A search for a new coach: Who will be SAFC’s next head coach?

San Antonio FC announced this week that they had mutually parted ways with Darren Powell. Darren was San Antonio FC’s first head coach in club history and leaves with a overall record of 59 Wins, 39 Draws and 44 Losses. San Antonio FC has just one playoff appearance, reaching the Western Conference Semi-finals in 2017 and reached the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup twice in 2016 and 2018.

Now a new era is beginning and the search for a new coach will begin for San Antonio FC. The organization will make an announcement in the coming days and weeks but until then we will go over some potential candidates.

Adam Smith

Smith has a long history in the USL, was a goalkeeper for the Long Island Rough Riders and Wilmington Hammerheads from 1999 to 2004 and began as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Republic from 2014 to 2017 and was part of the USL Championship club in 2014. Most recently, was head coach of the Fresno Foxes FC and lead the Foxes to a third place finish and were upset by the El Paso Locomotive.

Having knowledge of the USL West is an advantage to lead any club and Smith has seen success as a head coach. Fresno finished in the top 3 in the Western Conference with the least goals allowed. San Antonio FC could use some work defensively.

The situation with Fresno is very fluid as it looks like Fresno may likely fold although the may relocate to Monterrey.

Nikola Popovic

Has international experience having coached in Italy, Bulgaria, Protugal and Qatar. Ottawa Fury head coach was let go this week despite leading the club to a 8th place finish in the east and lost in a tough first round match that went to penalties versus Charleston Battery. Popovic is also familiar with the USL Western Conference, was assistant coach in 2016 and head coach for the Swope Park Rangers in 2017. Popovic had success with SPR, winning the 2016 Western Conference Championship and having a 20 win regular season and won the USL championship in 2017.

Eric Quill

First year head coach with North Texas SC in the USL1, won the championship this year and had experience an assistant coach the women’s soccer team at the University of Houston from 2007 to 2008. Recently named USL1 coach of the year. Lack of experience in the USL makes Quill an extreme long shot but early success in the USL1 could mean a bright future as coach.

Alen Marcina

A fan favorite to become the next San Antonio FC head coach, already cemented in San Antonio soccer lore as head coach for the 2014 NASL Champion Scorpions. Went on to coach Rayo OKC and won a division title with the Des Moines Menance in 2018.

During his playing career. Marcina played in 185 professional matches and scored 73 Goals.

Marcina would be a logical choice to hire from in house having spent the 2019 season as assistant coach with San Antonio FC and knows the players.

Juan Lamadrid

The popluar Goalkeeper coach has also been around the San Antonio soccer scene for years. After a playing career in Mexico, Lamadrid was goalkeeper coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Trinity University. Was also part of the Scorpions organization and has known Matt Cardone since his days at Trinity University.

It would be a long shot for Lamadrid to be named head coach, he is currently the Goalkeeping Director for all levels from the academy to the main squad.

Ryan Roushandel

One of the original members of San Antonio FC, semi-retired in 2018 and came back as an player-assistant coach and played in one match this season. Has worked a lot with the academy youth and is well respected as player and coach. Roushandel is a long shot as well but also knows the players and organization very well. If Ryan plans to become a head coach in the near future, San Antonio FC would be a good fit.

San Antonio FC has not, as of date of this publishing, announced any candidates for the head coaching job. So we will see if they hire one of the potentials we mentioned or go in a different direction. We will be tracking all the offseason moves for SAFC, keep it locked in to http://www.soysaf.com for all the latest.