USL Veteran Steven Short Joins Lexington’s Staff as COO
October 25, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Lexington Sporting Club News Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club is pleased to announce Steven Short as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.
Short spent the last 12 years at the United Soccer League within various roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President for Expansion Club Strategy, where he was tasked with leading a new department focused on strategies to support and enhance the launch of professional expansion teams.
He was also vital to the creation of USL League One, where he managed the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of the league from 2018-21, securing U.S. Soccer Federation sanctioning.
“We’ve gotten to know Steven over the last few years, working with him closely on our growth from prospective club to full USL participant,” said Stephen Dawahare, part of LSC’s ownership. “He was there when we announced our new franchise to the public in October 2021, and has met with us on a weekly basis ever since to help guide the many aspects of expansion. He knows what it takes to succeed as a new club-specifically in the professional soccer world-and we could not be more fortunate to have him fully on board.”
From 2015-17, Short was Vice President of Business Development, where he helped launch 10 franchises as a senior member of the leadership team focused on strategy and growth. He was responsible for exploring new markets, generating revenue, developing stadium guidelines, establishing a preferred supplier program, and more.
In Short’s earlier roles within USL, he led expansion and corporate partnership efforts, resulting in the league’s first league-wide licensing program and online merchandise store.
“It is an honor to join Lexington Sporting Club as we prepare for the club’s inaugural season within USL,” Short said. “I have been fortunate to be a part of the planning of the club since its early inception and look forward to working with the club’s ownership and staff to build a professional soccer club that will proudly represent Lexington and the Commonwealth of Kentucky within the domestic and international soccer landscape.”
Originally from Louisville, Ky., Short earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee, and later completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Florida in 2017.
Prior to working with the USL, Short gained experience through various roles at Electronic Arts, Disney Sports Attractions, and the Tennessee Athletics Department.
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