OKC Energy FC

Oklahoma City Energy Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The club is a member of the USL Championship, the second division of the American soccer league system.

OKC Energy FC
Full nameOklahoma City Energy Football Club
FoundedJuly 2, 2013 (2013-07-02)
StadiumTaft Stadium
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Capacity7,500
OwnerProdigal LLC
PresidentBob Funk, Jr.
Head CoachJohn Pascarella
LeagueUSL Championship
201915th, Western Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

Energy FC makes its home at Oklahoma City's historic Taft Stadium.

History

Oklahoma City businessman Robert "Bob" Funk, Jr., was awarded a United Soccer League franchise on July 2, 2013, and in November, the club announced its name would be Oklahoma City Energy FC. The ownership group, Prodigal LLC, formerly Express sports, which operated the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League and formerly oversaw the Oklahoma City Dodgers (formerly Oklahoma/Oklahoma City Redhawks.) baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the owned Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League.[1] Recently retired Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was named Energy FC head coach for the inaugural season. Tim McLaughlin, founder of Fields & Futures, joined the club as an ownership partner prior to the start of the 2014 season. Energy FC won their first match away to Orange County Blues FC on April 5 and played their first home match against Orlando City SC on April 26 at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School's Pribil Stadium. The season ended with a 10th place finish – four points short of a playoff spot and averaging 3,702 in attendance for home matches. The club moved to the newly-renovated Taft Stadium for the 2015 season and finished second in the Western Conference, making the playoffs for the first time. Energy FC advanced to the Western Conference Final, where they lost to LA Galaxy II.

For the inaugural (2014.) season only, some games were both broadcast on KXXY-FM radio with former Oklahoma sports personalty Jack Damrill, and on local Television on YurView Oklahoma on Cox Cable Oklahoma channel 703 and simulcasted on Cox digital HD channels 1333 or 1334. Currently the Oklahoma City Energy FC has no Radio or Television deal in place.

In 2016, the team finished 7th in the Western Conference and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. Energy FC also advanced to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after defeating cross-town rival Rayo OKC 2–1 in extra time. That year also saw Energy FC host Club Deportivo Guadalajara in a friendly match played in front of 6,687 fans at Taft Stadium. Energy FC made the playoffs for a third consecutive season in 2017 after finishing 6th in the Western Conference. Back-to-back road wins earned the team a berth in the Conference Final for the second time in three years. Energy FC lost the match to Swope Park Rangers in a penalty shootout that saw both sides attempting 10 shots each, with the deciding goals coming down to each teams' goalkeepers. That year also saw the club host another international friendly, against 2017 Champions League winners CF Pachuca.

Prior to the 2018 season, Steve Cooke was named head coach of the club, a year after serving as interim head coach at MLS side Colorado Rapids. Energy FC narrowly missed the USL Playoffs competing for a spot until the final month of the season.

Stadium

For the 2014 season, home games began being played at Pribil Stadium on the campus of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and introduced their team kits and logo.[2][3][4] In 2015, the club moved to Historic Taft Stadium following extensive renovations made to that facility.[5]

Club culture

Supporters

The Energy has five recognized supporters groups: The Grid,[6] La Furia Verde, OKC Breakers, Northend United, and Main St. Greens.[7]

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.[8] Energy FC leads the series against Tulsa in all competitions with a record of 9–7–3 (W-D-L). Energy FC has secured the wrench four years out of the five that the rivalry has been in existence. These years are 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Affiliated teams

The club was formally associated with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer from 2015 through 2018.[9][10] They were affiliated with Sporting Kansas City from 2014 through 2015.[11]

Sponsorship

Local, family-owned First Fidelity Bank became the inaugural jersey sponsor in 2014.[12]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2014–2016 Admiral First Fidelity Bank
2017–2019 Under Armour
2020–present Adidas

Year-by-year
  • All-time record: 78-63-83[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
2019 2 USLC 15th, Western Did not qualify Fourth Round 4,442
2020 2 USLC 17th, Western
5th, Group D		 Did not qualify Cancelled N/A

Head coaches
  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinDrawLossWin %
Jimmy Nielsen  Denmark December 20, 2013 November 16, 2017 136 54 38 44 039.71
Steve Cooke  England December 20, 2017 October 22, 2019 72 23 18 31 031.94
John Pascarella  United States November 22, 2019 present 16 1 7 8 006.25

Players and staff

Roster
As of January 26, 2021[13]
No. Position Player Nation
2 Goalkeeper C. J. Cochran  United States
3 Defender Kyle Hyland  United States
6 Midfielder Brad Dunwell  United States
9 Forward Jaime Chavez  United States
10 Midfielder Arun Basuljevic  United States
11 Forward Frank López  Cuba
14 Midfielder Kodai Iida  Japan
15 Defender Atiba Harris  Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 Forward Tucker Stephenson  United States
19 Midfielder Charlie Ward  England
22 Defender Zachary Ellis-Hayden  Canada
26 Midfielder Jonathan Brown  Wales
35 Goalkeeper Kyle Ihn  United States
— Defender Robert Coronado  United States
— Midfielder Aidan Daniels  Canada
— Defender Conor Donovan  United States
— Midfielder Hiroki Kurimoto  Japan
— Midfielder Seth Moses  United States
— Defender Mitchell Osmond  Australia
— Midfielder Groutchov Pierre  Haiti

Current staff
  • John Pascarella - Head Coach
  • Leigh Veidman - Assistant Coach
  • Alexis Vizarelis - Goalkeeping Coach

References
  1. "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. "OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC". Oklahoma City Energy FC. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  3. "OKC Energy Unveil Name, Colors". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  4. "Pro soccer: City's new USL Pro soccer team will be called Energy". Daily Oklahoman. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  5. "KÖNIG'S LATE GOAL LIFTS ENERGY FC PAST SEATTLE". www.energyfc.com. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  6. "The Grid". Energy FC. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  7. "Energy FC Feeds Off Support in Open Cup Thriller".
  8. Czubinski, Grant (June 3, 2016). "Black Gold Derby Brings Added Heat in Oklahoma". United Soccer League. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  9. "FC Dallas announces USL affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". FC Dallas. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  10. "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.
  11. "Sporting Kansas City announces USL team, ends affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". The Oklahoman. October 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  12. "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.
  13. "2020 Roster". EnergyFC.com. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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