THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 – As Louisville City FC prepares for its new Youth Academy this summer, Soccer Holdings Youth Academy Director Mario Sanchez and LouCity Academy Director Simon Bird announced new additions to the coaching staff Thursday.
“We are thrilled that we are now able to offer the youth in the Kentuckiana area a clear pathway to the pros,” Sanchez said. “The coaching staff we have put together will create an environment and culture which will prepare each individual player for the mental, physical, technical and tactical challenges that come with being a professional soccer player. This daily environment will give each player the best opportunity to pursue their dream.”
The new coaches will begin working for LouCity Academy to prepare for tryouts, which will be announced later this Spring.
“These are coaches we identified very early on in this process as guys we want part of our program,” Bird said. “Not only are they wonderful coaches, but they are great people that fit into our culture and the way we want to do things. Ultimately, we want to provide a platform for development that is bigger than what is out there. Our coaches provide a wealth of experience in the professional and college game, and we know that experience will be huge for our players.”
The Youth Academy will start at U-8 (local youth born in 2013) through U-19 (local players born in 2002), and the season is expected to run from late July until mid-May for pre-high schoolers and from late Fall through late May for high school players so that players will still be available to play for their local schools. LouCity Academy will be the first club in Kentucky to compete in the prestigious Boys ECNL, a league that includes many of the top clubs in America.
LouCity Academy will be coached by the following full-time staff:
James O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Development
The former coach at Louisville City from 2015-2018 and coach at Orlando City in 2018-2019, O’Connor brings a wealth of experience in soccer at all levels. O’Connor was crucial in the development of Louisville City when the club began in 2015, helping the club win its first USL Championship Title in 2017, knocking off the Swope Park Rangers in a historic match at Louisville Slugger Field. Prior to coaching Louisville City and Orlando City, the Dublin, Ireland, native played for the Irish Under-21s while beginning his career with Stoke City from 1996-2003. He was part of West Bromwich Albion from 2003-2005, playing on loan at Burnley from 2004-05 before becoming part of Burnley’s club from 2005-2008. After three seasons at Sheffield Wednesday, O’Connor moved to Orlando City in the MLS, working as a player-coach for Orlando City during his final season. Louisville City began as an affiliate of Orlando City, and when Orlando City sold their rights to their USL Pro team to Soccer Holdings in Louisville, O’Connor was tabbed to become Louisville City’s first head coach.
Mario Sanchez, Soccer Holdings Academy Director
Sanchez, a USSF ‘A’ license coach with 21 years of NCAA Div. I coaching experience as an Assistant and Head Coach, joined Louisville City FC in 2019 as the Director of Youth Development. The California native played collegiately at Fresno State before playing for three teams in professional soccer until 2001. An assistant at his alma mater from 1999-2003, Sanchez moved to Akron for three seasons before becoming the head coach at UNLV. An assistant at the University of Louisville from 2010-15, Sanchez was a part of UofL’s most-successful seasons before he became the head coach at SIUE in 2015. In addition to being the Academy Director for Louisville City, Sanchez will also coach the club’s U23 team which will compete in USL League Two.
Simon Bird, Louisville City FC Academy Director
The Lincoln, England, native was a star at the University of Louisville from 2001-04, earning Conference USA Player of the Year in 2003, and had a six-year professional career in England before returning as a University of Louisville Assistant Coach from 2009-12. A fixture on the local soccer scene, Bird has worked as Oldham Soccer Club’s Director of Coaching and Kentucky Fire Juniors Boys Director. Bird holds an A License from the U.S. Soccer Federation and is a Qualified Teacher for High School Physical Education and Sports Science.
Brock Hickam, Junior Academy Director for Boys and Girls
The Murphysboro, Ill., native began coaching at his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University in 1994 and has been a youth or college coach ever since. Holding a B License from the U.S. Soccer Federation, Hickam has a National Youth License, a Grassroots Instructors License and has diplomas from the United Soccer Coaches Association in the Curriculum Development, Director of Coaching and Advanced National disciplines. Hickam has worked with the Chicago Fire ETP, Kentucky Fire Juniors, and Indy Premier Soccer at the youth level.
Thabane Sutu, Academy Goalkeeping Director
The Maseru, Lesotho native, has coached goalkeepers at the top levels of American Soccer with Orlando City of MLS and Louisville City FC of the USL Championship. Sutu, who played professionally in Lesotho with Arsenal and in Egypt with the club Al Ahly, has been coaching top-level goalkeepers in the Louisville area for nearly two decades first. Sutu was inducted into the Kentucky Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018 for his work with Louisville City and his time with United 1996, winning Kentucky’s Coach of the Year in 2006 and a state title in 2009.
Craig Jones, Academy Director of Soccer Operations
A successful head coach at Hanover College and a longtime assistant coach at Bellarmine University, Jones has been working with elite local soccer players for nearly two decades. A native of Washington where he played for Western Washington University, Jones earned his Master’s in Sports Administration from Louisville in 2002. In addition to his experience coaching collegiate soccer, Jones has more than a decade of experience coaching at the youth level with United 1996 and Kentucky Fire Juniors. He holds a USSF A License and a National Youth Coaching License.
In addition to the full-time staff, LouCity Academy is proud to announce the following staff coaches.
NEW YOUTH ACADEMY COACHES:
Brian Davis, Academy Staff Coach
The Louisville native is one of the top scorers in Kentucky High School history, scoring 87 goals for Seneca High school from 1992-96, before playing at Spalding University. With over a decade of youth coaching experience, Davis coached with Javanon FC since 2014 and has also worked with Spencer County for the last two seasons. Davis holds a USSF C License and was named Kentucky Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year in 2019. He also worked with the 2009 Boys as an Olympic Development Coach.
Hylton Dayes, Academy Staff Coach
The winningest men’s soccer coach in University of Cincinnati history, Dayes guided the Bearcats through transitions from Conference USA to the Big East and American Athletic Conference during his 19 seasons in Cincinnati. The Kingston, Jamaica, native is a Hall of Fame member at his alma mater, Wright State, has been a coach for more than two decades. The 2003 Conference USA Coach of the Year, Dayes led the Bearcats to league titles in 2003 and 2006, mentored three NSCAA All-Americans, three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and 39 all-conference selections during his tenure. Dayes is married to University of Louisville coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes.
Jesse DiLuzio, Academy Staff Coach
A native of Long Island, NY, DiLuzio began his coaching career working with a non-profit organization called Coaches Across Continents. During his 6 months with the organization, he gained valuable coaching experience in Indonesia, India, Georgia, and Jordan where he learned the power of using soccer as a vehicle for social change. Following his arrival back in the United States, DiLuzio coached youth soccer in New York before coming to the University of Louisville as a Graduate Assistant. While working with UofL, DiLuzio also coached the ‘08 and ‘02 Boys teams for Kentucky Fire Juniors. DiLuzio played collegiately at Centre College, captaining the team for two seasons while receiving all-conference and all-region honors. He currently holds a USSF D License and plans on receiving his C License this summer.
Shaun Francis, Academy Staff Coach
The Mandeville, Jamaica, native played at the top levels of North American soccer for more than a decade at the MLS, USL Championship levels. A gifted defender, Francis played with the Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, San Jose Earthquakes and Montreal Impact of MLS before coming to Louisville City FC in 2018. Prior to his impressive professional career, Francis helped Lindsey Wilson College win the 2009 NAIA title. In addition to his professional experience, Francis has been a frequent contributor to the Jamaican National Team since his first call-up in 2010.
Brett Gregory, Academy Staff Coach
The St. Louis native came to Louisville to play for Bellarmine University from 2007-2010 while playing for the St. Louis Lions in USL League Two. He also played with the Derby City Rovers in USL League Two. After graduation, Gregory began as the Director of Operations with the Kentucky Fire Juniors from 2011-2016 before coaching with the Louisville Soccer Alliance in 2017-18 and returned to Kentucky Fire Juniors in 2019. Gregory holds a USSF B License.
Joe Jessop, Academy Staff Coach
The Lincoln, England, native came to America to play collegiately at St. Catherine College. After play three seasons for Patriots, Jessop played his final season at Midway University in 2017. Currently an assistant coach at Bellarmine University, Jessop was the Academy Director at Oldham Soccer Club from 2017 until earlier this year. Jessop currently holds a USSF D License and will attain his C License in 2020.
Andrew Minnis, Academy Staff Coach
A native of Rineyville, Ky., Minnis played for Thabane Sutu with United 1996 FC and the Kentucky ODP and Region 2 teams as a prep star. He also earned 2016 KYSA Youth Soccer Player of the Year and was a U.S. Youth Soccer Player of the Month in April 2018 as well as 2018 Sporting Times Magazine Athlete of the Year. He captained the Kentucky team during games in Holland. Minnis played at the University of Cincinnati and is currently playing for Bellarmine University. Minnis’ previous coaching experience includes time with Athletico Flames in Elizabethtown and Ohio Elite in Louisville.
Michael Roman, Academy Staff Coach
A Southern California native, Roman was a prep star at Rio Mesa HS in Oxnard, Calif. A member of the Cal South Olympic Development Program, Region IV, and US Youth National Team (U15 & U18), Roman then played collegiately for UCLA and the University of Louisville. Roman played with Venture County Fusion of USL League Two for four seasons while he began his coaching career. Roman has worked with Ventura County Fusion (CA), Vienna Youth Soccer (VA), and Oldham County Soccer Club (KY) and is an Assistant Coach for Kentucky Country Day School’s Boys JV and Varsity programs. Roman holds his USSF D License, USYS National Youth License and is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Luke Spencer, Academy Staff Coach
The star of Louisville City’s 2018 USL Championship Final win, Spencer is a Louisville City legend. Born in Augsburg, Germany, Spencer played prep and collegiate soccer in the Cincinnati area at Xavier from 2009-12 before being drafted by the New England Revolution of MLS and then playing with FC Cincinnati. Spencer came to Louisville City in 2017 and immediately fit into the club’s competitive atmosphere. Spencer helped coach the club in 2018 during a coaching transition and is going to help coach the Youth Academy while playing for Louisville City this season.
For more information on the upcoming youth academies, please visit www.loucity.com/Academy.
