March 4, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Hartford Athletic News Release
Dear Hartford Athletic Fans,
Over the past four months we have signed 20 new players, hired a new coaching staff and moved into a beautiful new training facility, making this off-season one of the busiest and most challenging in my long career. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring in top tier talent to compete on the field, and enhance the fan experience on match day. With the regular season just a few days away, I’m excited to share some updates on what we’ve been working on that I’m sure will get you just as fired up as we are for the 2024 season.
The First Team roster and coaching staff have been completely transformed, starting with Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. Brendan, a native of New England, brings the most proven success of any Head Coach in Club history, holding a 146-99-72 record over eight years as a professional and a Western Conference Finals appearance with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the 2022 season. Winning the US Open Cup last season with MLS side Houston Dynamo, Brendan was the perfect man for the job. He’s a proven winner and has constructed a dynamic and exciting roster for the 2024 campaign.
Joining Brendan is Assistant Coach Aaron Wheeler, and Goalkeeper Coach Dan Gaspar. Aaron played in MLS as part of his successful 11-year career as a professional, and played for Brendan in Colorado Springs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Coach Gaspar returns for his second year with the Club and boasts one of the best coaching resumes in the country, having coached eight different national teams, three collegiate teams, and six other professional clubs.
Regarding the roster rebuild, Brendan and the staff have worked around the clock to identify 24 new players and four re-signings to build our squad with top tier talent. A blend of experienced veterans and young sensations, this is a group filled with players who know what it takes to win at the professional level and will be a ton of fun to watch. Attacking firepower was added with the signings of Michee Ngalina (2022 USL Championship Young Player of the Year), former MLS Champion Romario Williams, Enoch Mushagalusa, and Marcus Epps, who have scored a combined 150 professional goals. Jamaican international winger Deshane Beckford is a dynamic playmaker from the outside flanks, and the 19 year old Mamadou Dieng is an extremely athletic striker bound to be a prolific goal…