Athletic Coaching Staff

Coach Chaconas is a former high school, college, and USL 2 player who has coached at the college level (NCAA Div III), professional level (USL W-League), and every club level.

As a coach, Stephen has won 3 State Titles, and a Regional Finalist. Most recently, he has turned around the Bradford Preparatory Varsity Soccer soccer program, taking the team from 0 wins in 2019, having never qualified to NCSHAA State Playoffs, to back to back 13 win seasons and a 4th round state playoff appearance. Along the way, Stephen won the NCHSAA 1A West ‘Coach of the Year’ award.

Stephen possesses two of the highest licenses in the US, the USSF Senior A License as well as the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma. Stephen specializes in college recruiting and is an educator and “teacher” at heart. Stephen is the current ECNL Boys Director of Coaching at CSA North and will remain in that role. He is also the owner and Head Trainer of F4 Soccer Training.

Married to Tara Reese Chaconas, father to three, owner of one big fluff ball known as Domino.

“We’re so very fortunate to have Coach Chaconas join us at Ambassador’, says Athletic Director Jay Poag. “He has been one of the top soccer coaches in our area for many years. His experience and passion for soccer will serve our student athletes well. You don’t have to be around Stephen for very long before you know he loves God and soccer with his whole heart. He’s going to build one of the top soccer programs around. It will be exciting to watch!”

Coach Horner joins the Ambassador family following a decorated coaching and playing career at nearly every level of women’s soccer. Spanning the better part of the past 2 decades, Robyn has worked as an administrator, director and mentor with over 17 years of coaching experience, 4 years of college senior athletics administrative and club director experience, and she currently coaches in the USL-W, women’s pre-professional soccer. She has played professionally in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and spent 8 seasons playing semi-professionally, of which 5 of those seasons she was named Conference GK Of The Year, and spent 6 as a team captain. She has spent time in both Sports Ministry with the Charlotte Lady Eagles as a player and a coach, and also as a ministry coordinator to the Executive Pastor and special events for Multiply Church Concord.

Robyn is most passionate about creating a positive, challenging environment where young athletes can perform creatively in confidence, feel at home, and enjoys helping athletes navigate the college recruiting experience with her vast network of contacts. She resides in Harrisburg, NC with her husband Paul and three children, Ben, Charlotte, and Sophie.

“There’s not many people around that have the experience that Coach Horner brings to our Girls Soccer program,” says Athletic Director Jay Poag. “She has played and coached at every level. She has the reputation as one of the top goalkeepers in the United States. We’re so fortunate to have her with us at Ambassador. Her passion for her players and her love for the Lord make her such a good fit to lead our program.”

Coach Moore has been a dedicated runner for more than 40 years. He has completed over 75 ultra running events from 50K to 100 miles on both trail and road. He has completed 25 marathons with a lifetime personal record of 3 hours and 10 minutes. Coach Moore is a 6 time finisher of The Boston Marathon. He and his wife, Tamara, have been married for 36 years and they have a daughter, Gabby, who attended Washington and Lee University as a tennis student athlete.

“I’ve been personal friends with David for almost twenty years,” says Ambassador Athletic Director Jay Poag. “I can confidently say that I’ve never met anyone in all of my travels that understands the running world like David does. His incredible running exploits and his mental toughness have always amazed me. His love for distance running and his love for Jesus will serve him well as our Cross Country coach. He makes running fun and I know our student athletes will love him leading our cross country teams.”

Ambassador Christian is pleased to introduce Jay Poag as our Athletic Director. Jay comes to ACS with over 30 years of coaching experience at both the college and high school level. A Davidson College 4 year football letterman (‘87), he has had coaching stops at NC State, Lenoir-Rhyne, Presbyterian College and Davidson. Most recently, he has been Dean of Students and Head Football Coach at Christian Heritage School in Dalton, GA where his teams have qualified for the state playoffs 5 years in a row. He was named the Georgia region ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2020 after leading his squad to an 11-1 record and the school’s first region championship.

“After previously spending 12 years in Lake Norman raising our family, what a blessing to be able to return to the area we absolutely love to help start such a unique school. Ambassador Christian is committed to pursuing excellence and to pointing students towards the Kingdom target! I couldn’t be more excited about joining the ACS team!”

Coach Ross is a lifetime member of the PGA with over 40 years of playing and teaching experience. David began his career as an assistant at Pine Tree Country Club in Kennesaw, GA. As a part-time assistant, David pursued a career as a touring professional, having success on various Mini Tours and PGA Section events. As a young aspiring professional, David began working with Davis Love Jr. Through Davis’s guidance and mentorship, David’s pursuit for playing shifted as he took on a new position as Director of Golf at Seabrook Island. Here, his passion for teaching flourished and his niche for player development began. Since then, David has given over 35,000 lessons in his career, coaching all skill levels from beginner to tour winners. David’s coaching has produced winners on several of the top tours in the world along with several number one ranked junior boys and girls, along with first team All-American college players. His passion to develop future golf stars fosters an environment that pushes him to pursue excellence while pushing others to realize their dreams of playing elite level golf. David is acknowledged by many of his students and peers as one of the top instructors in the Carolinas.

“Coach Ross has been ‘the man’ in the Lake Norman golf circles for a lot of years,” says Athletic Director Jay Poag. “There’s not much that he hasn’t seen or done in the golf world. He is a man of great faith that shares the Ambassador vision of ‘launching Ambassadors for Christ…” He’s one of the most respected golf instructors in the Southeast and we couldn’t be more proud to have him leading our Boys Golf program.”

Coach Sharp graduated from Southlake Christian Academy where he co-captained their team to the 2011 State Championship. As a pitcher and shortstop, Nathan was selected as the Lake Norman Player of the Year, 1st Team Charlotte Observer and All-State Teams; while receiving Southlake’s Christian Character, Heart & Hustle and Wendy’s Heisman Awards. Nathan graduated from Lynchburg College with a degree in Sports Management where he was a 2-year starter, led the team in RBI’s and had a .301 career batting average.

Nathan has been the owner & founder of Soaring Eagles Baseball Academy since 2012, where he currently leads camps, clinics, and lessons with a focus on FUNdamentals, faith, and character development; while encouraging a healthy, competitive spirit amongst his players. When not on the ballfield, Nathan enjoys fitness training, pickleball, golf, wakeboarding, and relaxing with friends. One of Nathan’s favorite life verses comes from Romans 5: 3-4, “We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance develops character; and character leads to hope.”

“Coach Sharp is a well known personality in our area and has built a tremendous reputation for his quality instruction in his baseball academy over the past 12 years,” says Athletic Director Jay Poag. “His positive energy and love for Jesus are so evident whenever he engages with his players and their families. He’s the perfect person to be leading our baseball program.”

Scott Taylor concluded his 17 th year in college and high school basketball this season. The last 8 years have been spent at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC, where he led the Mustangs to the school’s first NCHSAA State Championship in boys basketball during the 2023 campaign. The past 2 seasons Myers Park has compiled a 55-7 record with a top 10 Max Preps national ranking, and an Elite Eight appearance to go along with a state championship. Overall, he has a record of 145-62 at Myers Park. Coach Taylor’s first head coaching position was at Providence High School from 2013-16. Prior to his experience in high school, Coach Taylor spent 6 years as an assistant coach at the Division 2 level at Carson-Newman University and Queens University of Charlotte. He is a 2004 graduate of Florida State University and holds a Masters of Educational Leadership from Carson-Newman.

“We couldn’t be more excited to announce Scott Taylor as our head men’s basketball coach”, says Ambassador Athletic Director Jay Poag.  “Coach Taylor is considered one of the top basketball coaches in the entire Southeast and is coming off of a phenomenal eight year stretch at Myers Park, the state’s largest public school.  His teams have been consistently good at the national level.  It was so obvious through this process that Coach Taylor was the right person to lead our basketball program.  His experience and successes are certainly easy to see, but it is his relational approach to his players and his love for the Lord that make him the perfect fit for Ambassador!  Coach Taylor will also serve as our Dean of Students.  We look forward to seeing him build our men’s basketball program into something really special!”

Coach Temple brings her experience and knowledge to the women’s basketball program at Ambassador Christian. She has 14 years coaching experience, nine years at the collegiate level, playing experience at the Div 1 level and overseas.

Throughout her college coaching career she has coached 2 All-Americans, 4 All-Freshmen and 19 All-Conference players.

In 2022, the coaching staff of 2010 including Temple was inducted into the Gannon University Hall of Fame for their historical year finishing 37-1, ranked #2 in the nation in the final 2010 USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll, and most wins in a season in Div II history.

Since moving to Mooresville, NC she has been very active in the local recreational clubs, program director of LKN Lady Attack and has served as the Middle School Girls Basketball coach at Pine Lake Preparatory for the last two seasons.

Originally a native from Vancouver, Canada she was a four year starter at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC (2002-2006). While at Campbell she was an active member of FCA and SAAC committees.

Temple resides in Mooresville, NC with her husband Alex, and three daughters Isabelle (10), Norah (8) and Edith (5).

“Coach Temple brings a wealth of experience to our girls basketball program,” says Athletic Director Jay Poag. “She has played or coached at virtually every level across the nation. She’s been able to attract a huge following in her short time in this area. Her love for the game and her active faith make her such a good hire for us. We’re blessed to have her leading our Lady Lions basketball program.