West Texas FC Announces First Head Coach in Club History!
University of Texas Permian Basin Coach Victor Domingues to lead West Texas FC for 2023 NPSL Season
For Immediate Release
West Texas FC is making moves to launch the new year as they prepare for the Inaugural 2023 NPSL Season. With the announcement of Head Coach Victor Dominques, West Texas FC will start to build a team that everyone in Midland-Odessa will be proud to support this National Premier Soccer League season. West Texas FC is excited to have a local coach lead the team and help grow the beautiful game in Midland-Odessa.
West Texas FC Owner Jason Cannon added to today’s exciting announcement, “There are many highly qualified candidates interested in taking the coaching helm at West Texas FC, and we were very privileged to meet and interview a select number. In this inaugural West Texas FC season, we look to establish a positive trajectory for our club. We are very excited to have Victor Domingues lead our team as head coach, we believe he is a talented coach with a bright future. We are fortunate to have his energy, positive attitude, and commitment to our community. We believe together with Victor we can create and foster a team West Texas can be proud to call its own.”
At The University of Texas Permian Basin
In the first season as Head Coach, Victor Domingues has more than doubled UTPB’s overall record percentage, while leading All Region players and for the first time in program history, UTPB had a player lead the NCAA Lone Star Conference in points per game average.
Domingues helped lead UTPB to their first winning season since joining the Lone Star Conference in 2021. The Falcons tied for the second best scoring average in the league and had the second most saves in the league.
Before The University of Texas Permian Basin
Prior to coming to UTPB, the Sao Paulo, Brazil native was an assistant coach at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. His first season with the team saw the Yellow Jackets post their best conference record in program history where the majority of his players were in the NPSL.
As a Player, Victor played at Lubbock Christian University where he was a wing and central midfielder for four years. Prior to playing at LCU, Victor played youth for professional sides Associacao Atletica Preta (Brazil) and U-23 Club de Futbol Amercia (Mexico).
West Texas FC Head Coach Victor Domingues shared his thoughts on becoming the first head coach in club history, “I’m excited to lead this ambitious club and organization, to bring back football at a professional level to West Texas. This is a passionate and supportive community that has welcomed me since my arrival in 2019 and now I’m looking to give back to this awesome community with exciting football on the pitch! Vamos West Texas!“
NPSL Soccer has a successful history in West Texas. The Midland-Odessa Sockers, owned by Midland Rockhounds, had a great run over 14 years. Founded in 2008, Midland-Odessa Sockers played in the USL PDL from 2009-2014 then the club joined the National Premier Soccer League from 2015-2021. Sockers FC won the Lone Star Conference Championship in 2017 when they advanced to the NPSL National Championship game that year.
The NPSL and Lone Star Conference: With over 90 teams, NPSL is one of the biggest National soccer leagues in the United States. In the last few years, 41 NPSL players have been drafted or signed by Major League Soccer teams including the Number One MLS SuperDraft Pick in 2022. The Lone Star Conference is known as one of the best conferences in the country with 11 successful teams throughout the state including long-time rival Laredo Heat, 2021 NPSL National Champion Denton Diablos and new club Lubbock Matadors.
West Texas has a Derby: While Midland-Odessa has a great soccer history, 2023 will be the first time that the club will have a West Texas Derby when the Lubbock Matadors come to town. In international soccer, Derbys are intense rivalry matches with two teams that are in close proximity to one another. Lubbock successfully joined the NPSL in 2022, averaging over 4,000 fans per game and barely missing the NPSL Playoffs during their expansion season. In 2023, Midland-Odessa will have a home and away series as part of the NPSL season which will provide fans with a road trip to support their team in Lubbock. Stay tuned for additional details about the West Texas Derby.
Midland-Odessa soccer fans can visit www.westtexasfc.com for club information, more information on the ownership group, to reserve your season seats while following the club on social media @westtexasfc (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).
Season Seats are on sale now and the Online Shop is now open at westtexasfc.com with great looking West Texas FC gear; from T-shirts to Scarves to Beanies to Hats to Supporters Flags to Hoodies and ¼ Zips and everything in between. Check out the great looking gear and become the first fan in your neighborhood to have this great looking gear.
Stay Tuned for Tryouts information to be announced this week. Local players will have an opportunity to earn a spot on West Texas FC to represent West Texas FC and play the best players and teams from across the state of Texas.