Hours of running drills, strategizing plays, watching tape, and organizing travel all lead to the moment when the ball is placed at center pitch, and the match starts. Spokane Velocity FC’s Head Coach Leigh Veidman, Assistant Coach and Director of Performance Josh McAllister, Goalkeeper Coach Vito Higgins, and VP of Soccer Operations Dustin Clever are well versed in this environment. These four are the starting line-up for USL Spokane’s Technical Team that will be growing further (stay tuned for pending announcement).
Leigh Veidman has over ten years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels. He has shown his aptitude for winning by leading USL teams Fresno FC, Oklahoma City Energy FC and Charleston Battery to the playoffs or playoff contention. While he is well-versed in victory on the pitch, he also acknowledges that a lot goes into winning, including the work of the front office, technical staff and players.
His favorite moment of success was on September 1, 2021, as new Head Coach of OKC Energy FC versus Memphis 901 FC earning a victory with only one previous win during season. Coming from Liverpool, Veidman was inspired by the great Liverpool FC coach Jurgen Klopp, “He’s a true reflection of how a normal guy with a dream, full of passion, energy, and staying true to himself, can achieve great things and impact so many people.” With his soccer role model in mind, Veidman is excited to make history this upcoming Velocity FC season. If you ever see Coach on game day, chances are he’s listening to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Jerry and the Pacemakers.
Just like the rest of this crew, Josh McAllister lives and breathes soccer. His expertise is technical coaching, performance coaching, and sports science. While working with the MLS’s Portland Timbers, Josh got the opportunity to observe Darlington Nagbe in action. With his creative playing style and quiet nature, he earned Josh’s title of most underrated soccer player. Along with the Portland Timbers, Josh has worked with MLS’s Sporting Kansas City, Minnesota United FC and NWSL’s OL Reign, including six current MLS and NWSL head coaches.
USL Spokane’s Sporting Department Consultant Gareth Smith has left the biggest mark out of all the coaches McAllister has worked with or learned from. McAllister mentioned, “He has shown me how to be kind, hardworking, but also humble. He is the best coach I ever had and the best boss. A truly inspirational human being.”
Working at a young soccer organization McAllister emphasizes the importance of building and communicating a positive and consistent club culture. Through his 15-plus years of experience, his current proudest soccer match is with MLS’s Minnesota United FC when they beat the historic 2019 MLS LAFC squad. But with the upcoming USL Spokane seasons, Josh may find a replacement.
Vito Higgins is a former Gonzaga Bulldog who played as a goalkeeper before becoming a coach. One match Higgins vividly recalls is Gonzaga’s rivalry against the University of Washington Huskies. Gonzaga was down a goal with the game on the line. “The boys continued to battle, and we eventually came out on top, 2-1. It still stands as the only win vs. UW to this day,” Higgins remembers.
While at Gonzaga, Vito met coach Einar Thorarinsson, who taught him how to look at the game in different ways. After earning degrees in Sports Management and Athletic Administration from Gonzaga, he played with MLS’s LA Galaxy before moving into coaching. Since 2013, he has coached teams from Olympic youth development squads to collegiate programs. While being a goalkeeper coach, Higgins has learned the importance of communication while balancing player relationships and the betterment of the team. With his deep roots in Spokane, he is on a mission to put his coaching and life skills into practice to help support the community through soccer.
Born and raised in California, Dustin Clever developed a deep love for soccer and earned a degree in Sports Business Management from the United States Sports Academy. During his journey to USL Spokane, he has worked with the MLS’s LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and more. While with the San Jose Earthquakes, Clever cheered with 50 thousand fans as Alan Gordo scored the game-winning goal in the 2013 California Classico.
“I remember coming from the locker room and heading back to the bench and getting to be there behind the goal to watch it in slow motion,” said Clever. His roles have varied from the player’s side to stadium logistics throughout his time in soccer operations. This is a crucial and challenging part of team success, as Clever will work to keep 26-plus people focused and moving forward. This human aspect of the game is important to him. He learned its importance through his advisor and leader, Dominic Kinnear of MLS’s FC Cincinnati. After traveling around the world and working with teams in the MLS and USL, Clever is excited to make history and be on the ground floor for something special!
Dr. Gareth Smith, USL Spokane Sporting Department Consultant, has played an instrumental role in bringing this group together and guiding the work of assembling a successful men’s team to take the pitch in March, as well as a women’s team to debut in August. Dr. Smith’s 20-plus years of experience in technical department leadership, sports science leadership, coaching education, and coaching ranging from senior national teams and Major League Soccer (MLS) to NCAA Division I and youth soccer ecosystems and across several federations has been invaluable.
The combination of their years of dedication, expertise, and genuine love for the game has propelled this technical team onto an extraordinary trajectory as they gear up for the 2024 inaugural seasons. This group of soccer coaches is poised for growth alongside the kickoff of matches for Spokane Velocity FC and Spokane Zephyr FC. Leigh and Vito will spearhead coaching efforts for Spokane Velocity FC, while Josh and Dustin will offer invaluable guidance and backing to both Spokane Velocity FC and Spokane Zephyr FC.
Grab your tickets now and see the drama unfold up close and personal as this coaching team guides the historic first season.
