Lights FC Announce New Coaching Staff & Initial Player Signings for 2023 Season

January 25, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Las Vegas Lights FC News Release

(Las Vegas, NV) – Las Vegas Lights FC announced today its new coaching staff along with its initial new player signings.

Coaching Staff:

Isidro Sanchez returns to Lights FC as Head Coach after previously serving as Assistant Coach & interim Head Coach. He becomes the first individual in history to be a Head Coach for second division clubs in both Mexico & the United States. Further, in addition to having served as an Assistant Coach in the United States (Major League Soccer & United Soccer League Championship), Mexico (Liga MX) and in Spain, he also currently holds “A”-Licenses from the U.S. Soccer Federation, UEFA (European Governing Body), CONMEBOL (South American Governing Body) and the Mexican Futbol Federation. Coach Isidro will be joined on-staff by former Lights FC player Juan Carlos Garcia as assistant coach. In addition, former UNLV & Lights FC player Julian Portugal will serve as the club’s Performance Coach and Romilio “Romi” Gomez will serve as Goalkeeper Coach.

Initial Player Signings (presented in alphabetical order):

Patricio “Pato” Botello Faz: Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, he was the second leading goal scorer for Detroit City FC last season in the USL Championship after spending the previous two seasons in USL League One.

Andrew Carleton: Originally from Georgia, he previously played for every level of the U.S. Youth National Team (U-15, U-17, U-18 & U-20), Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United and USL’s San Diego Loyal.

Zach Carroll: A veteran of USL, he’s played seven seasons in USL Championship including for New York, Orlando and most recently Memphis 901 FC. Played collegiately at University of Virginia and Michigan State University.

Azriel Gonzalez: Born & raised in Southern Nevada, he will become the 10th player in Lights FC history to have been born in, raised in and/or attended school in the Las Vegas area. Previously trained in Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC Youth Academy, he has played professionally in both the USL Championship (Tacoma Defiance) and the Canadian Premier League (FC Edmonton & York United). Has also previously played for the U.S. Under-16 Youth National Team.

Justin Ingram: A second-year pro, he appeared in 30 matches during his rookie season last year for USL Championship’s Indy XI. As a youth, he also attended training camps for both the Under-15 & Under-19 U.S. Youth National Teams.

Andres Jimenez…