Pensacola FC Head Coach Dean Logan Discusses Final Preparations for 2025 Season
Logan discusses the team’s goals, roster building, and balance with the academy team before the League for Clubs season. Team practices begin Thursday, May 5.
Pensacola Football Club’s men’s teams begin their first The League for Cups Gulf Coast Conference season this month, with the senior team traveling to Leesburg, Ga., Saturday, May 10, and the academy side hosting AFC Mobile on Wednesday, May 14.
Both teams will play 10 regular-season matches and hope to qualify for the conference playoffs, which could lead eventually to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the United Stats’ oldest and among its most prestigious soccer competitions.
PHOTO: Jody Link/Pensacola News Journal
The Q&A
Southeast Soccer Reporter asked long-time PFC coach Dean Logan to answer the following questions leading up to the start of the 2025 season:
SESR: Where is the men’s program in its preparations to start the season?
DL: “Although not ideal, we will have four days with a group to get prepared for the first away game …[while] players are finishing up their finals [and/or] graduation.”
SESR: How will roster decisions be made for the “senior” and “academy” teams? Will PFC continue to be the older, more experienced players and the academy the “jayvee,” or will they be more balanced?
DL: “Yes, the senior team will have a makeup of a bit more experienced players at this level, with players who have been with us since inception, to players who have played at this level before.
“The academy makeup gives an opportunity for the younger guys to get their feet wet and show their talents in a competitive environment. Those players are mainly incoming freshmen players to college teams, and players who would have just finished their freshman year looking to get some playing time over the summer.”
SESR: When will you announce rosters?
DL: Our social media team is in the process of releasing the men’s senior team roster. The academy, and women’s teams should be out in the next week or two.
SESR: How many players are or will be in training?
DL: “We will have roughly 24 players in training, with 18 being selected for match-day rosters.“
SESR: Who are some of the key returners?
DL: “We are returning a good bunch of guys who were very instrumental in our success last season. The likes of Michael Lightbourne, Isaac Kamara, Gabriel Mendoza, Cooper Jennings, Aaron Boateng, Kendrick Hernandez, and Tyrike Andrews, just to name a few.”
“Expectations are always high with our club.…The players are all-in and understand the goals and objectives. It’s just a matter of executing on game day.”
— PFC coach Dean Logan
SESR: Who are some of the newcomers you’re excited about, and why?
DL: “I don’t want to give much, but we do have a good group of incoming players. I’m excited to see Bruno Marquez, Baylen Young, Nacho Miranda, Mattia Vecchi, and Mohammed Alshabot.”
SESR: What expectations do you have for the upcoming season?
DL: “Expectations are always high with our club. We want to win the conference and conference playoffs, which can possibly give us an opportunity to be eligible for U.S. Open Cup play. The players are all-in and understand the goals and objectives. It’s just a matter of executing on game day.”
SESR: What can fans expect to see when they watch the PFC men’s soccer teams?
DL: “They will definitely see a group of young men who have a real passion for the game. A team that will play exciting football, that will entertain the fans.”