July 9, 2026, Columbia, SC – South Carolina United FC is proud to announce the promotion of Adrian Pinasco to Director of Player Performance and Analysis. In this leadership position, Adrian will oversee the club’s player performance initiatives while leading the integration of video analysis, match evaluation, individual player feedback, and performance data across South Carolina United FC’s competitive pathway. His work will help provide players and coaches with meaningful insights that support long-term development and maximize individual potential. Adrian has established himself as an outstanding coach, mentor, and leader within South Carolina United FC. His professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for player development have earned the respect of players, families, and fellow coaches alike. This new role recognizes both his expertise and the growing importance of performance analysis in the modern game. “Adrian has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to connect with players while embracing innovative methods that enhance development,” said Rob Strickland, Executive Director of South Carolina United FC. “As our club continues to evolve, we believe investing in player performance and analysis is an important step in providing our athletes with opportunities that mirror the professional game. Adrian is the ideal person to lead this initiative.” As Director of Player Performance and Analysis, Adrian will work collaboratively with technical leadership and coaching staff throughout the club to: Lead the club’s player performance and analysis strategy. Coordinate match and training video analysis. Provide individual player evaluations and development feedback. Support coaches with tactical and performance insights. Help integrate modern technology and data into the player development process. Work closely with Apex Performance and Stephen Venugopal, Sports Performance Manager with Apex Performance, to further integrate physical performance testing, monitoring, and indexing into the club’s holistic player performance model, ensuring technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development are evaluated through a unified framework. Assist in identifying trends that improve both individual and team performance. The position further strengthens South Carolina United FC’s commitment to delivering one of the nation’s premier youth soccer experiences by combining outstanding coaching with cutting-edge performance tools and sports science. The collaboration between Adrian and Apex Performance represents another significant investment in providing SCUFC players with a professional-level development environment. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve the club in this new capacity,” said Pinasco. “South Carolina United FC has always been focused on helping players reach their full potential. I look forward to working alongside our coaching staff and Stephen at Apex Performance to provide players with meaningful feedback, objective analysis, and integrated performance data that will accelerate their development.” South Carolina United FC continues to invest in people, technology, and programming that prepare players for success at every level of the game—from recreational soccer to college, professional, and national team pathways. About South Carolina United FC South Carolina United FC is a leading youth soccer organization in the Midlands region and one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the Southeast, serving more than 5,000 players annually. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, the club offers programs for players of all ages and abilities, from introductory youth soccer to elite national competition, including ECNL, ECNL Regional League, USL Academy, USL League Two, and USL W League. South Carolina United FC is committed to excellence in player development, coaching education, and community engagement while developing exceptional players, outstanding people, and a lifelong love of the game.
SCYSA, CESA and SCUFC Launch South Carolina Premier Alliance New statewide platform adds to the competitive pathway for South Carolina players Sanctioned by the South Carolina Youth Soccer Association (SCYSA), Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) and South Carolina United FC (SCUFC) today announced the formation of the South Carolina Premier Alliance (SCPA), a groundbreaking collaboration designed to elevate the highest level of youth soccer competition within the state of South Carolina. Launching for the 2026–2027 season, the South Carolina Premier Alliance will create a unified statewide platform for competitive boys’ and girls’ teams, providing a direct pathway into the National 1 League, which qualifies the top performing teams for the ECNL Conference League Playoffs. The initiative brings together leading clubs, coaching standards, and player development resources under one structure focused on long-term athlete development, enhanced competition, and national-level post-season opportunities — all while allowing South Carolina players to remain and develop within their home state. Key Highlights Statewide boys’ and girls’ competition platform Direct pathway to the National 1 League beginning in 2027–2028 Qualifying league into the National Championship Series (State Cup) Collaboration between SCYSA, CESA, and SCUFC Enhanced coaching education and player development standards Unified game-day and operational standards across participating clubs Designed to strengthen the overall level of soccer throughout South Carolina Building Better Environments in South Carolina The South Carolina Premier Alliance is designed to bridge the gap between strong local competition and the national game by creating a structured, high-performance environment comparable to leading regional platforms across the Southeast. “This partnership represents positive collaboration at the state level and aligns with the continued work being done within US Soccer’s Soccer Growth Strategy Department,” said Walter Clapton, Executive Director of SCYSA. “By aligning the strengths of SCYSA, CESA, and SCUFC, we are creating an environment that bridges the gap between local competition and the National 1 League, with the hope to support clubs future efforts of competing in National 1, while remaining connected to our local community.” Andrew Hyslop, Co-Executive Director of CESA, added: “CESA and SCUFC have long been committed to developing players capable of competing at the highest levels. The South Carolina Premier Alliance creates the most competitive and collaborative environment the state has ever seen.” Rob Strickland, Executive Director of South Carolina United FC, said the alliance represents a major step forward for the state’s soccer ecosystem. “We are proud to help build a platform that serves players, clubs, coaches, and families across South Carolina. Together, we are establishing a new standard for youth soccer in our state — one focused on player development, professionalism, and meaningful national opportunities.” Raising the Standard Across the State In addition to competition, the South Carolina Premier Alliance will focus on: coach education initiatives operational best practices enhanced communication standards shared development resources consistent player experience standards across participating clubs League organizers believe the collaboration model will strengthen the overall soccer landscape in South Carolina and provide a clearer pathway for aspiring players seeking high-level competition. About the South Carolina Premier Alliance The South Carolina Premier Alliance is South Carolina’s premier youth soccer competition platform, formed through a collaboration between SCYSA, CESA, and SCUFC. The alliance is designed to provide top-level in-state competition, enhanced player development opportunities, and a pathway into national competition through the National 1 League structure beginning in the 2027–2028 season.
