San Francisco, CA - April 10, 2024 - SF Elite Soccer Club is thrilled to announce the appointment of Ihor Dotsenko as its Sporting Director. With an impressive background spanning over two decades in the soccer industry, Dotsenko brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and a proven track record of success to his new role.
A native of Kiev, Dotsenko's journey in soccer began as a standout player at Wake Forest University, where he not only showcased his athletic prowess but also excelled academically, graduating Cum Laude with a BS in Business Administration and a Minor in Economics. His dedication to excellence on and off the field earned him the prestigious Wake Forest University Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997.
Following his collegiate career, Dotsenko embarked on a professional playing career in the A-League and MLS before transitioning into pivotal roles within the developmental landscape of soccer. His journey included serving as the Assistant Technical Director, Head Coach, and ultimately the Youth Technical Director and Academy Director at the Richmond Kickers, where he played an integral role in shaping the club's future and fostering a culture of success.
Dotsenko's impact extended far beyond club soccer, as he leveraged his expertise and leadership to make significant contributions at the national level with the US Soccer Federation. As a Technical Advisor and Club Development Manager, Dotsenko played a key role in implementing development plans, setting strategic goals, and elevating the standard of soccer across the nation.
Holding USSF A, UEFA A, USSF Director of Coaching licenses and a wealth of experience under his belt, Dotsenko's qualifications are further bolstered by his expertise in creating high-performance player and staff development environments, his keen understanding of player pathways, and his exceptional ability to analyze game dynamics and individual performances.
“Ihor is the right person to lead our soccer department forward into a bright future,” said Joe Dugan, President, and Executive Director at San Francisco Elite, “This hire is a further commitment to Raising The Game not just for our players, coaches & families in San Francisco but for soccer in Northern California. Our vision is that we believe through soccer we can positively change lives. This hire and everything we do is rooted in what is in the best interest of our players.”
As Sporting Director, Dotsenko will oversee all aspects of player development and strategic planning at SF Elite Soccer Club, working closely with coaches, staff, and players to achieve success both on and off the field.
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About San Francisco Elite
Founded on the belief that San Francisco deserved a better soccer program, we set out to put San Francisco on the national soccer map of the most prominent youth clubs in America. Today we are a leading San Francisco soccer club offering a national pathway for boys, girls, men & women. SF Elite has placed more than 90 players into college soccer programs at every level from Division 1 to community college. Our coaching staff is made up of some of the top coaches in the United States; including Jim Millinder, Jeff Wilson, Sebastián Carrasco, Lexi Mata, Ricardo Gutierrez, Loni Brewer, Alberto Millan, Kyle Valentine, and many others. SF Elite is a proud member of the ECNL, and Girls Academy, the WPSL & was named as one of the nation's first clubs to be selected as a Players First club by U.S. Club Soccer.
Ihor Dotsenko’s Experience:
Assistant Technical Director, Richmond Kickers Youth
Head Coach, Richmond Kickers (W-League and PDL)
Assistant Head Coach, Richmond Kickers (USL Pro)
Technical Director, Richmond Kickers Youth
Academy Director, Richmond United Academy
Technical Advisor & Club Development Manager, US Soccer Federation
Academy Director, Metropolitan Oval Academy
US Soccer B License Lead Coach Educator
Academy Head Coach, Inter Miami CF