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Jeremy Alumbaugh, St Louis FC GM (USL PRO)

This morning a press release from Saint Louis FC (STLFC) and a news article in Chattanooga announced that Jeremy Alumbaugh, VP and General Manager for STLFC was leaving to join Chattanooga FC, a supporters-owned club in Tennessee. His title is Managing Director. While responsibilities aren’t defined in the Club’s announcement of the hire, a story on the search from September in the Chattanooga Times Free Press outlined these priorities

Facility development is important to CFC, whose foundation submitted a bid to the city last week to build multi-sport facilities on the land in front of Sculpture Fields. Engaging its supporter-owners is also key, according to Grizzle, along with the team winning a professional championship to provide buzz for the city and the club’s first league title.

The Supporter-Owners note is an important part of this. More than 3,200 investors raised $872,750 for the club earlier this year, including a number of Louligan’s as the club, in operation since 2009, faced a difficult situation after the organization’s former general manager, Sean McDaniel, left the club and eventually joined rival club the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club in July 2018. It’s led to an understandably acrimonious relationship as the Times Free Press documented in January.

Chattanooga FC has since announced it would make the leap to professional soccer in 2020 and join the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). NISA is level three of professional soccer, which is the same tier as the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC team that plays in USL League One. The team also began the Chattanooga FC Academy in 2012, uniting select soccer clubs in Chattanooga and added the Chattanooga FC Women in 2013, competing in the WPSL (like Fire & Ice and St. Louis Lions locally). It appears Jeremy will be focused on the NISA squad as the Search Story noted a soccer professional wasn’t necessarily needed although Jeremy’s experience with Springfield SC, Chicago Magic and Metro United/SLSG Illinois as well as the Chicago Fire PDL are all part of what he brings to the community development Chattanooga FC are looking for.

“We need someone who understands entertainment, attractions and sports. We don’t think it necessarily has to be a soccer person. Someone who understands how the professional landscape of sports works can really take this club up another notch.”

So that provides some background on what is ahead for Jeremy. How does MLS4theLou tie into this topic? I’ve known Jeremy since 2002 when I moved to Springfield where he was coaching my nephews at Springfield FC (now Sporting Springfield). He moved to the Chicago Magic soon after, working for Mike Matkovich where he worked with USMNT Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who was a defender at the time, as well as Ned Grabavoy and Chris Schuler who went on to strong careers in Major League Soccer. He returned to Springfield SC where he captured two Missouri State Cup titles with the 90-91 age group in 2007 and 2008, the first titles won in Missouri by a non-Metro (STL and KC) Club. The first win, as U16’s, came against a Scott McDoniel coached St Louis SC squad.

He joined Dale Schilly at Metro United in 2009, shortly before the merger, becoming the SLSG Illinois Director of Coaching and U18 Academy Head Coach. Prior to his Club experience, he worked as an assistant at both Missouri State in the late 90’s where he worked with Matt Pickens, and he assisted Kevin Kalish at SIUE for two years on his arrival here in Collinsville. Most of you know him for his role with STLFC which began with the formation of the team in 2015 as he and I discussed here.

The reason for this litany of Jeremy’s career is two-fold. One, it points to the steps he has taken to develop himself beyond the pitch, for the business side. His move to Metro United, as he indicated to me, was for the opportunity to become involved in the professional game which SLSG was actively exploring at that point already. His ambitions required the move.

That leads to the second point. As a key executive within the STLFC organization, he has chosen to not stay in St. Louis for the arrival of Major League Soccer with #MLS4TheLou. Why would someone with his experience, both inside the organization and in the larger community, make that decision?

1. He didn’t see a position within the organization despite almost a decade working for SLSG and Jim Kavanaugh 2. He didn’t see MLS4TheLou continuing a relationship with USL and SLSG where his obvious strengths lie 3. Other

Jeremy is well positioned to deliver for Chattanooga FC but he’ll join an organization that will require an almost constant focus on fund-raising to support the NISA ambitions and broader club growth. Located midway between Nashville and Atlanta, a pair of Major League Soccer teams, will offer access to promote player opportunties, maybe even sell them if USSF allows teams to move in that direction. But he won’t be a part of a $250 million plus development and growth opportunity here.

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2007 Alumbaugh with Dale Schilly

Jeremy Alumbaugh (R) with Jon Leamy, Missouri State soccer camps, 2005

Kavanaugh, Berry, Preki and Alumbaugh

INTERVIEW re Springfield SC legacy

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What Jeremy Alumbaugh’s Departure May Mean for #MLS4theLou This morning a press release from Saint Louis FC (STLFC) and a news article in Chattanooga announced that Jeremy Alumbaugh, VP and General Manager for STLFC was leaving to join Chattanooga FC, a supporters-owned club in Tennessee.

#Chattanooga FC #Chicago Magic PSG #Dale Schilly #Jeremy Alumbaugh #Jim Kavanaugh #Metro United SC #MLS4theLou #Saint Louis FC #SLSG SC #Sporting Springfield #St Louis Scott Gallagher SC

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