FC Cincinnati technical director Luke Sassano will step down as soon as early this week due to “family reasons,” sources tell The Athletic.



Sassano, who was hired in March 2018 ahead of the club’s transition from USL to MLS, is expected to remain in an advisory role through the end of 2019 as FCC restructures its technical staff and scouting operation.



Sassano’s departure marks the third significant reshuffling of Cincinnati’s sporting department since the club made its MLS debut earlier this year. Inaugural head coach Alan Koch was fired amidst locker room tumult in May, with Yoann Damet serving as interim coach until the hiring of Ron Jans in July. The latter’s appointment was made by Gerard Nijkamp, who himself joined in the summer, after initial roster builder Jeff Berding stepped away from the general manager role to focus solely on his duties as club president.



After so much turnover, Sassano was the only...