KC Reporter

The Sporting Kansas City Academy has expanded its technical staff with the appointment of Bryan Turner and Jake Smith as assistant coaches. Both will work with the U-18, U-16, and U-15 teams during training sessions and matches for the 2025-26 MLS NEXT season. They will also support the Center of Excellence, a supplemental training program for boys aged 13 and under.

Turner brings more than a decade of coaching experience in the Kansas City area across club, high school, collegiate, and USL League Two levels. He recently coached in USL League Two in Louisiana. Over the past eight years, he has focused on individual and small group training with professional players from leagues such as MLS, NWSL, and USL. Turner has contributed to seven state championships at the high school level in Kansas City and helped develop several All-American players. He holds a USSF A-Senior license.

Smith was born in Texas and raised in Colorado. He has seven years of coaching experience that includes roles at Missouri Baptist University and Lou Fusz Athletic Academy. After playing college soccer at Missouri Baptist University and South Dakota School of Mines, Smith returned to Missouri Baptist as a Graduate Assistant before moving on to become an Academy Head Coach at Lou Fusz Athletic in St. Louis, Missouri—an MLS NEXT Elite Academy. Smith is currently working toward his USSF A-Youth License.

The current Sporting KC Academy technical staff for the 2025-26 MLS NEXT season includes Declan Jogi (Academy Director), Lee Tschantret (U-18 Head Coach), Angel Rivillo (U-16 Head Coach), Luis Pacheco (U-15 Head Coach), Jamie MacGregor (Center of Excellence Lead Coach), Carlos Ortiz (Goalkeeper Coach), Bryan Turner (Assistant Coach), Jake Smith (Assistant Coach), and Dylan Boone (Performance Coach).

The 2025-26 MLS NEXT campaign began in September and will conclude with the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in Salt Lake City, Utah next May. The academy’s teams are set to participate in major events including MLS NEXT Fest, Generation adidas Cup, and MLS NEXT Flex ahead of the playoffs.

Fans can follow updates about Sporting KC Academy’s progress on X or Instagram or visit their new website at SportingKC.com/Academy.