By Energy FC Communications,

OKLAHOMA CITY – Head Coach John Pascarella has named Leigh Veidman as Assistant Coach. Veidman joins OKC from Fresno FC, formerly of the USL Championship, where he served as Assistant Coach and Head of Performance.

“I’m excited to be here and work with Coach John Pascarella,” said Veidman. “It’s great to be part of one of the more established clubs in the USL Championship. I spoke to former Energy FC Assistant Coach Chris Spendlove, who comes from the same neighborhood in Liverpool, and he told me all of the wonderful things about the city and club.”

Veidman, a native of Liverpool, England, played for the youth academies at both Liverpool FC and Everton FC. In addition to Fresno FC, his coaching experience includes FC Boulder and the Des Moines Menace of USL League Two as well as Midland University in Nebraska. He is a seven-year veteran of USL League Two, having played with the Toronto Lynx, Des Moines Menace and FC Boulder. He holds a USSF B Coaching License and is currently working towards his USSF A Senior License.

Veidman helped lead Fresno to a third-place finish in the USL Championship Western Conference in 2019. The Foxes advanced to the Conference Quarterfinals of the USL Cup Playoffs. He joins goalkeeper C.J. Cochran, defender Zach Ellis-Hayden, midfielder Arun Basuljevic and forward Jaime Chavez as offseason acquisitions from Fresno FC.

“Leigh is a guy I tried to get play for me, and that’s how our relationship started,” said Pascarella. “He opted to go into full-time coaching, and ever since then we’ve kept in touch. He is a friend and someone I can bounce ideas off, and I think this will be a very good working relationship.”

Energy FC begins the 2020 season at Taft Stadium March 7 at 7 p.m. against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Season seats for the 2020 season are on sale now. Visit energyfc.com/2020-memberships or call 235-KICK for more information.