MIKE REAVEY
Coach Michael Reavey is in his 5th year coaching the Switchbacks Special Olympics Unified Team. He grew up in San Diego, California with 3 older brothers. Growing up he was a huge a sports fan and played many sports with soccer being one of his favorites. In spring of 2012 he moved to Colorado Springs to work for USAA.
He got involved with Special Olympics in 2018 at the recommendation of a friend, Teresa Ward. He fell in love from day one volunteering with Special Olympics athletes and has been volunteering for over 6 years now in Soccer and in Basketball. The joy on the athletes faces he sees every week and their amazing personalities is what motivates him every day. When the opportunity to help coach the Switchbacks Unified team came about, he jumped to volunteer and loves every minute.
He says: “I had a feeling this could be something amazing. I am excited to be part of this team and for the adventures to come. “Now, after his 5th season with the team, he says “It is a great honor to work with all the athletes, peer partners and coaches for the Switchbacks Unified Team. Every person involved in this program has their heart and soul into working hard and giving of their heart and love of the game and a will to win. I get the great joy of witnessing passion and our Unified Team putting everything they have on the soccer pitch day every week. I am so darn proud of our team for the effort and sportsmanship they show each and every week. Highlight of the 2022 season, where I can admit I definitely was holding back tears, was seeing the joy in their faces as they received their medals and then raised the I-25 tournament cup. Love the passion and determination that our Unified team has to prove that people can work together with and without disabilities and be better together.”
YARIV BEN-NAIM
Yariv Ben-Naim is our Unified Special Olympics Switchbacks Team Manager and Player Coach and works part time for the Switchbacks professional Football Club as a Unified Team Coordinator. He has been a Special Olympics athlete since 2011 competing in basketball, golf, bowling and soccer. He is also a graduate of the University of CO Colorado Springs (UCCS) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business, course work emphasis in Sports Management. Yariv developed and initiated the plan to create the first ever Unified Special Olympics Soccer Team of the USL Championship (United Soccer League) under the umbrella of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He is responsible for finding the volunteer coaches, athletes, peer partners and finding corporate and/or family sponsors for the Unified team program. He coordinated with the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake City Unified Teams for MLS Exhibition Games in 2022. In 2023 he helped add Exhibition Games with Union Omaha Soccer Club and in 2024 continued to help grow Unified Sports in the USL, with adding Sacramento Republic Unified Team to the USL Unified vision. 2025 bring on additional matches with Madison Wisconsin and founding member of the Inspire all Special Needs athlete League. His role includes helping other USL teams plan, prepare and share his vision and timeline to launch programs in other regions. He is an ambassador to other coaches and the Switchbacks staff teaching how to interact with people with disabilities.
Yariv also helps the professional Switchbacks team’s front office with database data entry, finding new businesses to target market for sponsors, helps the sales force team and is an assistant to the Business Development Director, leading tours and presentations for schools, new donors or partners. Yariv continues to inspire people as he proves that people with disabilities can do anything when given a chance and he helps the Switchbacks Football Club create positive public relations by promoting the awareness, respect, acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual and other disabilities. He says “I am so honored to be a part of the Switchbacks family. They accept me, with my Autism and believe in me. I pride myself in having the ability to nurture relationships and maintain long term connections with people. I am so excited to be a part of the Switchbacks for a 5th year, as the Unified Team Manager and Player Coach!”
Justine Grimmett
Coach Justin Grimmett joins our Special Olympics Switchbacks Unified Team as a Goal Keeper Coach. He was raised in Colorado Springs and played competitive soccer for Pikes Peak Soccer Club. He also played for Air Academy High School. Justin had the opportunity to play for a semi-professional team in Argentina after graduating from high school but decided to pursue a college career at the University of Northern Colorado where he played as a Goalkeeper for several clubs from 2000-2004.
After graduating college, Justin has played for many intramural clubs as a Goalkeeper. Justin has also coached his daughter’s soccer teams, he has coached for Skyline Soccer Club, and many private camps like the Nike Soccer Camp. Currently Justin is the head coach for the 11G Pikes Peak Futbol Club and the Goalkeeper Director. His passion for coaching has led to tremendous opportunities and he loves doing specialized training specifically at the most challenging position in the game of soccer, the Goalkeeper. Justin is excited to serve as the Goalkeeper Pro for the Switchbacks Unified Team.
ILANIT BEN-NAIM
Coach Ilanit Ben-Naim has a passion for helping others. She has been involved with the Special Olympics, since 2010, when her son, Yariv, was looking for a community service project for his Bar Mitzvah. With a husband and 3 children who all love sports, volunteering and coaching for the Special Olympics has become a passion for the entire family. For over 14 years, Ilanit has been a head coach or assistant coach in multiple Special Olympics sports. This is her 5th year as a Coach for the Switchbacks FC Unified Team. She acts as the lead Special Olympics Liaison and Program Director.
Ilanit has a strong work ethic, supported by commitment and a dedication to serving and helping others. This has served her well as a Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams Clients Choice Realty and in her personal life.
She is humbled with the opportunity to coach the Switchbacks Unified Special Olympics Team, and looks forward to helping change people’s perceptions of folks with disabilities, because she knows first-hand, that “when you take the time to get to know people with special needs you will see the special gifts they can provide the world ~ all they need are the opportunities and a chance to be included!”
CHAD BREGG
Coach Chad Bregg started his journey with the Switchbacks Special Olympics Unified team as a peer partner playing on the team and volunteering for two seasons. He was instrumental in helping our athletes grow in confidence and skill set and was one of our Special Olympics Unified team lead player coaches on the field, until he was promoted to a volunteer coaching position in 2023.
He currently works as the Head JV Soccer Coach at Coronado High School and is the Head middle school girls Coach at Thomas Maclaren and works at the Roosevelt Charter Academy too.
He has a degree in History and Education from Springs Arbor University, but a passion for football (American soccer) and is honored that he gets to work and volunteer in the sport he is passionate about.
Chad says “I am grateful for the opportunity to help out with these athletes and coaches. The experience has been so rewarding and uplifting. I am so happy to be a part of the Inclusion Revolution”.
KAYLA FORTNER
Coach Kayla Fortner has a passion for Soccer. She has played soccer since she was 5 years old and she has been involved in playing club soccer until the age of 18. She ranked at the top of her club teams every year and has experience coaching across multiple ages.
Kayla played 4 years at Sand Creek High School on the Varsity soccer team and played soccer at the University of CO Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Adams State University. At Sand Creek High School, she broke school records for the most assists and was named athlete of the year.
She currently works at Let’s Play and Colorado Sports Center and has been one of the off-season volunteer coaches for the Unified Special Olympics Switchbacks Team starting at the end of the 2022 season and has been helping train and prepare athletes since the 2023 season.
She is committed to “giving back to the community” and says “the highlight of my week, and the day I look most forward to every week, is the day that I get to volunteer coach for the Switchbacks Unified Team. I am honored to be a part of this program.”
