Record-breaking first season ends with another accolade for Casciato
PAPILLION, Neb. (November 8, 2023) – Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato has been named 2023 USL League One Coach of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. The first-year head coach led Union Omaha to its second Players’ Shield in club history, becoming the only League One side to finish atop the regular season standings twice.
After a slow start to open the season initially, Casciato orchestrated an unprecedented turnaround, taking the squad from 10th place all the way to first with a 14-match unbeaten streak to cap off the regular season, including a League One-record 10 straight wins in that span. The team finished 19-5-8 with a plus-20 goal differential, the second-highest in the league, and went on to make the League One semifinals in the club’s fourth-consecutive playoff appearance.
On top of the win streak, Casciato’s Owls broke multiple USL League One records in 2023, including most points in a single season (65), goals scored in a single season (61) and tied for most wins in a single season. Under Casciato, Omaha also led the league in All-League selections, as JP Scearce and Alexis Souahy were selected to the First Team, while Dion Acoff, Noe Meza and Steevan Dos Santos all earned Second Team honors. Additionally, the squad received 30 placements on the league’s Team of the Week during the regular season.
“I’m both humbled and honored to win this award, especially given how competitive the league is and how many talented coaches there are within it,” Casciato said. “Everyone in our organization is responsible for this accolade, so I’d like to start by expressing my gratitude to our players for all of their hard work and dedication over the course of the season. I feel blessed to have worked with each and every one of them and look forward to building on this year’s success in 2024 with our returning players, while wishing those moving onto new challenges the very best of luck.”
“I’d also like to congratulate our staff – from our team of coaches, to our analyst Mykel Nayeri, our medical team led by Justin Annin and everyone in our front office. Without their commitment and sacrifice, our success this season just wouldn’t have been possible.
“Finally – a big thank you to [General Manager] Peter Marlette, [President] Martie Cordero, [Owners] Gary Green and Larry Botel for taking a chance on a guy who hadn’t been a head coach at the professional level before. I hope I have repaid some of the faith you showed in appointing me and that we can go on to enjoy even more success together next season.”
“In his first year with the club, Dom showed the ability to execute a system and style of play beautifully,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He also had the flexibility to adapt that system and style when needed. Winning the Player’s Shield is a massive accomplishment, especially as a first-year professional head coach. He fully deserves this honor, and I expect it to be the first of many in his career.”
Season tickets for the 2024 season are currently available via UnionOmaha.com or the Werner Park Ticket Office by calling 402-738-5100.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion and 2023 Players’ Shield Winner, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and by Head Coach Dominic Casciato on the field.
