Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Colorado Springs Switchbacks Football Club is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The franchise is owned and operated by Martin Ragain and Ragain Sports, LLC.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Full nameColorado Springs Switchbacks Football Club
Founded2013 (2013)
StadiumWeidner Field
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Capacity5,000
OwnerRagain Sports, LLC
PresidentNick Ragain
Head CoachAlan Koch
LeagueUSL Championship
201918th, Western Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History

An ownership group from Colorado Springs were awarded a USL Pro franchise on December 5, 2013, with plans to begin play in 2015.[1] The team's name, the "Switchbacks", was announced on January 31, 2014, following a fan contest.[2] The team hired Steve Trittschuh as their head coach on March 11, 2014.[3]

On October 30, 2018, Switchbacks FC announced an affiliation agreement with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, who are based in the Denver area.[4]

Stadium

The team plays at Weidner Field, adjacent to UCHealth Park (formerly known as Security Service Field), and in the summer of 2014, started a $3 million renovation of the stadium after the team signed a 10-year lease with the City of Colorado Springs.[5] Located at roughly 6,500 feet above sea-level,[6] the stadium is at the highest elevation of any primary home stadium for a professional team in the American soccer pyramid.

In July 2018, the City of Colorado Springs announced plans to construct a new stadium to be ready for play by the 2021 season.[7] Construction of the 8,000 seater stadium in Downtown Colorado Springs commenced on December 7, 2019. It will cost $35 million, to be funded by city bonds, the club, and a real estate partner.[8]

Year-by-year
Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
2015 3 USL 3rd, Western Conference Semifinals Fourth Round 2,723
2016 3 USL 3rd, Western Conference Quarterfinals Fourth Round 3,152
2017 2 USL 9th, Western Did not qualify Third Round 3,389
2018 2 USL 11th, Western Did not qualify Third Round 3,804
2019 2 USLC 18th, Western Did not qualify Third Round 4,005

Current roster
As of April 12, 2020[9]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Sean Melvin  Canada
2 Defender Joan Cervós  Andorra
5 Defender Ever Rubio  Mexico
6 Midfielder Rony Argueta  United States
7 Forward Austin Dewing  United States
8 Midfielder Hiroki Kurimoto  Japan
9 Forward Christian Volesky  United States
10 Forward Luke Ferreira  United States
11 Midfielder Mamadi Camara  Guinea
12 Forward Niki Jackson ([A])  United States
13 Midfielder Aidan Daniels  Canada
14 Defender Abdul Rwatubyaye ([A])  Rwanda
16 Defender Adrián Diz Pe  Cuba
17 Forward George Lebese  South Africa
19 Forward Darren Yapi ([B])  United States
21 Defender Kris Reaves  United States
22 Defender Sebastian Anderson ([A])  United States
23 Midfielder Uvaldo Luna  Mexico
24 Defender Vladimir Walent ([B])  United States
25 Midfielder Donovan Roux ([B])  United States
27 Forward Logan Dorsey ([B])  United States
28 Midfielder Will Vint ([A])  United States
30 Goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez ([A])  United States
31 Defender Alejandro Padilla ([B])  United States
32 Goalkeeper Andrew Cordes ([B])  United States
44 Defender Jordan Burt  United States
77 Midfielder Andre Lewis  Jamaica
  1. ^
    On loan from MLS affiliate Colorado Rapids.
    2.
  2. ^
    Colorado Rapids academy player.
    3.

Staff
  • Martin Ragain – Owner
  • Nick Ragain – President
  • Alan Koch – Head Coach
  • Kyle Timm – Assistant Coach
  • Chase Robertson – Assistant Coach & Equipment Manager
  • Trey Harrington – Goalkeeping Coach

References
  1. Paisley, Joe (December 2, 2013). "USL soccer franchise coming to Colorado Springs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  2. "Colorado Springs Unveils Club Nickname" (Press release). USL Pro. January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  3. "Switchbacks Name Trittschuh As Coach". United Soccer Leagues (USL). March 11, 2014. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  4. Benedetto, Vinny (October 30, 2018). "Switchbacks FC, Colorado Rapids officially reach affiliation agreement". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2014-09-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Fox, Dan (July 11, 2006). "Security Service Field: Context Matters". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  7. Laden, Rich. "Apartment developer buys land next to planned downtown Colorado Springs soccer stadium site". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  8. Hancock, Amanda (December 7, 2019). "Groundbreaking held for $35 million multi-use stadium in downtown Colorado Springs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  9. "2020 Roster". switchbacksfc.com. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
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