Haverstraw United FC Technical Staff

Technical Director

Steward Ceus

Steward Ceus, a West Haverstraw native, is a former professional soccer player who played in the MLS, NASL, and the Haiti Men’s National Team. 

Following a record breaking career at North Rockland High School, Ceus earned a Presidential Academic Scholarship as well as an athletic scholarship to play soccer at SUNY Albany. After a stellar senior year he was honored as a Division I All-American, All America East Team and America East Goalkeeper of the Year. Ceus also made the All-America East Academic team three times as a Great Dane.

Steward decided to forego his spring semester to follow his dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. He was selected by the Colorado Rapids with the thirty seventh overall pick of the 2009 MLS Superdraft.

In his first year with the Rapids, Steward was sent on loan to a struggling Charlotte Eagles team to gain experience. He played a major role in their run to reach the USL Championship that summer. Ceus returned to the Rapids more confident than ever. He worked his way up the depth chart and ultimately won the 2010 MLS Cup Championship. That same year, he received his first call-up to the Haitian National Team with whom he began the campaign for World Cup Qualification.

After five seasons with the Colorado Rapids, Ceus signed with Narpes Kraft in Finland. He helped lead the team to one of their best overall seasons with a third place finish on the league table. He went on to sign with the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks in February of 2015. He was named Goalkeeper of the Week in his first appearance for the Silverbacks in a scoreless draw to the eventual league champion NY Cosmos.

Ceus returned to the Haitian National Team to represent his country in the 2015 Gold Cup and for a chance at 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. He penned his name in the history books in an epic match against Trinidad and Tobago that earned Haiti a spot in the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

In 2015 Ceus completed his final coursework graduating magna cum laude from University of Albany with a B.S. in Biology.

Ceus inked a contract with Minnesota United FC on May 2, 2016. He was also called back to Haiti in June for the 2016 Copa America Centenario Team. In each appearance, the eight-year veteran displays powerful control of the penalty area, vocal command of his back line, aerial dominance, exceptional reflexes and keen ability to make difficult saves.

In 2017, Ceus signed to play with the San Francisco Deltas where he won an NASL Championship.  He went on to play 2 years for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks until finally moving back home to play for the NY Cosmos in 2020.  

Recognizing the role that soccer plays in improving education and community, Ceus hopes to channel his dedication to the game and passion for teaching to inspire the leaders of tomorrow; encouraging them to identify, strengthen, and apply their mental, physical, and creative talent as launching pad to future success.  Ceus is proud to build programs in the NY/NJ area that give student athletes an opportunity to reach their goals and expand their horizons.  

Head Coach

Kevin Gray

Kevin M. Gray is a tenured soccer coach residing in New York who comes from a storied lineage of soccer players from the highest leagues in England.

Having his professional soccer career as a striker with Southend United Football Club cut short due to injuries, Kevin Gray went on to use his professional background to coach Cedar Stars Academy in New Jersey. Coming into coach one of the youngest clubs in its league, Kevin Gray quickly raised their stature to become one of the top teams in national ranking on the East Coast. With appearances and #1 Spot winnings in the Jefferson Cup, PA Classic and NJ State Championships, Kevin Gray went on to lead a dominating Cedar Stars to three consecutive championships in the Wildwood Futsal tournament. Coach Kevin went on to continue his reign as Head Coach for the Girls U 13 in Westchester FC. With Multiple winnings and 3 consecutive East Coast tournament championships, Coach Kevin rejuvenated this girls team and put them on a winning path while simultaneously running multiple training sessions and building a brand at his own Soccer School. With imperative skills and talented training methods he led his twin sons to the U.S.A. U15 National Team. From the astonishing performance in the National Team, in 2019, Tayvon Gray was the Captain for the U17 World Cup squad for USA in Brazil. Coach Kevin’s unique skills did not stop there, his eagerness for success led the way for several players and his son Tayvon Gray to a Professional Soccer career, currently Tayvon holds the starting position at Right Back with MLS Club NYCFC. Kevin’s outstanding work and dedication led his other son Kayvon Gray to Division I Soccer Team Manhattan College -currently holding the Attacker position on the Manhattan Jaspers. Coach Kevin has also worked with his brother Kemar “Taxi” Lawrence who started playing professionally with NY Red Bulls, then venturing onto Europe playing for one of Belgium’s top team Anderlecht then went onto play for Toronto FC and playing currently with Minnesota FC.

 After establishing Cedar Stars as a winning academy and dominating Westchester County he decided to increase his talent and founded his own Soccer School (NIVEK Soccer School-NSS). As CFO since 2017 Kevin Gray works with young talents from age 5 to Adulthood. There is no challenge too big or too small. Everyone has promising talent. A hard working family man with witty humor and a smile for every completed task, Coach Kevin lives and works by the following 5P’s: Proper -Preparation -Prevents Poor -Performance