OKC Energy FC

OKC Energy
Full name Oklahoma City Energy Football Club
Founded July 2, 2013 (2013-07-02)
Stadium Taft Stadium
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Capacity 7,500
Owner Prodigal LLC
President Bob Funk, Jr.
Head Coach Steve Cooke
League United Soccer League
2017 6th, Western Conference
Playoffs: Conference Finals
Website Club website

Oklahoma City Energy FC is an American professional men's soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Prodigal LLC was awarded the franchise on July 2, 2013.[1][2] They played their inaugural season in the United Soccer League in 2014.

History

Prodigal LLC, led by Oklahoma City businessman Bob Funk, Jr., pursued a bid for a franchise in the United Soccer League's USL Pro in early 2013. Prodigal was awarded the USL Pro franchise on July 2, 2013, with an intended launch date of 2014.

On December 20, 2013, Energy FC announced an affiliation agreement with 2013 MLS Champions Sporting Kansas City. Also, recently retired SKC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was named head coach.[3][4]

On March 25, 2014, OKC Pro Soccer owner and founder of Oklahoma City's Fields & Futures program Tim McLaughlin joined the club as an ownership partner, bringing a secured lease to Taft Stadium, where Energy FC began play in 2015. The club's 2014 home schedule was played at Pribil Stadium on the campus of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.[5]

Prodigal LLC formerly operated the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League and formerly owned the Oklahoma City Dodgers (formerly Redhawks) Pacific Coast League baseball team and the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League.[1]

2014

The Energy won their first game in a pre-season contest against University of Nebraska-Omaha 1–0 on March 8, 2014. They went 5–0–1 in preseason games against local colleges. They won their USL Pro debut 2–0 against Orange County Blues FC on April 5 in Irvine, California. Orlando City SC defeated the Energy 2–1 in their first home match on April 26. After winning two of their first three league matches, the Energy went on a six-game losing streak. Then they went undefeated in their next 8 games (4–0–4), including four consecutive shutouts. A second six-game losing streak ended their playoff hopes and the Energy finished in 10th place, five points behind Harrisburg for the last playoff spot. Defender Gareth Evans was named to the All-League Second Team.

2016

OKC Energy FC formally ended their partnership with MLS's Sporting Kansas City and joined MLS's FC Dallas.

Stadium

For the 2014 season, home games were played at Pribil Stadium on the campus of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and introduced their team kits and logo.[6][7][8] In 2015, the club moved to Taft Stadium.[9]

Club culture

Supporters

The Energy has five recognized supporters groups: The Grid,[10] La Furia Verde, OKC Breakers, Northend United, and Main St. Greens.[11]

Rivalries

Energy FC's main rival are the Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the Black Gold Derby, with both teams being located in Oklahoma. The supporters group of both teams established a trophy, a 4-foot wrench painted with the colors of each team on either side, which is awarded to the regular season winner of the derby.[12] Energy FC leads the series against Tulsa in all competitions with a record of 8–3–3 (W-D-L).

Affiliated teams

The club is formally associated with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.[13][14] They were affiliated with Sporting Kansas City from 2014 through 2015.[15]

Sponsorship

Local, family-owned First Fidelity Bank became the inaugural jersey sponsor in 2014.[16]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2014–2016 England Admiral First Fidelity Bank
2017–present United States Under Armour

Year-by-year

  • All-time record: 69-40-62 [W-D-L] (Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup)
Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
2014 3 USL Pro 10th Did not qualify Third Round 3,784
2015 3 USL 2nd, Western Conference Finals Fourth Round 4,635
2016 3 USL 7th, Western Conference Semifinals Fourth Round 4,950
2017 2 USL 6th, Western Conference Finals Fourth Round 4,293
2018 2 USL 10th, Western Did not qualify Second Round 4,298

Head coaches

  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinDrawLossWin %
Jimmy Nielsen  Denmark December 20, 2013 November 16, 2017 136 57 33 46 041.91
Steve Cooke  England December 20, 2017 present 35 12 7 16 034.29

Players and staff

Roster

As of October 14, 2018[17]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Cody Laurendi  Puerto Rico
2 Defender Richard Dixon  Jamaica
3 Defender Kyle Hyland  United States
4 Midfielder Callum Ross  England
5 Defender Christian Ibeagha  United States
6 Defender Drew Beckie  Canada
7 Midfielder Philip Rasmussen  Denmark
8 Midfielder Juan Guzman  United States
10 Forward Miguel González  Mexico
11 Midfielder Alex Dixon  United States
12 Forward Christian Volesky  United States
13 Midfielder Justin Chavez  United States
14 Midfielder José Barril  Spain
15 Defender Atiba Harris  Saint Kitts and Nevis
16 Goalkeeper Bryan Byars  United States
17 Forward Jonathan Brown  Wales
19 Defender Max Gunderson  United States
20 Forward Deshorn Brown  Jamaica
21 Midfielder Kalif Alhassan  Ghana
22 Midfielder Marco Bustos  Canada
23 Defender Shawn McLaws  United States
27 Midfielder Ryley Kraft  United States
28 Forward Monty Patterson  New Zealand
30 Goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel  United States
32 Forward Jaime Siaj  Jordan

Current staff

  • England Steve Cooke – Head Coach & Technical Director
  • United States Jon Pearlman – Assistant Coach & Head Coach of OKC Energy U23
  • England Danny Stone – Assistant Coach
  • England Alexis Vizarelis – Goalkeeping Coach
  • United States Zane Brugenhemke – Head Athletic Trainer

References

  1. 1 2 "Oklahoma City to Join USL PRO in 2014". United Soccer Leagues (USL). July 2, 2013. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Funk Lays Out Vision For Oklahoma City". United Soccer Leagues (USL). August 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Energy FC Partners With Sporting KC". United Soccer Leagues (USL). December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ "JIMMY NIELSEN NAMED HEAD COACH OF OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC". December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Oklahoma City Businessman Tim McLaughlin Joins Oklahoma City Energy FC as Partner". The Oklahoman (NewsOK). March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ "OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC". Oklahoma City Energy FC. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ "OKC Energy Unveil Name, Colors". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Pro soccer: City's new USL Pro soccer team will be called Energy". Daily Oklahoman. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "KÖNIG'S LATE GOAL LIFTS ENERGY FC PAST SEATTLE". www.energyfc.com. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  10. ↑ "The Grid". Energy FC. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Energy FC Feeds Off Support in Open Cup Thriller".
  12. ↑ Czubinski, Grant (June 3, 2016). "Black Gold Derby Brings Added Heat in Oklahoma". United Soccer League. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  13. ↑ "FC Dallas announces USL affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". FC Dallas. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Energy FC, FC Dallas Announce New Partnership". United Soccer League (USL). January 11, 2016. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Sporting Kansas City announces USL team, ends affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". The Oklahoman. October 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  16. ↑ "OKC Energy FC lands jersey sponsor". Soccer America Daily. Mar 13, 2014. USL PRO expansion team OKC Energy FC has landed First Fidelity Bank as a founding partner and jersey sponsor for its inaugural season.
  17. ↑ "OKC Energy roster". EnergyFC.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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