February 9, 2023 – United Soccer League One (USL1) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the addition of veteran club executive Lee O’Neill to its leadership team as Senior Vice President of USL League One. O’Neill joins the USL with more than two decades of experience in elite soccer performance, most recently as General Manager and Academy Director for historic English club Ipswich Town FC.
The USL has created a new senior executive role for each of its two men’s professional leagues to enhance their quality on and off the field – everything from fan experience, to level of play, to match presentation, to club revenue streams. The new Senior Vice President of the USL Championship will be announced later this month.
O’Neill provides strategic direction for League One and works across the ecosystem to increase the value of clubs through improved competitive performance, player relations and talent development. O’Neill holds a UEFA “A” Coaching License, is currently enrolled in the Football Association’s Elite Technical Directors Course and is working toward an MBA in sports leadership and management at the University of Portsmouth.
“Lee brings a wealth of experience and collaborative, results-based approach that meshes perfectly with the exciting things ahead for USL League One,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The league is growing, our business is becoming more valuable, and now we have an experienced executive solely focused on the rapid evolution of the league.”
With 12 teams set for 2023, including debutants One Knoxville SC and Lexington SC, League One plans to have 20 or more teams by 2026. Average attendance in League One increased by 56% in 2022 compared to 2021.
“USL League One is an exciting, growing league with a vital role in the overall development of the sport in America,” O’Neill said. “As the league enters its fifth season, I look forward to aiding the clubs with both the commercial and technical sides of the business to continue the league’s upward trajectory.”
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