Jon Scheer promoted to head Philadelphia Union Academy

The Philadelphia Union has gone in-house to succeed Tommy Wilson with the hiring of Jon Scheer as the new Director of Academy and Professional Development.

Scheer has served as the club’s Director of Scouting since 2021 after working as the academy director of Talent ID from 2018-2021. A former Blue Hen from New Jersey, Scheer was an assistant coach at his alma mater from 2011-2018.

“Jon’s pathway from the academy to the professional side speaks volumes not only to his wide-ranging capabilities on the sporting side, but also the effectiveness of his leadership,” Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner said in a news release. “He adopted our style of play and philosophy at the earlier stages and his implementation of our principles will be vital in keeping the consistency that is needed with our youth development.”

Scheer’s new position will oversee the Union’s entire player development pathway. In addition to overseeing the team, staff, and players from the pre-academy through Union II, his role will focus on “maintaining and enhancing the unified approach to implementing the club’s methodology and player development strategy.”

“I’m thrilled to continue expanding my role at the Philadelphia Union,” Scheer said in a news release. “The holistic system we have in place to streamline our efforts from the academy to the first team, and apply consistency throughout, is a key pillar to our competitive strategy and has been vital to our success as an organization.”

Wilson departed the Philadelphia Union earlier this year to take a job as Technical Director at Charlotte FC. He oversaw the academy’s transition to full-time in 2013 when they joined the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and was involved in the creation of the club’s second team, initially as the Bethlehem Steel in USL Championship and its current incarnation as MLS Next Pro team Philadelphia Union II.