OUR TEAM

Andrew Schley

Executive Director & Head Coach

Andrew Schley after a scholastic chess career including state & national championships he sought for a way to give back to a game that has given him so much. Growing the game and coaching the next generation.

Starting to coach & organize chess events all the way back in 2011 has helped several schools & clubs succeed to:

Several Individual & Team Elementary State Champions
Several Individual & Team Middle School State Champions
Several Individual State Champions
Biggest Team Upset at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships

Andrew's gotten to work with and learn from some of the absolute best in the industry. After earning a degree in Elementary Education he's followed his passion of the game through:

The International Academy of Chess (Milwaukee, WI): 2014-2019 Head Coach, Owner 2017-2019
Bay Area Chess (San Jose, CA): 2019-2022 Lead Coach
Mechanics' Institute (San Francisco, CA): 2019-2022 Head Scholastic Coach
Chess.com (Online): 2022-2023 Coach & Club Liaison

Andrew is ready to get back into the classroom. Now having a decade plus of experience Andrew has planted roots here in Madison and is dedicated to growing chess for everyone, regardless of skill, in the Greater Madison Area.

Coach Nehemiah grew up in Maine, competing in chess tournaments in high school. Tied first in the 2017 Maine state scholastic chess. He founded a chess club at his high school and lead one of the UW chess teams in the Collegiate Chess club League. He currently serves as treasurer of the UW Madison Club. Outside of chess Nehemiah has a degree in economics and enjoys hiking, basketball, travel and rock climbing.

Nehemiah Brown

Coach

Kipras Brazauskas

Coach

Kipras started playing in chess tournaments at the age of 10. A former student of Andrew, Kipras has excelled throughout his scholastic chess career by being a cornerstone of multiple state championships for Burleigh Elementary and Pilgrim Park Middle School in Brookfield, WI. While being a leader on the team he and his classmates almost pulled off the trifecta by making it to the high school state championship finals twice, falling just short. While my playing days are far from over, I've found a great joy in coaching. Starting in 2022 I collaborated with Power of Pawns, contributing his efforts to help children in the greater Milwaukee Area learn and explore the boundless possibilities of chess.

Kipras is currently studying computer science and finance here at UW Madison.