April 27, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
James O’Connor, interim president at Soccer Holdings, LLC, has accepted the position on a permanent basis, it was announced Wednesday.
With roots going back to Louisville City FC’s beginnings, O’Connor will fully oversee a sprawling club that now also includes Racing Louisville FC, two youth academies and modern facilities capable of hosting elite soccer and non-soccer events.
“I’m honored to be given such a key role within our organization, and I’d like to thank our chairman, John Neace, who has been a massive help to me while I have been in the interim role as well as the board for placing its trust in me,” O’Connor said. “From the onset, our owners have shown tremendous ambition to bring winning soccer and quality facilities to our city. As we move forward, we are determined to bring more championships to Louisville.”
O’Connor took on the interim role in January following the departure of former club president Brad Estes.
“I understand I have big shoes to fill in replacing Brad, who did a wonderful job for us,” O’Connor said. “However, we also have a very energetic team in our office. Like our teams on the field, we all plan to attack what’s ahead of us.”
O’Connor, 42, is one of only a handful of people in the world to hold both USSF and UEFA Pro licenses. Off the pitch, he has continued to develop his business acumen since returning to Soccer Holdings as executive vice president of development in early 2020. The native of Ireland who’s now a U.S. citizen is pursuing a master’s in sports directorship through the Global Institute of Sport’s Miami campus.
O’Connor boasts more than 25 years of experience in pro soccer with positions ranging from player to coach and now executive. He served as LouCity’s head coach from its inaugural 2015 season until mid-2018, when he moved to the Major League Soccer ranks with Orlando City SC. Under O’Connor’s leadership, LouCity won its…