Brandon Thompson

Boys Director

Brandon grew up in Oakland, playing for Montclair Clippers, Bay Oaks Soccer Club, and Rockridge Sting (now East Bay United) as a goalkeeper, striker, and midfielder. He still plays weekly with his group of friends and has been a dedicated Manchester United fan for 25 years.

Some of Brandon's best soccer memories are being with teammates at tournaments - those were some of the best times of his life. He also learned early on that hard work pays off, making a premier team after working to improve his game.

Brandon coaches because he had coaches who made a lifelong impact on him - they pushed him to be a better person and player, and gave him confidence when he really needed it. Now he wants to do his part with the next generation of young players.

Brandon discovered his passion for youth coaching in 2014 when he earned his first coaching license. Since then, he's completed 10 coaching licenses and certifications, including all four USSF Grassroots licenses, his USSF C license, and Ajax's education program for Youth Academies.



Now in his second year as Boys Director at Eclipse, Brandon takes everything he's learned over a decade of coaching and mentoring to bring out the best in Eclipse's coaching staff. He knows that great coaches create players who love the game - and that's what Eclipse is all about. This is his tenth year with the club.

Jose Diaz Mercado

Girls Director

Jose has been a club director since 2021 and is now in his second year as Girls Director at Eclipse.

Jose was a three-year varsity soccer captain for Alhambra High School, where he was named to the All-DVAL First Team in 2015-16. He also played club soccer locally for 12 years. His favorite soccer memories as a kid were the friendships that came from the game - teammates who became family, and the pure joy of competing together.

Jose loves coaching because he gets to watch players discover what they're capable of. There's nothing better than seeing a kid master something they thought was impossible, or watching a quiet player find their voice on the field.

Jose spent three seasons coaching at Campolindo High School - one season leading the Boys Soccer Program and two additional seasons coaching their JV team and assisting with varsity. He currently serves as head JV coach and varsity assistant and program goalkeeper coach for the Acalanes Girls.



Jose holds his USSF C License and is currently pursuing his B License. He has more than 10 licenses from organizations including USSF, United Soccer Coaches, La Liga and TOVO. This is his eighth year with Eclipse.

Jessica Grilli

Executive Director

Jess has been part of East Bay Eclipse for over 15 years, starting in 2011 when her oldest daughter joined the Future Eclipse program. All four of her kids grew up at Eclipse - it's where they fell in love with soccer, where they went from awkward to athletic, and where Jess got to watch them just be kids.

Her favorite Eclipse memory is when the little ones would all wear their Eclipse gear and run in circles hanging on Shane. She remembers the sheer joy of it - kids running around kicking a ball, laughing, being outside on grass (not turf), running from yellow jackets, sitting in mud, pulling grass, blowing dandelions mid-game. The funny thing about youth sports is you go to so many games, sometimes complain about it, but one day it ends. And you can't get that time back.

As Executive Director, Jess works to give those days to other families. She keeps Eclipse true to its mission: player development, joy in the game, and creating a place where every kid belongs - before the world makes it too competitive, too early.

Shane Carney

Founding Advisor

Shane founded East Bay Eclipse Soccer Club in 2010 and has been its guiding force ever since. A Lafayette native who attended Burton Valley, Stanley, and Campolindo schools, Shane has over 25 years of experience coaching youth club soccer and has earned over 80 certifications in coaching, child development, and player safety. He also spent nine years coaching the Varsity Boys Soccer team at Campolindo High School, where he achieved more titles than the program had in its previous 40+ years combined.

While team and individual accolades might seem like the easy answer, Shane's best soccer memories as a kid were truly at practices - competing and having fun with friends. That's the experience he wanted to create when he founded Eclipse.

Shane loves coaching because it's a vehicle to positively impact the lives of others. It's a pleasure bringing different unique people together to experience a journey of growth together.

Shane is the heart and soul of East Bay Eclipse Soccer Club. His vision and dedication laid the foundation for the club's culture, creating an environment where every player feels valued and inspired to grow. The club would not be what it is today without his tireless devotion, and his legacy continues to shape the experience of every child who joins the Eclipse community.