June 6, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
In building a professional soccer club from the ground up, Rhode Island FC Head Coach and General Manager Khano Smith had one thing in mind when it came to forming his squad: USL Championship experience. League veterans like Koke Vegas and Albert Dikwa highlighted the club’s list of offseason acquisitions as part of this initiative and have played a crucial role in the club’s inaugural season.
Conor McGlynn joined Rhode Island FC from regional rivals Hartford Athletic on November 8 as the club’s second-ever signing, and is another experienced presence that Smith has been able to rely on to be a leader on the field. As one of five players elected to RIFC’s player-leadership group, the Middle Village, New York native has twice strapped on the captain’s armband for the Ocean State club.
There were points in McGlynn’s career where his future in the sport was uncertain. Now, he’s deviated far from the traditional path to reach his fifth USL Championship season.
Here are five things to know about the midfielder:
Inaugural Club Number Two
McGlynn’s signing with Rhode Island FC was at the beginning of a months-long process of building an expansion team. For some players, the adjustment to an entirely new set of players, coaching staff, environment and style can prove to be a difficult process. For McGlynn, however, this isn’t his first time with a brand-new team.
Courtesy: Hartford Athletic
RIFC is McGlynn’s second professional club. He spent the beginning of his career a couple hours west of Beirne Stadium with Eastern Conference rival Hartford Athletic, having signed with the Green and Blue following its inaugural season in 2019. Working his way into the squad through four seasons, the midfielder made 102 total appearances, scoring 10 goals and assisting four. By the end of his time in the Constitution State, he became a regular in the starting lineup, appearing in 31 of the club’s 34 matches and logging 2,621 minutes in 2023. He captained the club twice in that span.
From Law Enforcement to Professional Soccer: Risk and Reward
McGlynn’s journey to signing his first professional contract with Hartford Athletic was one riddled with uncertainty over whether or not he’d be able to pursue a professional soccer career at all. After a four-year career with Siena College from 2016-2019, where he tallied nine goals and 16 assists, the midfielder graduated with a degree in…