CARY, N.C. (Dec. 5, 2023) – The North Carolina Football Club has promoted John Bradford to head coach and sporting director of North Carolina FC ahead of the team’s return to the USL Championship, as announced by the club on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, Daniel Sellitti has been promoted to director of the NCFC Academy, as announced by NCFC Youth.
Bradford enters his sixth year with the professional North Carolina FC team, including the last three as head coach. He led the team to the USL League One championship in 2023, the first league playoff championship in the team’s 17-year history.
“John has been a fantastic representative of our club and region for years and this promotion is well-deserved. He is a great identifier of talent, has a tremendous track record of developing players of all skill levels and career stages, and has proven himself tactically. His knowledge of our club history and competitive drive leaves no doubt he is the right man for the job, and we’re thrilled to have this stability during the transition back to the USL Championship,” said NCFC owner Steve Malik.
With the promotion, Bradford becomes the club’s first Sporting Director and will oversee all areas of the technical operations of North Carolina FC. He will lead the club’s overall vision on player and technical staff recruitment and development for on-field competition. He will also spearhead the identification and facilitation of players for potential transfer and sale to outside clubs, both domestically and abroad, among other efforts to ensure the competitive and financial success of North Carolina FC.
Prior to this promotion, Bradford held multiple roles at NCFC Youth the past 19 years, including most recently as the NCFC Academy Director, a post he held since 2013. For the past 6 seasons, his overlapping role between youth and professional involved working with the club’s first team while overseeing the development of NCFC Youth’s top youth boys’ players in the NCFC Academy. He will remain as an advisor to the NCFC Academy and maintain a critical role in the developmental pathway of the program’s top talents. A true link in NCFC’s youth-to-pro pipeline, Bradford was director the NCFC Academy and technical director of North Carolina FC U-23 of USL League Two.
“I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to lead North Carolina FC in the return to the USL Championship. This club has been a huge part of me and my family for a long time. I’m so grateful to be trusted with this team at one of the most exciting junctures in its lengthy history. Additionally, I’m excited to expand my role with North Carolina FC as our Sporting Director.
Thank you to Steve Malik, the front office staff, the countless players and coaches I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and, of course, my loving and supportive family. I also want to thank Gary Buete, Paul Forster, and the entire NCFC Youth staff. I know our Boys Academy Program is in good hands with Daniel Sellitti,” said Bradford.
Bradford will announce the returning players to the North Carolina FC roster, as well as new signees, in the near future.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA FC
North Carolina FC returns to play in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship (USSF Division II) in 2024. North Carolina FC enters its 18th season of competition in 2024, having played in several professional leagues as both North Carolina FC and the Carolina RailHawks. The team won the NASL (USSF Division II) regular season championship in 2011 and 2013 and won the USL League One (USSF Division III) Championship in 2023. Follow North Carolina FC on the web at www.northcarolinafc.com and on social media @NorthCarolinaFC.
