Technical Director Vincent Cavin to Oversee Chicago Fire Football Academy
CHICAGO (Sept. 2, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC and Chicago Fire Academy today announced the technical and coaching staff for the 2026-27 MLS NEXT season.
Chicago Fire FC Technical Director Vincent Cavin will oversee the Chicago Fire Academy, succeeding the departing Gary Lewis. He is joined by four new coaches across three Academy teams, in addition to multiple staffers who arrived midway through the 2025-26 season.
“I am honored to step into a role left in such fantastic shape by Gary Lewis,” said Cavin. “With plenty of new faces and many key returning pieces, our mission remains the same: building a world-class academy that not only will develop the next generation of Chicago Fire FC stars but will fulfill our young players’ potential while building a strong foundation for soccer in the Chicagoland area.”
Cavin joined the Fire as Director of Methodology and Talent Manager in early 2025, working closely with staff from the Academy to the first team in the development and execution of the Club’s game model. He previously worked served as an assistant coach in the U.S. Men’s National Team alongside current Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, winning the 2024 Concacaf Nations League. Prior to his time with the USMNT, Cavin spent a decade in various capacities with the Switzerland National Team. During this period, the Swiss National Team participated in three FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships and advanced to the final four of the UEFA Nations League.
Chicago Fire Academy 2026-27 Coaching Staff
Emil Kjersgaard Hansen (U-18 Head Coach) – Second-year head coach Hansen joined Chicago in 2025 from Tromsø IL, where he served as head coach of the U-17 Academy team earlier that year, and U-15 Academy head coach from 2023-2025. Prior to his time at Tromsø IL, Hansen was a coach at Lyngby Boldklub at the U-14, U-15 and U-17 levels. He holds UEFA “A”, UEFA “B” and a UEFA Elite Youth "A" Licenses.
Will Thornton (U-18 Assistant Coach) – Thornton is in his third full season with the Chicago Fire Academy. Thornton joined the Fire from MLS NEXT academy Michigan Wolves, where he served as U-9 and U-10 director. Prior to becoming a coach, Thornton represented the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team as a player from 1998-1999.
Sergio Lozano (U-16 Head Coach) – Lozano joined the Chicago Fire Academy as U-16 head coach in March 2026 following more than a decade of youth development experience in the United States and his native Spain. After helming different age levels for two clubs in his hometown of Valencia, he was named Director of Development and Head Coach for the Columbus Crew Academy in 2016. Lozano returned to Valencia CF in late 2019, coaching its U-18s before his current role with Chicago.
Seán Geoghegan (U-16 Assistant Coach) – Geoghegan arrives in Chicago after a decade in various player development and sports management roles primarily in his home nation of Ireland. Prior to joining the Fire, the Kilkenny native served in various roles at League of Ireland side Waterford FC, where he ascended to the Head of Academy Coaching position in 2024. He holds multiple certifications, including UEFA “A” and UEFA Elite Youth “A” Licenses, in addition to a Master of Science degree in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology from the Waterford Institute of Technology and an MBA from Kansas Wesleyan University.
Francesco Lettieri (U-15 Head Coach) – Lettieri will lead the U-15s after joining the Fire in 2025 as head coach of the U-14 side. He arrived last year from Lugano, Switzerland, where he served in the FC Lugano system as head coach at the U-16 and U-15 levels, as well as U-16 assistant coach, from July 2016 until summer of 2025. Lettieri holds UEFA “A” and UEFA Elite Youth “A” Licenses.
Ricardo Pinto (U-15 Assistant Coach) – Pinto was named U-15 assistant coach this summer following time at multiple NCAA Division I men’s soccer programs since 2018. After earning degrees from the University of Wisconsin Green-Bay and the University of South Dakota, he joined as an assistant coach for men’s soccer programs of Stetson University and UNC-Wilmington before arriving in Chicago for similar roles with Loyola and Northwestern and a stint at Northeastern University in Boston. The native of Ovar, Portugal holds UEFA “C” and U.S. Soccer “B” licenses.
Maxime Lecluse (U-14 Head Coach) – Lecluse joins the Fire as an Academy head coach after a decade with Jupiler Pro League side Standard de Liège. He began his career with the Belgian club as a U-13 coach in 2015, coinciding with former Fire forward Hugo Cuypers while there. Lecluse rose through the ranks to lead the U-16 side while also serving as Scouting Leader in that age category for the club. He holds a UEFA “A” License.
David Abidor (U-14 Assistant Coach) – Abidor is in his third season with the Chicago Fire Academy after serving as an assistant coach with the U-15 level early on. Prior to his time with the Academy, he served as a coach with the Chicago Fire Youth Club, which followed a playing career featuring time with USL Championship side FC Tulsa, formerly known as the Tulsa Roughnecks.
Tanner Chassman (U-13 Head Coach) – Chassman returns for his second year as U-13 head coach following time as U-15 head coach within the Charlotte FC Academy. Chassman also served as Houston Dynamo Academy U-13 Head Coach in the MLS Academy Formation Phase, and as Individual Development Coach in the MLS Academy Formation and Pre-Professional Phase. He holds a U.S. Soccer “A” License.
Selim Talbi (Individual Development Coach) – Talbi is in his ninth season with the Fire in an evolving role as an Individual Development Plan (IDP) Coach this upcoming season. Talbi previously oversaw the U-16 level after serving as the U-15 Academy Head Coach during the 2023-24 campaign that saw the Fire win the MLS NEXT Cup title.
Bruno Cardoso (Goalkeeping Coach) - Cardoso returns for his fourth season with the Fire as the Academy’s goalkeeping coach. Following an 18-year playing career at Brazilian club S.E. Palmeiras, the former professional goalkeeper journeyed stateside to begin his coaching career in the state of Florida with a variety of youth clubs and college teams. In addition to his role with the Academy, Cardoso has served in a similar role with the U.S. U-15 Boys National Team for the past two years. He holds the NSCAA advanced national goalkeeping diploma, U.S. Soccer “B” license and UEFA “B” goalkeeper coach license.
The coaches join a Chicago Fire Academy staff that includes Head of Performance and Wellness Adam Grainger, PhD; Head Academy Scout Cole Bushue; Head of Academy Analysis Douglas Wright; Head of Academy Insights Daniel Ferrar; Head of Education Patrick Stanton; Head of Player Care and Wellbeing Rachel Jankowsky; Director of Discovery Program C.J. Brown; Director of Chicago Fire FC II and Academy Operations Alex Castillo; Athletic Trainers Jennifer Garcia and Eldwin Neritani; Performance Coaches Nicole Rodriguez, Jonathan Rojas and Christian Rojero; Mindset Coaches Felix Yu and Craig Chudley; Managers of Team Operations Freddy Arechiga and Jorge Ruiz; and Equipment Manager Edi Cokovic.
