Carolina Core FC Academy Announce Andy Williams and JC Martinez as MLS NEXT Coaches

April 18, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Carolina Core FC News Release

High Point, NC – CCFC Academy today announced the appointment of Andy Williams as the Head Coach of their MLS NEXT U14 boys team and JC Martinez as the Head Coach of their MLS NEXT U13 boys team.

CCFC Academy is a fully-funded scholarship soccer academy that is designed to develop professional and collegiate soccer players. CCFC Academy participates in the MLS NEXT league, which is the highest level of youth soccer in the US. Starting in the fall of 2024, CCFC Academy will have a U13 (2012 birth year) boys and U14 (2011 birth year) boys teams during this first season.

Williams joins CCFC Academy with ample experience as a Technical Director with FC Arizona, where he was responsible for managing and organizing the team and the daily operations of the entire club. Subsequently, Williams led the scouting department for Real Salt Lake (RSL), where he scouted and procured international and domestic talent. Many of these players still play for RSL or have gone on to play throughout Europe and Latin America. In addition to his scouting responsibilities, Williams also served as the first team assistant under Head Coach Jeff Cassar from 2013-2015.

“As a former World Cup and MLS veteran, Andy Williams brings an immense amount of knowledge that can be disseminated throughout the MLS NEXT program. Andy also serves as one of the coaches on our pro team,” said Eddie Pope, CCFC Academy Executive Director and Chief Sporting Officer of the CCFC MLS NEXT Pro team.

Working alongside David Upchurch, who was recently appointed as Academy Director, new CCFC Academy U14 Head Coach Andy Williams will help find and develop players as the academy embarks on its inaugural season.

“We’re excited about the experience Andy brings as a coach and a scout, especially his ability to identify unique player profiles in young players to help them progress toward the professional level,” said Upchurch.

With the high-level knowledge from Pope and the leadership of Upchurch, new CCFC Academy U13 Head Coach JC Martinez will also be joining the staff to provide immense youth soccer experience to help further youth soccer development in the Core of North Carolina.

Martinez joins CCFC Academy having amassed over 13 years of experience in coaching, working in various positions and levels. Since March 2016, Martinez has worked for the Houston Dynamo and Dash organization. Most recently, Martinez worked under now-CCFC Head Coach Roy…