TOMMY SOEHN
As a prior MLS Coach of the Year nominee, Soehn is a well-known and respected name in American professional soccer circles. Most recently, he served as a scout for the Columbus Crew, after spending four years as an assistant coach and interim head coach with the New England Revolution.
Soehn was named the Vancouver Whitecaps first Director of Soccer Operations in 2010, where he developed and managed the club’s inaugural roster, player scouting, and identification and recruitment system as the club prepared to enter the MLS in 2011.
Soehn’s most successful years coaching came in his time with D.C. United from 2004-2009. He won an MLS Cup and Supporter’s Shield as an assistant coach before claiming a second Shield and a U.S. Open Cup championship as head coach.
After completing his playing career in 2000 with his hometown club, Chicago Fire, Soehn began his coaching career in the Windy City under U.S. coaching greats Bob Bradley and Dave Sarachan, winning another U.S. Open Cup in 2003.
As an MLS player, Soehn won his first U.S. Open Cup with the Dallas Burn and then two more Open Cups and an MLS Cup in three years playing for Chicago. Prior to his MLS days, Soehn played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the Wichita Wings, in the Canadian Soccer League for the Ottawa Intrepid and Hamilton Steelers, in the American Professional Soccer League, where he won two titles, with the Colorado Foxes, the National Professional Soccer League for the Denver Thunder, and the Continental Indoor Soccer League for the Las Vegas Dustdevils.
ERIC AVILA
Avila spent the 2021 season coaching the San Diego Nomads under-15 MLS Next Academy team.
He played for San Diego Loyal SC in the USL Championship in 2020, made 34 appearances with four assists for Legion FC in 2019, spent 2018 with the Las Vegas Lights, 2017 in Phoenix with Rising FC, and 2016 with the Rowdies in Tampa.
Before Avila joined the Rowdies, he appeared in 174 games across eight seasons in Major League Soccer with FC Dallas, Toronto FC, Chivas USA, and Orlando City SC.
The now 34-year-old also had a successful college career, capped off by scoring the game-winning goal for UC-Santa Barbara in the 2006 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Soccer Championship. While in college, Avila played in USL League Two for the San Fernando Valley Quakes and Ventura County Fusion.
As a youth player, Avila was in residency with the United States U-17 National Team program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and spent time playing with the Under-20’s. He was also a member of the Chivas USA U-19 team before enrolling at UCSB.
Avila has his USSF ‘B’ License and is working towards his USSF ‘A’ License.
DAN BARLOW
Barlow joined Legion FC in 2019 following a year as Strength and Conditioning Coach with the United States Men’s National Team. He also brings prior MLS experience, having helped Real Salt Lake win an MLS Cup Championship, two Conference Championships, and appearances in the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup finals.
His career began with his alma mater, the University of Maryland, as Strength and Conditioning Coach. He later founded Barlow Consulting, and served in roles of Strength and Conditioning Coach and Director of Sports Science and Performance for Salt Lake from 2007 to 2016.
Barlow joined Heaps and Legion FC Head Coach Tom Soehn in New England in 2017 as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Revolution, then spent time working at the Heiden Institute for Sports Science and Human Performance as High-Performance Manager before joining the national team. He also spent the 2018 USL Championship season as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Charlotte Independence.
