matches, with four shutouts.

Originally from Hendersonville, Tenn., Landham played collegiately at Union University, then an NAIA program in Jackson, Tenn.

He was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs, three times earning All-TranSouth Conference honors.

Landham would continue his playing career with Inter Nashville FC of the National Premier Soccer League and FC Greeley (Colo.) of the United Premier Soccer League.

Landham began his collegiate coaching career with the men’s program at Union in 2012. He was an assistant and the goalkeeper coach for the Northern Colorado women’s program in 2016 and ’17.

He spent the 2018 season at Vanderbilt. The Commodores were the SEC regular-season champions and advanced to the round of 32 at the NCAA tournament.

Lauren Demarchi ended the season with an SEC-leading 0.56 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Landham has coaching experience with both the Tennessee Soccer Club and Northern Colorado Rush Soccer Club.

He earned a degree in sports medicine and exercise science from Union in 2012 and is working toward a master’s degree in sports coaching and education from Northern Colorado.

He has a C License from the United States Soccer Federation and has earned a National Diploma of Coaching and Advanced National Goalkeeper Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches.

The 2023 season is Ashley Herndon’s third year as an assistant coach with the Montana soccer program.

She was hired in July 2021 after spending the previous spring season as a volunteer coach at her alma mater, James Madison.

In her first season with the Grizzlies, Herndon helped Montana go 13-6-1, win the Big Sky Conference tournament and advance to its sixth NCAA tournament.

With Herndon overseeing the team’s forwards and offensive attack, Montana scored 27 goals, the most for the program since 2014.

The Grizzlies scored 25 goals in 20 matches in 2022. Forward Delaney Lou Schorr, who was voted first-team All-Big Sky Conference, led the league in goals with seven.

It marked the first time a Montana player has led the Big Sky in goals-per-game average since 2011.

A native of Ashburn, Va., Herndon was a four-time All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection for James Madison while playing for the Dukes from 2013-16.

She was voted the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year in 2013, first-team All-CAA as a sophomore, junior and senior, and the CAA Player of the Year in 2016.

Herndon finished her career with 37 goals and 27 assists. Nineteen of her goals were game-winners.

Herndon was named the CAA tournament MVP in 2015 as a junior after scoring four goals in three matches as the Dukes advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Following her junior season, she was invited to the U-23 Women’s National Team training camp. She was selected to represent the U.S. that summer at the Tournament of Nations in England.

After graduating from JMU, Herndon moved to Portland, Ore., where she was a practice player for the Thorns of the NWSL for a year.

From July 2018 to July 2019 she played for SK Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic’s top league. She later played for teams in Switzerland and Iceland.

Club Director:  Travis Goodkind

“You can’t teach passion and experience.”

Missoula Surf 2010 boys
Missoula Surf 2014 boys
Surf Select NW Regional Team 2010 boys
Surf Select NW Regional Team 2012 boys

Coaching Background

• 25+ years of coaching experience
• Coached numerous youth teams U6-U16 (boys and girls) at many levels
  (rec, ODP, competitive, academy, camps, etc) in Vermont and Montana
• Previously certified referee in Vermont and Montana

Coaching Philosophy
I have coached youth soccer for over 25 years including Missoula Surf, Surf Select, YMCA, FC Missoula, Missoula Strikers, and Missoula United FC. I understand the necessary skill set that developing players need to accelerate personal growth and excel as a team on the field.

We believe in organized and structured training sessions with a defined goal in mind. We focus on team play and positioning, in addition to individual skills. Our players learn how to play out of back and possess the ball at a young age. Even if we don’t have the most skilled players on the field (which we very often do), we always exhibit the best team play on the field. Our teams are always prepared for success and enjoy the results of their hard work.

Playing Background

• First played soccer at age 5, and have continued playing ever since
• Competitive, travel soccer from age 9 – attended USYS Eastern Regionals and ODP Region 1 camp numerous times
• Traveled all over the US, Canada, and England for tournaments and friendlies
• All-League, All-State, All-New England honors in high school (Burlington HS, Vermont)
  • Twin State Classic – Vermont vs New Hampshire Senior All-Star match
• 3 year starter in college (Skidmore College, Norwich University)
  • Senior Year: All-Conference selection, conference champs, advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament and lost to eventual champions St. Lawrence University
• Founding member of the Vermont Amateur Soccer League (VASL)
  • Team captain on VASL championship team
• Currently play on adult teams and still travel to tournaments

Personal Background

• Born and raised in Burlington, VT
• Played competitive, travel soccer with multiple clubs
• Played college soccer at Skidmore College and Norwich University (1996-2000)
• Moved to Montana in 2004 and opened a small business, Backcountry Racks & Skis
• Family: Julie (wife), Asher (2010), Corinne (2013), Whit (2017)
• Outside of soccer we enjoy skiing, camping, rafting, biking, hiking

Originally from Ghana, Gabe moved to Missoula in 2004 on a high school exchange program. Gabe has an extensive playing/coaching background in addition to his professional experience as a personal trainer.