Yan Garcia, based in Suffern, NY is passionate about building community through language and sports. After earning a degree in Business Economics from SUNY Oneonta, Yan began his career in corporate America. However, after several years in the corporate world, he realized something was missing. His true passion lay in coaching youth soccer in the evenings, and that love for coaching set him on a new path.

Yan became a full-time staff coach with the New York Red Bulls, where he honed his skills in developing young players. It was during this time that he realized his desire to make a broader impact, not just in sports, but also in education. This led him to explore teaching, and soon after, he began working as a substitute teacher in the Suffern area. His experience in a classroom full of English language learners gave him chills—he knew this was what he was meant to do.

To pursue this calling, Yan enrolled at SUNY Manhattanville to obtain a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Combining his background as the son of an English language learner from the Dominican Republic and a retired assistant principal and adjunct ESL professor, Yan found his purpose in helping students and athletes reach their full potential.

Today, as an ENL teacher and youth soccer coach in Suffern and Hillburn, Yan’s mission is to serve his community by empowering students through language and sports. In 2025, Yan founded Suffern FC. Suffern FC is a local, community-driven soccer club based in Suffern, New York, dedicated to bringing participants together through the beautiful game of soccer. The club’s mission is to offer youth soccer programs in Suffern that foster unity, build friendships, and create a vibrant soccer culture that benefits all ages and backgrounds.

 Yan continues to act on his mission. He offers soccer programs for children of all abilities and ages, as well as ESL classes for adults looking to improve their English. By combining education with technology, Yan believes that both language and sports are powerful tools that can break barriers, bring people together, and create new opportunities for all.