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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
FoundedDecember 5, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-12-05)
StadiumWeidner Field
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Capacity8,000
OwnerMartin Ragain
PresidentNick Ragain
Head coachJames Chambers
LeagueUSL Championship
20242nd, Western Conference
Playoffs: Champions
Websiteswitchbacksfc.com
Current season

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the Western Conference in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The franchise is owned by Martin E. Ragain and Dean Weidner. The franchise is operated by the Ragain family.

The club plays at Weidner Field, which holds the record for the highest professional soccer stadium in the United States. The Switchbacks won their first conference championship, and overall league championship, in the 2024 season, defeating Rhode Island FC 3-0 in the USL Championship Final.

History

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The Ragain Family was 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 head coach on March 11, 2014.[3] Luke Vercollone was the first player signed by Colorado Springs in October 2014. The Ragain Family chose Colorado Springs in large part because of the City for Champions vision by city leaders which included a downtown stadium concept that needed a champion of its own.[4]

Steve Trittschuh and Luke Vercollone lead Colorado Springs to two immediate post season appearances in 2015 and 2016. A talented 2017 roster did not qualify for the playoffs followed by increasingly challenging league competitions through 2020 as the USL Championship grew.

In July 2019, the Switchbacks and Trittschuh parted ways naming assistant coach Wolde Harris the interim head coach.[5] On September 23, Switchbacks announced the selection of Alan Koch as the next head coach.[6] Koch's leadership of the team was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and a restructuring of the 2020 season thereafter returning to Canada. A stabilizing limited affiliation between the Switchbacks and Colorado Rapids between 2019 and 2021 provided the club with additional technical resources and staff including Brian Crookham that aided the transitioning club.[7]

The Switchbacks next looked to Brendan Burke from the Philadelphia Union as head coach to lead the club in its transition downtown beginning a new phase for the franchise.[8] Switchbacks rebranded by simplifying the original logo and colors. Burke quickly went to work restructuring the team making a 2021 playoff appearance in his first season. Player Hadji Barry tied the Championship league record for total goals scored at 25 goals earning the leagues Golden Boot award.[9] 2022 saw the best season in franchise history at the time, making it to the Conference Finals before defeat against San Antonio FC.[10]

After winning the final match of the 2024 regular season against Sacramento Republic FC, the Switchbacks were able to host their entire playoff run at home.[11] With a strong home advantage, the Switchbacks were able to cruise through the entire playoffs, conceding only one goal the entire 2024 USL Championship playoffs.[12] During this run, the club won their first trophy by winning the Western Conference against the Las Vegas Lights FC,[13] and handily winning the 2024 USL Championship final 3–0 against Rhode Island FC.[14][15]

Club culture

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Supporter Groups

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The club has one recognized supporter group, and independent supporter group called Trailheads SG.[16] They're typically located behind the south endline in a place titled, "Base Camp."[17]

Mascot

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Ziggy the mountain goat, debuted during the club's inaugural season, is the club's official mascot. He was chosen after a competition was hosted between artists from local high schools to create concept art for the new club's mascot to potentially win $200 for their school's art department, which was eventually won by Widefield High School.[18] He's regarded as one of the best mascots in the USL Championship, being ranked the league's fourth best mascot in 2017.[19]

Stadium

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Aerial shot of Weidner Field in June 2021

The team opened an 8,000 capacity soccer stadium in downtown Colorado Springs, called Weidner Field, built by Perkins & Will Architects for the 2021 season. Having taken the name from the club's former stadium in October 2020, the stadium sits at an altitude of 6,035 feet, making Weidner Field the highest altitude professional soccer stadium in the United States.[20] The stadium includes many unique elements, including a statue of Saturn that symbolizes the city's nickname as the Olympic City, as well as one of the first "corkonut" turf fields approved by FIFA.[21] Plans for the stadium were officially announced by the City of Colorado Springs in July 2018.[22] Construction began on December 7, 2019. The stadium cost was $47 million and funded by team ownership and Regional Tourism Act / City for Champions tax increment financing.[23]

In 2014, Sand Creek Stadium (now officially known as the Switchbacks Training Field) received a $3.5 million renovation by Martin E. Ragain after signing a 10-year lease with the City of Colorado Springs to meet league minimum stadium criteria for franchises.[24] Located at roughly 6,500 feet above sea level,[25] the stadium was at the highest elevation of any primary home stadium for a professional team in the American soccer pyramid.

Year-by-year

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Historical chart of Switchbacks FC's regular season performance
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
2020 2 USLC 13th, Western
3rd, Group C 		did not qualify Cancelled N/A
2021 2 USLC 5th, Western
3rd, Mountain 		Conference Quarterfinals Cancelled 6,271
2022 2 USLC 3rd, Western Conference Finals Second Round 7,199
2023 2 USLC 5th, Western Conference Quarterfinals Second Round 7,753
2024 2 USLC 2nd, Western Champions Round of 32 7,664

Current roster

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As of November 4, 2024[26]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Mexico MEX Christian Herrera
2 DF United States USA Koa Santos
4 DF Haiti HAI Delentz Pierre (on loan from Real Salt Lake)
5 DF United States USA Matt Mahoney
6 DF United States USA Matthew Real (on loan from Philadelphia Union)
7 MF Jamaica JAM Tyreek Magee
8 FW Norway NOR Jonas Fjeldberg
9 FW Haiti HAI Ronaldo Damus (on loan from GIF Sundsvall)
10 MF United States USA Zach Zandi
11 FW France FRA Quenzi Huerman
13 MF Puerto Rico PUR Steven Echevarria
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF Haiti HAI Duke Lacroix
17 MF El Salvador SLV Jairo Henríquez
18 MF United States USA Aidan Rocha
19 MF United States USA Marco Rios
20 FW Japan JPN Yosuke Hanya (on loan from Colorado Rapids 2)
21 FW Sweden SWE Alex Andersson
23 GK United States USA Joe Rice
27 FW Panama PAN Juan Tejada
29 MF United States USA Cole Mrowka (on loan from Columbus Crew)
77 FW United States USA Justin Dhillon
80 MF Jamaica JAM Speedy Williams
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Staff

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  • United States Martin Ragain – owner
  • United States Nick Ragain – president
  • Republic of Ireland Stephen Hogan – sporting director & general manager
  • Republic of Ireland James Chambers – head coach
  • United States Alan McCann – technical director & assistant coach

Honors

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References

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  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. ^ https://www.visitcos.com/blog/city-for-champions/ [bare URL]
  5. ^ "Steve Trittschuh Relieved Of Duties, Wolde Harris Named Interim Head Coach". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "2018 USL Championship Coach of the Year Named Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Head Coach". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Turner, Mark (November 1, 2018). "Colorado Rapids, Colorado Springs Switchbacks announce affiliation". Last Word On Soccer. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 MLS Supporters' Shield Winner Named Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Head Coach". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  9. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (November 1, 2021). "Colorado Springs' Hadji Barry Awarded 2021 USL Championship Golden Boot". USL Championship. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Switchbacks FC Finish Season In Conference Finals". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Kempen, Rowan (November 1, 2024). "Switchbacks FC Brings Playoff Soccer Back to Colorado Springs". The Catalyst. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Rholdon, Corey (November 23, 2024). "Switchbacks Are the 2024 USL Championship Champions". KKTV. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Beaudry, Steve (November 17, 2024). "Lights' breakthrough season ends with loss in conference finals". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Gavato, James (November 23, 2024). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks take the USL Conference Championship title!". KOAA News 5. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Labidou, Alex (November 23, 2024). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC win their first USL Championship title, dominate first-year club Rhode Island FC 3-0 | Goal.com Nigeria". www.goal.com. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "Trailheads SG". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Muret, Don (April 29, 2021). "Colorado Springs Soccer Stadium Debuts - VenuesNow". Venues Now. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "Ziggy's Story". Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Murray, Nicholas (April 14, 2017). "USL Top Five – Mascots". USL Championship. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "Colorado Springs Switchbacks Name Downtown Stadium Weidner Field" (Press release). Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. October 15, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  21. ^ Snouwaert, Jessica (May 16, 2021). "4 facts about Weidner Field you probably did not know". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Laden, Rich. "Apartment developer buys land next to planned downtown Colorado Springs soccer stadium site". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  23. ^ Hancock, Amanda (December 7, 2019). "Groundbreaking held for $35 million multi-use stadium in downtown Colorado Springs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  24. ^ "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC » Sand Creek Stadium Ground Breaking Ceremony". Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  25. ^ Fox, Dan (July 11, 2006). "Security Service Field: Context Matters". Baseball Prospectus. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  26. ^ "Club". switchbacksfc.com. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
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