Latest news with #OneKnoxvilleSC
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Report: Former MLS coach Ian Fuller brings pro vision to One Knoxville SC amid local soccer boom
Former Major League Soccer manager Ian Fuller is now leading One Knoxville SC into a larger spotlight, applying his first-class experience to East Tennessee's burgeoning soccer landscape. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With One Knox becoming established at Covenant Health Park and further building its swift climb through the United Soccer League ranks, Fuller views Knoxville as fertile ground for professional soccer—even with potential in Major League Soccer. Ian Fuller brings MLS pedigree to One Knoxville SC with vision for East Tennessee soccer growth As One Knoxville SC prepares to play Indy Eleven on May 24 at Covenant Health Park, head coach Ian Fuller already has long-term visions. The former Minnesota United FC assistant coach thinks the city can sustain a Major League Soccer franchise — but only if the city itself comes to support soccer outside college campuses and Friday night lights. Fuller, who played professionally for Clemson University and was drafted by the New England Revolution in 2002, signed with One Knoxville SC this year with a purpose: to assist East Tennessee in developing into a soccer town. With more than a decade of coaching experience within Major League Soccer and extensive participation in developing clubs such as Orlando City SC and Minnesota United FC, Fuller understands what it takes to construct a franchise from the beginning. For Ian Fuller, there's more to it than victories. He talks of overall growth, explaining, 'First and foremost, I care about the guys. I care about them as men ... I love coaching now, wanting to get the best out of our guys. I don't want them to give up opportunities. I don't want them to wake up at 40 and their careers are over and realize they didn't take advantage of everything.' The Fullers themselves have embraced Knoxville life, with Ian's wife, Susannah Collins — a former CBS Sports soccer commentator — joining him in the move from New York City to Maryville. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The change in pace has proven rewarding, with Ian saying, 'We're enjoying every second of it. We sit on our wraparound porch. We sit out there every day and look at the Smokies.' Also read: For One Knoxville SC and Ian Fuller, the journey is just beginning. While the road to Major League Soccer involves financial strength, supporter support, and community commitment, the puzzle is falling into place in East Tennessee. With Fuller's vision, a committed fanbase, and an increasing passion for the sport, Knoxville may have everything it needs to be America's next soccer citadel.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lady Vols, local youth athletes to play for One Knoxville SC women's team
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The new One Knoxville SC women's soccer team will take the field at Covenant Health Park for the first time on Saturday with a roster full of accomplished college athletes and young academy players from the area. One Knox will play at least 12 matches over the next two months in the USL W League, a 'pre-professional' league featuring collegiate players, elite youth players, and former professionals. The league focuses on player development while maintaining the amateur status of players in order to protect collegiate eligibility. 'To have that professional path where a young girl is able to strive' One Knoxville SC introduces pre-professional women's team The opening match will kick off Saturday, May 10 at 4 p.m. against Asheville City SC. Just like their professional male counterparts, all One Knoxville SC home matches will be played at Covenant Health Park, the $114-million multiuse stadium located just east of the Old City neighborhood. A total of 23 players have been announced as part of the inaugural roster, including three active players from the University of Tennessee women's soccer team. Many members of the roster are Knoxville natives who now suit up across the college landscape as well as players from the team's youth academy. Name Last played for Kayla Barr Memphis Alexia Bearden LMU Sydney Clements Lee University Emma Cooke LMU Dana Dalrymple Iowa Abigail Davis Tennessee Tech Masey Fox UT Chattanooga Charleigh Freeman One Knox Youth Club Audrey Gallagher Southwest Minnesota State Olivia Henry One Knox Youth Club Norah Jacomen Butler Taegen Kim ETSU/LMU Sifa Morgan One Knox Youth Club Claire Palya Tennessee Tech Neve Renwick Auburn Becca Roth Western Kentucky Kate Runyon University of Tennessee Eesha Sutharshan University of Akron Daksha Sutharshan UT Martin Kendall Wade Western Kentucky Kaydence Weinhandl One Knox Youth Club Addison Yelton University of Tennessee Ally Zazzara University of Tennessee Click here to see One Knoxville's full USL W League schedule. WATE's Women's Spectacular will also take place at Covenant Health Park on Saturday. The free event will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
One Knoxville SC enters home opener as league's last unbeaten team
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — One Knoxville SC is headed home for their first-ever match at Covenant Health Park following a six-week road trip to kick off the 2025 season. The team is off to its best start to a season since moving up to the professional ranks in 2023. It's been an impressive start to life under first-year head coach Ian Fuller, who will enter Saturday's home opener as the reigning USL League One Coach of the Week. After drawing their opening match against Spokane Velocity FC, Knoxville has strung together three straight league wins without conceding a single goal. 'To have that professional path where a young girl is able to strive' One Knoxville SC introduces pre-professional women's team The four-match unbeaten run makes them the only team that has yet to lose a USL League One match. However, Knoxville won't be putting their league unbeaten streak on the line when they host FC Tulsa at Covenant Health Park on April 26. The match will kick of Knoxville's 2025 campaign in the USL Cup, a in-season World Cup-style tournament. After the inaugural 2024 edition only featured teams from the third-division USL League One, this year's tournament will also feature all 24 USL Championship teams. The 38-team field is divided into six groups based on geographic proximity. How Covenant Health Park's field will accommodate baseball and soccer Knoxville will take on two USL Championship sides during USL Cup group play: FC Tulsa and Indy Eleven. A win against either would be the first in One Knoxville history against a team from a higher division. Saturday's match will kick off at 7 p.m. Knoxville is aiming to break a USL League One record for the most-attended home opener, a mark of 6,000 currently held by Richmond Kickers. The team has reported that 5,000 tickets have been sold as of Tuesday. ▶ See more top stories on The team played at Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus for the past two seasons before the completion of the multiuse downtown stadium that is also the home of Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball. They will play their first USL League One match at Covenant Health Park on Friday, May 9 when they host Forward Madison FC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vol fans invited to swap Iamaleava gear for a free One Knoxville SC jersey
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knoxville's professional soccer team is offering Tennessee football fans a chance to trade in their No. 8 jerseys following the abrupt departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. One Knoxville SC will host the 'No. 8 to Great' event at Knoxville Brew Hub on Friday, April 18. From 5-7 p.m., fans will be able to exchange their now-outdated Iamaleava jerseys for an official team jersey free of charge. One Knoxville SC brings city's first mini soccer pitch to Harriet Tubman Park The third season of pro soccer in Knoxville kicked off last month and One Knox will host their first-ever home match at the brand-new Covenant Health Park on April 26. The team is aiming to break a USL League One record for the most-attended home opener, a mark of 6,000 currently held by Richmond Kickers. One Knox will also field a women's team for the first time as part of the pre-professional USL W League. Their season will begin at Covenant Health Park on May 11 against Asheville City SC. 'Number 8s come and go,' One Knoxville Managing Partner Drew McKenna said in a release. 'But the soccer season is just getting started, and we've got room for every orphaned sports fan looking for a new home.' 'To have that professional path where a young girl is able to strive' One Knoxville SC introduces pre-professional women's team Knoxville began their first season under new head coach Ian Fuller with two wins and a draw in their opening three league matches. They have also advanced to third round of the US Open Cup where another win would see the team advance to face a Major League Soccer team in the fourth round. Check out their season schedule here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
One Knoxville SC begin 2025 on road trip before Covenant Health Park debut
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Before making their home debut at the all-new Covenant Health Park next month, One Knoxville SC will begin their third season of professional soccer on a multigame road trip. One Knox will begin their third season in USL League One on Sunday against Spokane Velocity FC. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and be streamed on ESPN+. They'll hit the road for three more league matches in the coming weeks before their home debut on Saturday, April 26. 'To have that professional path where a young girl is able to strive' One Knoxville SC introduces pre-professional women's team After two seasons at Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus, the team will call the brand new 7,000-seat Covenant Health Park in East Knoxville home. The men's team won't be the only soccer played at the new venue. One Knoxville recently announced that they will field a women's team in the USL W League this summer. The match against Spokane will mark the start of Ian Fuller's head coaching career. He was named the second permanent head coach in One Knoxville SC history after spending the last nine seasons as an assistant with Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer. 'I'm a new coach here. They've got a great basis of fellas here and really good defensive acumen so a lot of the basis of what we are working on, we're already there,' Fuller said Thursday. 'We just want to increase the intensity. We want to be able to break on teams and really put pressure on them.' One Knoxville SC brings city's first mini soccer pitch to Harriet Tubman Park After qualifying for the playoffs last year, One Knoxville will now seek to reach greater heights in a league that has since expanded to 14 teams and is poised to keep growing. 'It's been amazing,' Fuller said. 'The club is only two or three years old and what they've achieved already, bringing in a women's team and the academy is growing. We're ready to push on as well in the first team on the men's side. Sunday's going to be a big test for us. Spokane were finalists last year so it's going to be a big test but we're prepared.' One Knoxville SC 2025 schedule released ahead of move to Covenant Health Park One Knoxville SC and 6 News entered a partnership last year to broadcast select matches locally and offer exclusive team coverage. Soccer Talk with Bo Williams is set to return to 6 News digital platforms on a biweekly basis to discuss the all the latest soccer news and welcome guests from around the Knoxville soccer landscape. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
