News
Philadelphia native Sammy Castellanos named head coach of FC Cincinnati 2
A Philadelphia native with over a decade of experience coaching in the academy ranks with Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls and Orlando City has been named the head coach of FC Cincinnati 2.
Sammy Castellanos, who won a pair of national championships as a player with FC Delco and is the younger brother of Drexel head coach David Castellanos, was announced as the team’s new head coach on Thursday. Castellanos becomes the team’s second head coach, following Tyrone Marshall.
“He has a deep background in player development and will continue to build our foundation at that level,” General Manager Chris Albright said in a news release announcing the hire. “Sammy is an experienced leader who has the ability to evolve the strong work that was done before him.”
Castellanos most recently served as the U18 Head Coach for the Chicago Fire FC Academy (2023-2025). Prior to his time with Chicago, he held a number of positions with the New York Red Bulls, most recently leading youth initiatives as the Director of the Individual Development program. He also held coaching positions within the Orlando City SC Academy from 2015-2017 and in the college ranks at NC State and his alma mater South Florida.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the FC Cincinnati organization,” Castellanos said in a news release. “I’m energized by the city’s passion for the game and this club, and I’m excited to give back to the community by helping to develop the next generation of talent for FC Cincinnati. My family and I are looking forward to calling Cincinnati home, and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Castellanos will reunite in Cincinnati with former youth club teammate Jeff Larentowicz, who is the Director of Player Pathway for the club’s academy. Castellanos and Larentowicz were on the FC Delco Arsenal II squad that won back-to-back U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in 2002 and 2003.
Following his successful time at FC Delco, Castellanos went on to play collegiately at Rutgers and South Florida and professionally in the Honduras First Division from 2006-2009 with both Deportes Savio and F.C. Motagua. He holds an A-Youth License from the United States Soccer Federation and earned his Elite Formation Coaching License in collaboration with Major League Soccer and the French Football Federation in 2022.
