While the Indomitable Club is known for setting its youth players on the pro pathway, it is also developing top-tier coaches across all levels of the U.S. Soccer landscape. Throughout the offseason, former Republic FC coaches have matriculated into a leadership role or moved along the coaching pathway after serving the Indomitable Club. Last month, Las Vegas Lights FC added former Academy Director Dennis Sanchez to lead the USL Championship club, to be supported by former Republic FC Captain and U17s coach Ivan Mirkovic. This will be Ivan’s first move toward the pro sidelines after supporting the development of Republic FC’s youth players since 2020.
After serving as Academy Director, Sanchez moved into a first-team supporting role with Charleston Battery, before joining the staff at Austin FC II of MLS NEXT Pro. In his first year at Austin, the Division III side lifted the playoff cup in the league’s second season.
From the first team, Republic FC assistants have climbed the coaching ladder to put on new hats and become head coaches as well. Last year’s Assistant Head Coach Danny Dichio was selected to serve as Detroit FC’s new gaffer – Dichio’s first role as a pro head coach – after two years in Sacramento. Goalkeeper Coach Ross Cain moved into Philadelphia Union’s development system to support its corps of keepers. And in 2022, Matt Glaeser – the club’s Goalkeeping Director and Assistant Coach, accepted his first role as head coach with USL League One side Forward Madison FC. After the 2020 season, Romuald Peiser joined MLS side Montreal Impact as Goalkeeper Coach following a two-year stint at Republic FC.
Each have led their squads to recent success. Glaeser guided the Wisconsin side to its second playoff berth in 2023, returning the club to the postseason for the first time since 2019. Peiser’s CF Montreal has kicked off the 2024 season unbeaten in three matches. Sanchez and Mirkovic’s Las Vegas squad kicked off its campaign this past week, playing in the USL Championship’s opening match and scoring the first goal of the season against Memphis 901 FC. Dichio and Cain have each of their respective squads set to build on strong sophomore campaigns and will kick off their respective 2024 seasons this weekend.
In addition to Sanchez and Mirkovic, a collection of talented mentors and leaders throughout ten seasons have served Republic FC’s youth Academy before moving on to coaching positions with Republic FC, other professional clubs, and even the United States Youth National Team ranks to grow their careers.
Mikey Varas led the academy in its early years before joining MLS side FC Dallas’ first-team staff in 2017. In 2021, Varas continued his coaching career climb when he was named the Head Coach of the USMNT U20 team, eventually leading them to the 2022 Concacaf Championship. Jordan Farrell coached the club’s U17 & U19 sides before joining Oakland Roots SC as Technical Director, as well as serving as interim Head Coach in 2021.
Eric Kronberg, who supported goalkeeping across the Indomitable Club joined the staff at Portland Timbers 2 in 2020 as their Goalkeeping Coach. Gavin Glinton supported the Academy from 2018 to 2020 before joining the staff at New Mexico United as an assistant coach, and eventually reuniting with Ferrell at Oakland Roots.
As the technical staff has evolved with coaches moving into new opportunities, Republic FC’s leadership and technical pipeline remains full of talented coaches and staff. Academy Director Eder Quintanilla is one of the unsung heroes who has stepped in during times of change, adjusted his role and helped the club make tremendous strides forward. Eder joined the club as the Head of Talent Identification – eventually expanding his role to provide the First Team support during training and matches, leading the academy as its director, and support the club’s youth programming initiatives. Under Quintanilla’s direction the Indomitable Club has signed 3 standout academy players to professional contracts, with 13 joining the first team on academy contracts – the most under any Academy Director.
