F.C. Portland Academy is pleased to announce the hiring of Mike dePinna and Rob Baarts to lead its competitive soccer program. These two highly respected and long-time Academy coaches were selected following a search that included numerous candidates with a wide range of experience at several youth programs throughout the soccer world.

Mike dePinna captained the very first F.C. Portland team twenty years ago and has remained connected with the Academy since those early years. He has been selected as the Head Coach / Women’s Division and as the Academy’s Program Director, a role which encompasses training programs and curriculum development. Joining him on the leadership team is Rob Baarts, who is currently an Assistant Coach at the University of Portland, and who has been with Academy for nearly as long as dePinna. Baarts will be the Head Coach / Men’s Division and the Academy’s Technical Director, which includes management of the Academy’s participation in the United States Soccer Federation Development Program.

“We are very honored to announce this important placement of two excellent coaches and two outstanding people. Mike and Rob not only know the Academy’s values, goals and vision, they remain deeply committed to our mission of developing players to their fullest as soccer players, student-athletes, and as citizens,” said Joe Wedding, Executive Director.

"After being involved as both a player and coach for the past 20 years, I am excited at the opportunity to get even more involved with the club. We have a great history at F.C. Portland, and a lot of great coaches. My goal is to help our club enhance its stature and provide our coaches with some structure, support and organization. Clive's values, goals, and vision need to be passed on to the next generation of coaches and players. I want to do my part in that,” dePinna commented.

Baarts continued, “ I couldn’t agree more with Mike as to why we are doing this. We know our heritage and believe that our coaches & our programs like the USSF Academy do a great job of connecting our players to the larger soccer community. I am honored and ready.”

“Mike and Rob emerged as leading candidates early in the search process. They uniquely match the combined criteria set forth by our Board of Directors and by our coaches: maintaining a strong relationship with the colleges and universities, increasing the community’s knowledge of and respect for the game and its participants, and communicating effectively with our coaches and players about our goals, our programs and, perhaps most importantly, the value we place on teaching life’s lessons through the game of soccer,” Wedding stated.

Please join me in welcoming Mike and Rob into their new leadership roles!

Joe Wedding
Executive Director