OKC Energy FC
 | |||
| Full name | Oklahoma City Energy Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | July 2, 2013 | ||
| Stadium | Taft Stadium Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | ||
| Capacity | 7,500 | ||
| Owner | Prodigal LLC | ||
| President | Bob Funk, Jr. | ||
| Head Coach | Steve Cooke | ||
| League | USL Championship | ||
| 2018 | 10th, Western Conference Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| 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 USL Championship 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 |  Admiral
|
First Fidelity Bank |
| 2017–present |  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
| Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Draw | Loss | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Nielsen |  Denmark
|
December 20, 2013 | November 16, 2017 | 136 | 57 | 33 | 46 | 41.91 |
| Steve Cooke | England
|
December 20, 2017 | present | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 34.29 |
Players and staff
Roster
- As of October 29, 2018[17]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Cody Laurendi |  Puerto Rico
|
| 3 | DF | Kyle Hyland | United States
|
| 4 | MF | Callum Ross | England
|
| 5 | DF | Christian Ibeagha | United States
|
| 6 | DF | Drew Beckie |  Canada
|
| 14 | MF | José Barril |  Spain
|
| 15 | DF | Atiba Harris |  Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
| 16 | GK | Bryan Byars | United States
|
| 20 | FW | Deshorn Brown |  Jamaica
|
| 22 | MF | Marco Bustos | Canada
|
| 30 | GK | Matt Van Oekel | United States
|
| 32 | FW | Jaime Siaj |  Jordan
|
Current staff
Steve Cooke – Head Coach & Technical Director
Jon Pearlman – Assistant Coach & Head Coach of OKC Energy U23- Danny Stone – Assistant Coach
- Alexis Vizarelis – Goalkeeping Coach
- Zane Brugenhemke – Head Athletic Trainer
References
- ^ a b "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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Oklahoma City Businessman Tim McLaughlin Joins Oklahoma City Energy FC as Partner". The Oklahoman (NewsOK). March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^ "OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC". Oklahoma City Energy FC. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "OKC Energy Unveil Name, Colors". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ "Pro soccer: City's new USL Pro soccer team will be called Energy". Daily Oklahoman. November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "KÖNIG'S LATE GOAL LIFTS ENERGY FC PAST SEATTLE". www.energyfc.com. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ^ "The Grid". Energy FC. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "Energy FC Feeds Off Support in Open Cup Thriller".
- ^ Czubinski, Grant (June 3, 2016). "Black Gold Derby Brings Added Heat in Oklahoma". United Soccer League. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "FC Dallas announces USL affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". FC Dallas. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sporting Kansas City announces USL team, ends affiliation with Oklahoma City Energy FC". The Oklahoman. October 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "OKC Energy roster". EnergyFC.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
