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2019 was a big year for Raleigh native DJ Taylor, who just completed his third season with North Carolina FC, his hometown club. 

The former NCFC Youth Academy standout starred at right back in head coach Dave Sarachan's first season in charge, recording one goal and six assists as he was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year. This past season, Taylor played more minutes (3,123) than any other NCFC player and appeared in 35 of the team’s 37 competitive matches across all competitions. 

Having re-signed with NCFC, Taylor said the team has some "some unfinished business to attend to" in 2020. 

2019 was a big year for Raleigh native DJ Taylor, who just completed his third season with North Carolina FC, his hometown club. 

The former NCFC Youth Academy standout starred at right back in head coach Dave Sarachan’s first season in charge, recording one goal and six assists as he was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. This past season, Taylor played more minutes (3,123) than any other NCFC player and appeared in 35 of the team’s 37 competitive matches across all competitions. 

Having re-signed with NCFC, Taylor said the team has some “some unfinished business to attend to” in 2020. 

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 17, 2020) – A continuation of North Carolina FC’s youth-to-pro pipeline, NCFC announced on Friday the signings of teenagers Adam Armour, Trace Alphin and Luke Hille to academy contracts ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval. As part of the deal, each player will be available to train and play in first-team matches while maintaining their college eligibility.

Each members of the NCFC Youth Academy U-18/19 squad, Armour, Alphin and Hille will link up with head coach Dave Sarachan’s NCFC squad for preseason training, which begins on Monday, Feb. 3. 

“Development in our system here at NCFC is about trying to push players to the highest level,” Sarachan said. “When a player gets the opportunity to jump in day in and day out with full-time professionals, everything gets faster in terms of technique and thinking. For young players to experience that within our club, it’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Armour and Alphin, both aged 17, are returning for their second season with the NCFC first team, having spent 2019 on academy contracts. Hille, 16, is the 19th player all-time to sign an academy contract with the NCFC first team. 

Armour, a Cary native, is among the most promising youth players in the U.S., having played in 19 matches at the international level with the U.S. U-17 National Team, including an appearance at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The skillful left back, who is verbally committed to Duke University, made his first appearance for NCFC in the team’s 2-1 exhibition win over Necaxa of Liga MX in March 2019. 

“As Adam begins his second go-around with us, the comfort level of being with pros every day and the expectations of what’s demanded every day means his starting point will be quite high,” Sarachan said.

Continuing the NCFC Youth Academy’s tradition of producing top-tier goalkeepers, Alphin was named to Sarachan’s matchday squad three times in 2019, including NCFC’s U.S. Open Cup match against New York City FC of Major League Soccer. Like Armour, Alphin plans to play collegiately at an in-state ACC school, having verbally pledged to Wake Forest University. 

“By the end, Trace really adjusted well to the speed and the power that comes with professional soccer,” Sarachan said. “I think his starting point coming into this year will be way higher than it was last year – physically, mentally and tactically.”

Both Alphin and Armour also appeared for NCFC U-23 in USL League Two action in 2019, continuing their development under head coach Tom Harris. 

A versatile playmaker, Hille can play in both the midfield and at forward. The Cary native has scored six goals in 11 matches for the NCFC U 18/19 squad during the 2019-20 season, and also carries a reputation for his defensive work rate. 

“I had gotten to see Luke over the past year with some of the teams he’s been a part of with our academy,” Sarachan said. “He’s a pretty mature young man. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and physically, he’ll be very capable right away to keep up with the pace. He has a strong mentality as well, and he’s just got the profile of a young guy I feel can succeed early on.”

In the last five years, the NCFC Youth Academy has had 33 players called into youth national team camps, nine sign professional contracts with MLS clubs and over 100 commit to play at the college level. Three players from the 2019 NCFC U-23 squad were recently selected in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, including first-round selection Jeremy Kelly, a product of the NCFC Youth Academy and the NCFC first team. 

“This is a tremendously important piece of our overall club structure,” said John Bradford, NCFC Youth Academy director and NCFC assistant coach. “It’s just the accepted way of how we do player development. We always want our top players to have the opportunity to be with the first team, and we truly believe we’re producing players who have professional soccer in their futures. For us to ease them in and manage their progress is the ideal scenario.” 

With just over seven weeks remaining until the start of the regular season, NCFC’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith, Pecka and Luke Hille; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Conor Donovan, DJ Taylor and Adam Armour; and goalkeepers Alex Tambakis and Trace Alphin

NCFC opens up its 2020 campaign at home against Louisville City FC on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Single-game tickets for the 2020 season will go on sale on Feb. 3.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 17, 2020) – A continuation of North Carolina FC’s youth-to-pro pipeline, NCFC announced on Friday the signings of teenagers Adam Armour, Trace Alphin and Luke Hille to academy contracts ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval. As part of the deal, each player will be available to train and play in first-team matches while maintaining their college eligibility.

Each members of the NCFC Youth Academy U-18/19 squad, Armour, Alphin and Hille will link up with head coach Dave Sarachan’s NCFC squad for preseason training, which begins on Monday, Feb. 3. 

“Development in our system here at NCFC is about trying to push players to the highest level,” Sarachan said. “When a player gets the opportunity to jump in day in and day out with full-time professionals, everything gets faster in terms of technique and thinking. For young players to experience that within our club, it’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Armour and Alphin, both aged 17, are returning for their second season with the NCFC first team, having spent 2019 on academy contracts. Hille, 16, is the 19th player all-time to sign an academy contract with the NCFC first team. 

Armour, a Cary native, is among the most promising youth players in the U.S., having played in 19 matches at the international level with the U.S. U-17 National Team, including an appearance at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The skillful left back, who is verbally committed to Duke University, made his first appearance for NCFC in the team’s 2-1 exhibition win over Necaxa of Liga MX in March 2019. 

“As Adam begins his second go-around with us, the comfort level of being with pros every day and the expectations of what’s demanded every day means his starting point will be quite high,” Sarachan said.

Continuing the NCFC Youth Academy’s tradition of producing top-tier goalkeepers, Alphin was named to Sarachan’s matchday squad three times in 2019, including NCFC’s U.S. Open Cup match against New York City FC of Major League Soccer. Like Armour, Alphin plans to play collegiately at an in-state ACC school, having verbally pledged to Wake Forest University. 

“By the end, Trace really adjusted well to the speed and the power that comes with professional soccer,” Sarachan said. “I think his starting point coming into this year will be way higher than it was last year – physically, mentally and tactically.”

Both Alphin and Armour also appeared for NCFC U-23 in USL League Two action in 2019, continuing their development under head coach Tom Harris. 

A versatile playmaker, Hille can play in both the midfield and at forward. The Cary native has scored six goals in 11 matches for the NCFC U 18/19 squad during the 2019-20 season, and also carries a reputation for his defensive work rate. 

“I had gotten to see Luke over the past year with some of the teams he’s been a part of with our academy,” Sarachan said. “He’s a pretty mature young man. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and physically, he’ll be very capable right away to keep up with the pace. He has a strong mentality as well, and he’s just got the profile of a young guy I feel can succeed early on.”

In the last five years, the NCFC Youth Academy has had 33 players called into youth national team camps, nine sign professional contracts with MLS clubs and over 100 commit to play at the college level. Three players from the 2019 NCFC U-23 squad were recently selected in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, including first-round selection Jeremy Kelly, a product of the NCFC Youth Academy and the NCFC first team. 

“This is a tremendously important piece of our overall club structure,” said John Bradford, NCFC Youth Academy director and NCFC assistant coach. “It’s just the accepted way of how we do player development. We always want our top players to have the opportunity to be with the first team, and we truly believe we’re producing players who have professional soccer in their futures. For us to ease them in and manage their progress is the ideal scenario.” 

With just over seven weeks remaining until the start of the regular season, NCFC’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith, Pecka and Luke Hille; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Conor Donovan, DJ Taylor and Adam Armour; and goalkeepers Alex Tambakis and Trace Alphin

NCFC opens up its 2020 campaign at home against Louisville City FC on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Single-game tickets for the 2020 season will go on sale on Feb. 3.

Download the 2020 North Carolina FC schedule to your calendar

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2020) – North Carolina FC unveiled the entirety of its 2020 USL Championship schedule on Thursday, as the club will play 34 games over the course of a regular season that spans 224 days from March through October. 

As previously announced, NCFC for the second consecutive season will begin its campaign with a home match against Louisville City FC, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team will host the defending Eastern Conference champions on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. In last year’s season opener, NCFC defeated Lou City 4-1. 

The match is the first of 17 home games and one of two in the month of March, as NCFC will also host Philadelphia Union II on Saturday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m. 

NCFC’s first away game of the season comes on March 21, as it travels to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium, where it recorded a 3-1 win last season. 

As revealed on Wednesday, two NCFC matches will be broadcast nationally as part of the USL’s rights agreement with ESPN. On Friday, April 3, NCFC’s home game against rival Charlotte Independence will air on ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. 

NCFC’s regular-season home finale, a Friday night tilt against the Charleston Battery on Oct. 2, will be televised on ESPNews with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The last time NCFC played on ESPNews, it defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-2 in August 2019.

Outside of its first two matches of the season and its two nationally televised games, start times for NCFC's other 30 matches are to be determined. 

With an odd number of teams in the Eastern Conference in 2020, NCFC will play two opponents three times: Charlotte Independence and Loudoun United. 

Two of NCFC’s three matches against Charlotte will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park, with the first coming on Friday, April 2, and the second on Saturday, Sept. 19. NCFC’s lone visit to Matthews comes on Friday, June 12. Since 2015, NCFC is 6W-1L-1D in competitive matches against Charlotte, with a 24-6 goal differential. 

Meanwhile, NCFC will face second-year USL Championship club Loudoun United on the road twice and once at home. NCFC’s first trip to the D.C. United-affiliated club comes on Wednesday, May 13. Sarachan’s team then hosts Loudoun United on Saturday, June 27, before once again visiting Loudoun on Sunday, Aug. 30. 

NCFC’s longest homestand of the season comes in late April and early May, as the team will host Birmingham Legion FC on April 25, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on May 2 and Memphis 901 FC on May 9. Additionally, four of NCFC’s five games between May 30-June 27 come at home (5/30 vs. New York Red Bulls II; 6/6 vs. Hartford Athletic; 6/20 vs. Saint Louis FC; and 6/27 vs. Loudoun United). 

Sarachan’s group has a pair of three-game road trips, with one coming in May (5/13 at Loudoun United; 5/16 at Charleston Battery; and 5/23 at Indy Eleven) and the other in July (7/4 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC; 7/11 at Memphis 901 FC; and 7/18 at Hartford Athletic). 

NCFC closes out the regular season with the reverse fixture of its opener, as it travels to take on Lou City in the newly completed Lynn Family Stadium on Oct. 17. 

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top 10 teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences will qualify for the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, which will open with the Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card Round on Wednesday, October 21. The Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals will then be held between October 24-25, the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals between October 30-November 1 and the Eastern and Western Conference Finals between November 6-8.

The 2020 USL Championship Final to conclude the league’s 10th anniversary season will be held between November 12-16 and aired on an ESPN broadcast network.

With just under two months remaining until the season kicks off, NCFC continues to build its roster. The team’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan; and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

North Carolina FC 2020 USL Championship Schedule 

Saturday, March 7, 2:30 p.m. – Louisville City FC 
Saturday, March 14, 2:30 p.m. – Philadelphia Union II 
Saturday, March 21, TBD – @ Tampa Bay Rowdies 

Friday, April 3, 7 p.m. – Charlotte Independence 
Saturday, April 11, TBD – @ Atlanta United 2 
Wednesday, April 15, TBD – @ Sporting Kansas City II 
Saturday, April 25, TBD – Birmingham Legion FC 

Saturday, May 2, TBD – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 
Saturday, May 9, TBD – Memphis 901 FC 
Wednesday, May 13, TBD – @ Loudoun United 
Saturday, May 16, TBD – @ Charleston Battery
Saturday, May 23, TBD – @ Indy Eleven 
Saturday, May 30, TBD – New York Red Bulls II

Saturday, June 6, TBD – Hartford Athletic 
Friday, June 12, TBD – @  Charlotte Independence 
Saturday, June 20, TBD – Saint Louis FC 
Saturday, June 27, TBD – Loudoun United 

Saturday, July 4, TBD – @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 
Saturday, July 11, TBD – @ Memphis 901 FC 
Saturday, July 18, TBD – @ Hartford Athletic 
Saturday, July 25, TBD – Tampa Bay Rowdies 

Sunday, Aug. 2, TBD – @ New York Red Bulls II 
Thursday, Aug. 6, TBD – Indy Eleven 
Saturday, Aug. 15, TBD – Sporting Kansas City II 
Sunday, Aug. 23, TBD – @ Philadelphia Union II 
Sunday, Aug. 30, TBD – @ Loudoun United 

Saturday, Sept. 5, TBD – Atlanta United 2 
Friday, Sept. 11, TBD – @ Miami FC 
Saturday, Sept. 19, TBD – Charlotte Independence 
Wednesday, Sept. 23, TBD – Miami FC 
Saturday, Sept. 26, TBD – @ Saint Louis FC 

Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. – Charleston Battery 
Saturday, Oct. 10, TBD – @ Birmingham Legion FC 
Saturday, Oct. 17, TBD – @Louisville City FC

Download the 2020 North Carolina FC schedule to your calendar

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2020) – North Carolina FC unveiled the entirety of its 2020 USL Championship schedule on Thursday, as the club will play 34 games over the course of a regular season that spans 224 days from March through October. 

As previously announced, NCFC for the second consecutive season will begin its campaign with a home match against Louisville City FC, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team will host the defending Eastern Conference champions on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. In last year’s season opener, NCFC defeated Lou City 4-1. 

The match is the first of 17 home games and one of two in the month of March, as NCFC will also host Philadelphia Union II on Saturday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m. 

NCFC’s first away game of the season comes on March 21, as it travels to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium, where it recorded a 3-1 win last season. 

As revealed on Wednesday, two NCFC matches will be broadcast nationally as part of the USL’s rights agreement with ESPN. On Friday, April 3, NCFC’s home game against rival Charlotte Independence will air on ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. 

NCFC’s regular-season home finale, a Friday night tilt against the Charleston Battery on Oct. 2, will be televised on ESPNews with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The last time NCFC played on ESPNews, it defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-2 in August 2019.

Outside of its first two matches of the season and its two nationally televised games, start times for NCFC’s other 30 matches are to be determined. 

With an odd number of teams in the Eastern Conference in 2020, NCFC will play two opponents three times: Charlotte Independence and Loudoun United. 

Two of NCFC’s three matches against Charlotte will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park, with the first coming on Friday, April 2, and the second on Saturday, Sept. 19. NCFC’s lone visit to Matthews comes on Friday, June 12. Since 2015, NCFC is 6W-1L-1D in competitive matches against Charlotte, with a 24-6 goal differential. 

Meanwhile, NCFC will face second-year USL Championship club Loudoun United on the road twice and once at home. NCFC’s first trip to the D.C. United-affiliated club comes on Wednesday, May 13. Sarachan’s team then hosts Loudoun United on Saturday, June 27, before once again visiting Loudoun on Sunday, Aug. 30. 

NCFC’s longest homestand of the season comes in late April and early May, as the team will host Birmingham Legion FC on April 25, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on May 2 and Memphis 901 FC on May 9. Additionally, four of NCFC’s five games between May 30-June 27 come at home (5/30 vs. New York Red Bulls II; 6/6 vs. Hartford Athletic; 6/20 vs. Saint Louis FC; and 6/27 vs. Loudoun United). 

Sarachan’s group has a pair of three-game road trips, with one coming in May (5/13 at Loudoun United; 5/16 at Charleston Battery; and 5/23 at Indy Eleven) and the other in July (7/4 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC; 7/11 at Memphis 901 FC; and 7/18 at Hartford Athletic). 

NCFC closes out the regular season with the reverse fixture of its opener, as it travels to take on Lou City in the newly completed Lynn Family Stadium on Oct. 17. 

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top 10 teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences will qualify for the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, which will open with the Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card Round on Wednesday, October 21. The Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals will then be held between October 24-25, the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals between October 30-November 1 and the Eastern and Western Conference Finals between November 6-8.

The 2020 USL Championship Final to conclude the league’s 10th anniversary season will be held between November 12-16 and aired on an ESPN broadcast network.

With just under two months remaining until the season kicks off, NCFC continues to build its roster. The team’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan; and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

North Carolina FC 2020 USL Championship Schedule 

Saturday, March 7, 2:30 p.m. – Louisville City FC 
Saturday, March 14, 2:30 p.m. – Philadelphia Union II 
Saturday, March 21, TBD – @ Tampa Bay Rowdies 

Friday, April 3, 7 p.m. – Charlotte Independence 
Saturday, April 11, TBD – @ Atlanta United 2 
Wednesday, April 15, TBD – @ Sporting Kansas City II 
Saturday, April 25, TBD – Birmingham Legion FC 

Saturday, May 2, TBD – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 
Saturday, May 9, TBD – Memphis 901 FC 
Wednesday, May 13, TBD – @ Loudoun United 
Saturday, May 16, TBD – @ Charleston Battery
Saturday, May 23, TBD – @ Indy Eleven 
Saturday, May 30, TBD – New York Red Bulls II

Saturday, June 6, TBD – Hartford Athletic 
Friday, June 12, TBD – @  Charlotte Independence 
Saturday, June 20, TBD – Saint Louis FC 
Saturday, June 27, TBD – Loudoun United 

Saturday, July 4, TBD – @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 
Saturday, July 11, TBD – @ Memphis 901 FC 
Saturday, July 18, TBD – @ Hartford Athletic 
Saturday, July 25, TBD – Tampa Bay Rowdies 

Sunday, Aug. 2, TBD – @ New York Red Bulls II 
Thursday, Aug. 6, TBD – Indy Eleven 
Saturday, Aug. 15, TBD – Sporting Kansas City II 
Sunday, Aug. 23, TBD – @ Philadelphia Union II 
Sunday, Aug. 30, TBD – @ Loudoun United 

Saturday, Sept. 5, TBD – Atlanta United 2 
Friday, Sept. 11, TBD – @ Miami FC 
Saturday, Sept. 19, TBD – Charlotte Independence 
Wednesday, Sept. 23, TBD – Miami FC 
Saturday, Sept. 26, TBD – @ Saint Louis FC 

Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. – Charleston Battery 
Saturday, Oct. 10, TBD – @ Birmingham Legion FC 
Saturday, Oct. 17, TBD – @Louisville City FC

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2020)- The North Carolina Football Club is holding auditions for National Anthem singers for the North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage 2020 season. The National Anthem is sung before each home match at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Solo acts or groups are encouraged to audition.

All ages are welcome to submit an application. Instrumentalists can also apply. The audition order will be determined on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Those interested in the opportunity can apply by emailing a video or audio clip singing the National Anthem to info@https://www.northcarolinafc.com. Applications will be accepted through February 1st. Further instruction will be provided once the audition clip has been received.

###

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2020)- The North Carolina Football Club is holding auditions for National Anthem singers for the North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage 2020 season. The National Anthem is sung before each home match at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Solo acts or groups are encouraged to audition.

All ages are welcome to submit an application. Instrumentalists can also apply. The audition order will be determined on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Those interested in the opportunity can apply by emailing a video or audio clip singing the National Anthem to info@https://www.northcarolinafc.com. Applications will be accepted through February 1st. Further instruction will be provided once the audition clip has been received.

###

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2020) – Two of North Carolina FC’s matches against Southern Derby opponents will be broadcast nationally in 2020, as announced by the USL Championship on Wednesday. 

On Friday, April 3, NCFC’s home game against rival Charlotte Independence will air on ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. The match is one of 10 USL Championship games to be broadcast on the Spanish-language network in 2020, as part of the USL’s new rights agreement with ESPN. 

NCFC’s final home game of the regular season, a Friday night tilt against the Charleston Battery on Oct. 2, will be televised on ESPNews with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The last time NCFC played on ESPNews, it defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-2 in August 2019.

Overall, 19 USL Championship regular-season matches will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, while more than 590 league matches will air on ESPN+, the industry-leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming platform. Additionally, the USL Championship Final will be televised on ESPN2. 

NCFC’s 2020 regular season begins on March 7, as the team hosts Louisville City FC. Season tickets are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

About USL
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two, the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 100 clubs in its membership.
 
Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown over the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships, stable organizational leadership, and a dedicated staff that provides outstanding support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in the United States and Canada.
 
About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – eight  U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown quickly to 3.5 million subscribers in 18 months, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 
 
Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.
 
Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com. It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ — all for just $12.99/month.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2020) – Two of North Carolina FC’s matches against Southern Derby opponents will be broadcast nationally in 2020, as announced by the USL Championship on Wednesday. 

On Friday, April 3, NCFC’s home game against rival Charlotte Independence will air on ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. The match is one of 10 USL Championship games to be broadcast on the Spanish-language network in 2020, as part of the USL’s new rights agreement with ESPN. 

NCFC’s final home game of the regular season, a Friday night tilt against the Charleston Battery on Oct. 2, will be televised on ESPNews with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The last time NCFC played on ESPNews, it defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-2 in August 2019.

Overall, 19 USL Championship regular-season matches will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, while more than 590 league matches will air on ESPN+, the industry-leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming platform. Additionally, the USL Championship Final will be televised on ESPN2. 

NCFC’s 2020 regular season begins on March 7, as the team hosts Louisville City FC. Season tickets are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

About USL
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship, USL League One, and USL League Two, the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 100 clubs in its membership.
 
Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown over the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships, stable organizational leadership, and a dedicated staff that provides outstanding support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in the United States and Canada.
 
About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – eight  U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown quickly to 3.5 million subscribers in 18 months, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 
 
Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.
 
Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com. It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ — all for just $12.99/month.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2020) – For the second straight season, North Carolina FC will open its USL Championship campaign with a home match against Louisville City FC, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team is set to host the defending Eastern Conference champions on Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. 

Last year, NCFC kicked off the 2019 season with a 4-1 victory over Lou City in Sarachan’s first game as head coach. NCFC split the regular-season series with Lou City a season ago, with the home team winning each game. 

All time, NCFC is a stellar 8W-2L-3D in home openers. A season ago, NCFC matched a club record with 11 regular-season home wins, as the team finished with the third-best home form in the USL Championship (11W-1L-5D, 38 points). 

The entirety of NCFC's schedule will be released later this week. The 2020 season will be the 10th in USL Championship history. For more information on the league's full slate of home openers, visit www.USLChampionship.com

With just over two months remaining until the season kicks off, NCFC continues to build its roster. The team’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan; and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2020) – For the second straight season, North Carolina FC will open its USL Championship campaign with a home match against Louisville City FC, as head coach Dave Sarachan’s team is set to host the defending Eastern Conference champions on Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. 

Last year, NCFC kicked off the 2019 season with a 4-1 victory over Lou City in Sarachan’s first game as head coach. NCFC split the regular-season series with Lou City a season ago, with the home team winning each game. 

All time, NCFC is a stellar 8W-2L-3D in home openers. A season ago, NCFC matched a club record with 11 regular-season home wins, as the team finished with the third-best home form in the USL Championship (11W-1L-5D, 38 points). 

The entirety of NCFC’s schedule will be released later this week. The 2020 season will be the 10th in USL Championship history. For more information on the league’s full slate of home openers, visit www.USLChampionship.com

With just over two months remaining until the season kicks off, NCFC continues to build its roster. The team’s current squad includes forwards Robert Kristo and Hadji Barry; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan; and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2020) – DJ Taylor, a Raleigh native and product of the North Carolina FC Youth Academy, has signed a new contract to return for his fourth consecutive season with NCFC, the club announced Monday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

Taylor, 22, is entering his fifth season at the pro ranks and is coming off a career season in 2019 at right back under NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan. Named NCFC’s Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor led the team in minutes played, logging 3,123 minutes across all competitions as he made 37 appearances and 35 starts, scored one goal and recorded six assists in 2019. 

“We’re very pleased to have DJ returning to us,” Sarachan said. “He amassed the most minutes of anybody on our team, which tells you a lot about him – not only from a soccer sense but from a physical sense in terms of how he prepares and takes care of himself. DJ showed a lot of progress in terms of being more aggressive getting forward and understanding the relationships he’s built with other defenders on our backline. He’s becoming more of a complete player.”

The athletic and quick-thinking Taylor proved to be a versatile weapon for Sarachan’s team last season, as he made substantial contributions both offensively and defensively. Taylor’s 33 chances created ranked fourth on NCFC and were the most by a defender, while he led the team in tackles (59) and tackles won (39) while finishing second in interceptions (33) to help NCFC record its best defensive record (1.09 goals allowed per match) since 2011. 

A leading example of NCFC’s youth-to-pro movement, Taylor signed an academy contract with the NCFC first team in 2015 at the age of 17, becoming the second player from the NCFC Academy to do so. 

After playing abroad with CF Torre Levante of the Tercera Division in Spain from 2015-2016, Taylor returned to the club he grew up with in 2017. Following an impressive showing in NCFC’s midseason friendly against Swansea City AFC of the English Premier League, Taylor signed a contract through the 2017 season and appeared in two matches. 

The 2018 season saw Taylor become a mainstay in the NCFC lineup, as he played in 32 USL Championship matches for 2,742 minutes, making 31 starts. Under Sarachan, Taylor became one of NCFC’s most reliable players in 2019, appearing in 37 of the team’s 38 competitive matches. As part of Taylor’s evolution as a player, the 5’9” outside back became increasingly involved in NCFC’s attack and notched his first professional goal in the group’s 1-0 win over the Florida Soccer Soldiers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 

Across all competitions, Taylor has played in 74 matches, made 71 starts, scored one goal and recorded six assists over 6,225 minutes of action for NCFC since 2017. 

Taylor joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan, Pecka, Hadji Barry and Alex Tambakis on the list of players confirmed for the 2020 season, as the club continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2020) – DJ Taylor, a Raleigh native and product of the North Carolina FC Youth Academy, has signed a new contract to return for his fourth consecutive season with NCFC, the club announced Monday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

Taylor, 22, is entering his fifth season at the pro ranks and is coming off a career season in 2019 at right back under NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan. Named NCFC’s Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor led the team in minutes played, logging 3,123 minutes across all competitions as he made 37 appearances and 35 starts, scored one goal and recorded six assists in 2019. 

“We’re very pleased to have DJ returning to us,” Sarachan said. “He amassed the most minutes of anybody on our team, which tells you a lot about him – not only from a soccer sense but from a physical sense in terms of how he prepares and takes care of himself. DJ showed a lot of progress in terms of being more aggressive getting forward and understanding the relationships he’s built with other defenders on our backline. He’s becoming more of a complete player.”

The athletic and quick-thinking Taylor proved to be a versatile weapon for Sarachan’s team last season, as he made substantial contributions both offensively and defensively. Taylor’s 33 chances created ranked fourth on NCFC and were the most by a defender, while he led the team in tackles (59) and tackles won (39) while finishing second in interceptions (33) to help NCFC record its best defensive record (1.09 goals allowed per match) since 2011. 

A leading example of NCFC’s youth-to-pro movement, Taylor signed an academy contract with the NCFC first team in 2015 at the age of 17, becoming the second player from the NCFC Academy to do so. 

After playing abroad with CF Torre Levante of the Tercera Division in Spain from 2015-2016, Taylor returned to the club he grew up with in 2017. Following an impressive showing in NCFC’s midseason friendly against Swansea City AFC of the English Premier League, Taylor signed a contract through the 2017 season and appeared in two matches. 

The 2018 season saw Taylor become a mainstay in the NCFC lineup, as he played in 32 USL Championship matches for 2,742 minutes, making 31 starts. Under Sarachan, Taylor became one of NCFC’s most reliable players in 2019, appearing in 37 of the team’s 38 competitive matches. As part of Taylor’s evolution as a player, the 5’9” outside back became increasingly involved in NCFC’s attack and notched his first professional goal in the group’s 1-0 win over the Florida Soccer Soldiers in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 

Across all competitions, Taylor has played in 74 matches, made 71 starts, scored one goal and recorded six assists over 6,225 minutes of action for NCFC since 2017. 

Taylor joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan, Pecka, Hadji Barry and Alex Tambakis on the list of players confirmed for the 2020 season, as the club continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s top goalkeepers over the past two years, Alex Tambakis has signed a new contract to return to North Carolina FC for the 2020 season, the club announced Friday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

Since joining NCFC in 2018, the Greek goalkeeper has recorded 15 clean sheets, the third-most in team history, and is coming off a 2019 campaign that included eight shutouts and a 75.21 save percentage, the highest among the top ten goalkeepers in saves in the USL Championship. 

“One of our top priorities was to secure Alex for another season with us,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “I strongly believe he’s as good as any goalkeeper in the USL Championship. He was a mainstay for us, making important saves and continuing to grow as a player. When you get a guy like Alex in goal for you, it’s a great starting point as we continue to grow our roster.” 

In 2019, Tambakis’ second year with the club, he made 91 saves during the USL Championship regular season and no goalkeeper who faced 120-plus shots on target saved a higher percentage than Tambakis. As a result, Tambakis made the USL Championship’s Opta Second XI Team and was named NCFC's Most Valuable Player, as voted on by his teammates. 

One year removed from four USL Championship Save of the Month nods in 2018, Tambakis recorded a league-high five SOTM wins in 2019, as he strengthened his reputation as one of the league’s most exciting shot-stoppers. With Tambakis starting in the majority of matches, NCFC recorded its best defensive record (1.09 goals allowed per match) since 2011, and the Greek goalkeeper recorded five-plus saves on nine occasions. 

Before arriving to Cary in 2018, the Athens, Greece, native previously played for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer and the Charleston Battery, as well as Niki Volos and Panathinaikos of the Super League in Greece. 

Tambakis joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan, Pecka and Hadji Barry on the list of players confirmed for the 2020 season, as the club continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s top goalkeepers over the past two years, Alex Tambakis has signed a new contract to return to North Carolina FC for the 2020 season, the club announced Friday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

Since joining NCFC in 2018, the Greek goalkeeper has recorded 15 clean sheets, the third-most in team history, and is coming off a 2019 campaign that included eight shutouts and a 75.21 save percentage, the highest among the top ten goalkeepers in saves in the USL Championship. 

“One of our top priorities was to secure Alex for another season with us,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “I strongly believe he’s as good as any goalkeeper in the USL Championship. He was a mainstay for us, making important saves and continuing to grow as a player. When you get a guy like Alex in goal for you, it’s a great starting point as we continue to grow our roster.” 

In 2019, Tambakis’ second year with the club, he made 91 saves during the USL Championship regular season and no goalkeeper who faced 120-plus shots on target saved a higher percentage than Tambakis. As a result, Tambakis made the USL Championship’s Opta Second XI Team and was named NCFC’s Most Valuable Player, as voted on by his teammates. 

One year removed from four USL Championship Save of the Month nods in 2018, Tambakis recorded a league-high five SOTM wins in 2019, as he strengthened his reputation as one of the league’s most exciting shot-stoppers. With Tambakis starting in the majority of matches, NCFC recorded its best defensive record (1.09 goals allowed per match) since 2011, and the Greek goalkeeper recorded five-plus saves on nine occasions. 

Before arriving to Cary in 2018, the Athens, Greece, native previously played for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer and the Charleston Battery, as well as Niki Volos and Panathinaikos of the Super League in Greece. 

Tambakis joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan, Pecka and Hadji Barry on the list of players confirmed for the 2020 season, as the club continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 1, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s most prolific and proven forwards, Guinea international Hadji Barry has signed with North Carolina FC ahead of the 2020 season, the club announced Wednesday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

A former first-round draft pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the 27-year-old Barry most recently played for Ottawa Fury FC in 2019, where he scored six goals in 14 games after arriving in August following a stint with Israeli club Kiryat Shmona. 

“Having seen Hadji and gotten to know him as a player, the things that stand out to me is that he has a good soccer mind and very good feet for a big guy – both left and right foot,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “He’s a guy who has a variety of weapons, whether he’s up high or pushed to one side. He has the ability to be creative and use others with him. He provides a lot of variety as an attacking player.”

Barry’s professional career began with Orlando City SC in 2016, as he split time during the next two seasons at the MLS and USL Championship levels with Orlando City and Orlando City B, respectively. 

Between stops at Orlando City B, Swope Park Rangers and Ottawa, Barry recorded an impressive 37 goals and nine assists in 75 USL Championship regular-season matches from 2016-19, as he showcased his ability to cause trouble for defenders anywhere in the final third. 

Following a stellar college career at Central Florida, Barry remained in town when Orlando City selected him with the 13th overall pick in 2016. Under head coach Adrian Heath, Barry made his MLS debut on March 6, 2016. In two seasons with Orlando City, Barry saw the field in 11 matches, making four starts and playing 307 minutes. 

From 2016-17, Barry starred at the USL Championship level with Orlando City B, as he totaled 14 goals and three assists in two seasons while playing alongside new NCFC center back Conor Donovan. 2018 proved to be a career year for Barry following a change of scenery thanks to a 19-goal campaign (regular season and postseason) with Swope Park Rangers, which in turn earned him USL All-League Second Team honors. Following the 2018 season, Barry made his international debut, as he represented his native Guinea in a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualification match against the Ivory Coast. 

After scoring three goals in 14 games with Kiryat Shmona in Israel, Barry signed with Ottawa in August, as he returned to the league in which he’s scored a bountiful amount of goals. 

Barry joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan and Pecka on the list of those confirmed for the 2020 season, as NCFC continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 1, 2020) – One of the USL Championship’s most prolific and proven forwards, Guinea international Hadji Barry has signed with North Carolina FC ahead of the 2020 season, the club announced Wednesday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy. 

A former first-round draft pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, the 27-year-old Barry most recently played for Ottawa Fury FC in 2019, where he scored six goals in 14 games after arriving in August following a stint with Israeli club Kiryat Shmona. 

“Having seen Hadji and gotten to know him as a player, the things that stand out to me is that he has a good soccer mind and very good feet for a big guy – both left and right foot,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “He’s a guy who has a variety of weapons, whether he’s up high or pushed to one side. He has the ability to be creative and use others with him. He provides a lot of variety as an attacking player.”

Barry’s professional career began with Orlando City SC in 2016, as he split time during the next two seasons at the MLS and USL Championship levels with Orlando City and Orlando City B, respectively. 

Between stops at Orlando City B, Swope Park Rangers and Ottawa, Barry recorded an impressive 37 goals and nine assists in 75 USL Championship regular-season matches from 2016-19, as he showcased his ability to cause trouble for defenders anywhere in the final third. 

Following a stellar college career at Central Florida, Barry remained in town when Orlando City selected him with the 13th overall pick in 2016. Under head coach Adrian Heath, Barry made his MLS debut on March 6, 2016. In two seasons with Orlando City, Barry saw the field in 11 matches, making four starts and playing 307 minutes. 

From 2016-17, Barry starred at the USL Championship level with Orlando City B, as he totaled 14 goals and three assists in two seasons while playing alongside new NCFC center back Conor Donovan. 2018 proved to be a career year for Barry following a change of scenery thanks to a 19-goal campaign (regular season and postseason) with Swope Park Rangers, which in turn earned him USL All-League Second Team honors. Following the 2018 season, Barry made his international debut, as he represented his native Guinea in a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualification match against the Ivory Coast. 

After scoring three goals in 14 games with Kiryat Shmona in Israel, Barry signed with Ottawa in August, as he returned to the league in which he’s scored a bountiful amount of goals. 

Barry joins Steven Miller, Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay, Robert Kristo, Graham Smith, Conor Donovan and Pecka on the list of those confirmed for the 2020 season, as NCFC continues to negotiate with additional players.

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Dec. 30, 2019) – North Carolina FC has rounded out its coaching staff ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season with the hiring of assistant coach Mike McGinty, the club announced Monday. A former goalkeeper who enjoyed an eight-year professional career from 1994-02, McGinty is familiar with North Carolina both as a player and coach. 

McGinty, who most recently served as goalkeeping coach with the U.S. at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, joins John Bradford (assistant coach) and Nic Platter (goalkeeping coach) on head coach Dave Sarachan’s staff. McGinty, a Wake Forest University alumnus, replaces Clint Peay, who departed his post at NCFC in November to become the inaugural head coach of Revolution II in USL League One. 

“When you look at Mike’s resume, he’s a guy who’s accumulated a lot of good experience as a head coach and an assistant coach,” Sarachan said. “Mike is a dedicated hard worker who’s very good at his craft and spends a lot of time studying the game. He’s a guy who is a valuable asset to our staff with his experience.”

From 2010-17 as head coach at Saint Louis University, McGinty compiled an 81-56-14 record and was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year three times (2012, 2013, 2016) as the Billikens twice reached the NCAA Tournament (2012, 2014) and won the 2012 A-10 Tournament championship. During his stint at SLU, McGinty coached NCFC forward Robert Kristo, who led the Billikens in scoring from 2011-14. 

“I know the club and what it’s done over the years,” McGinty said of NCFC. “The people at the club were most important to me. Curt (Johnson) is someone I’ve known for a number of years, and I’ve known Dave Sarachan for a number of years. There was a real comfort level with the people leading the group, and for me and my family, it was too good to pass up. It’s a club that does things the right way with the right people.”

After starring at Wake Forest from 1991-94, the former All-ACC goalkeeper embarked on an eight-year professional career that included stints with the Greensboro Dynamo (1995-96), Richmond Kickers (1997-01) and D.C. United (2002). While still active as a player, McGinty’s coaching career began with him serving as an assistant at Wake Forest (1995-96) before moving on to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was the goalkeeping coach in 1997. 

From 1998-09, McGinty served on head coach George Gelnovatch’s staff at the University of Virginia, first as an assistant before becoming associate head coach. During his time with the Cavaliers, UVA won the NCAA Tournament Championship in 2009, reached a pair of College Cups and earned four ACC titles. 

A veteran coach with an array of diverse experiences, McGinty has also spent extensive time practicing his craft at the national level. From 2001-02, he served as an assistant with the U.S. U-17 and U-18 National Teams, respectively, and also worked with the U-17, U-20 and Paralympic National Teams from 2018-19. 

McGinty joins the NCFC staff as the club continues to build its roster ahead of the 2020 season. The team’s current squad includes forward Robert Kristo; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; and defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.

CARY, N.C. (Dec. 30, 2019) – North Carolina FC has rounded out its coaching staff ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season with the hiring of assistant coach Mike McGinty, the club announced Monday. A former goalkeeper who enjoyed an eight-year professional career from 1994-02, McGinty is familiar with North Carolina both as a player and coach. 

McGinty, who most recently served as goalkeeping coach with the U.S. at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, joins John Bradford (assistant coach) and Nic Platter (goalkeeping coach) on head coach Dave Sarachan’s staff. McGinty, a Wake Forest University alumnus, replaces Clint Peay, who departed his post at NCFC in November to become the inaugural head coach of Revolution II in USL League One. 

“When you look at Mike’s resume, he’s a guy who’s accumulated a lot of good experience as a head coach and an assistant coach,” Sarachan said. “Mike is a dedicated hard worker who’s very good at his craft and spends a lot of time studying the game. He’s a guy who is a valuable asset to our staff with his experience.”

From 2010-17 as head coach at Saint Louis University, McGinty compiled an 81-56-14 record and was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year three times (2012, 2013, 2016) as the Billikens twice reached the NCAA Tournament (2012, 2014) and won the 2012 A-10 Tournament championship. During his stint at SLU, McGinty coached NCFC forward Robert Kristo, who led the Billikens in scoring from 2011-14. 

“I know the club and what it’s done over the years,” McGinty said of NCFC. “The people at the club were most important to me. Curt (Johnson) is someone I’ve known for a number of years, and I’ve known Dave Sarachan for a number of years. There was a real comfort level with the people leading the group, and for me and my family, it was too good to pass up. It’s a club that does things the right way with the right people.”

After starring at Wake Forest from 1991-94, the former All-ACC goalkeeper embarked on an eight-year professional career that included stints with the Greensboro Dynamo (1995-96), Richmond Kickers (1997-01) and D.C. United (2002). While still active as a player, McGinty’s coaching career began with him serving as an assistant at Wake Forest (1995-96) before moving on to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was the goalkeeping coach in 1997. 

From 1998-09, McGinty served on head coach George Gelnovatch’s staff at the University of Virginia, first as an assistant before becoming associate head coach. During his time with the Cavaliers, UVA won the NCAA Tournament Championship in 2009, reached a pair of College Cups and earned four ACC titles. 

A veteran coach with an array of diverse experiences, McGinty has also spent extensive time practicing his craft at the national level. From 2001-02, he served as an assistant with the U.S. U-17 and U-18 National Teams, respectively, and also worked with the U-17, U-20 and Paralympic National Teams from 2018-19. 

McGinty joins the NCFC staff as the club continues to build its roster ahead of the 2020 season. The team’s current squad includes forward Robert Kristo; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith and Pecka; and defenders Sam Brotherton, Alex Comsia, Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan. 

Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2020 season are on sale now. Click here to learn more about season tickets or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144 to speak with a ticket representative.