LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced the signing of Chris Barocas as the Director of Goalkeeping and Assistant Coach for the men’s USL League One team on Wednesday.
Barocas has led a lengthy career in the world of soccer with a knack for goalkeeping — He began his career in 2001 as an assistant manager at Averett University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in both Sports Management and Sports Medicine with a minor in Sports Psychology. During college he was a goalkeeper for the Averett soccer team.
From there, Barocas took numerous other assistant manager roles at the collegiate level, including at Central Florida (UCF), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Limestone University, and North Florida.
In 2009 he earned his advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma and has also added a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma and a United States Soccer Federation “B” License.
Outside of the college world, Barocas was academy Goalkeeping Coordinator for Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), which is a youth branch of Jacksonville Armada FC, which competes in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
He then began working with Orlando City SC, first starting as Goalkeeping Co-Coordinator of the academy team before moving to become assistant manager for the second team – which competes in the MLS Next Pro league – before becoming first team Goalkeeping Co-Coordinator.
From there he moved to be Goalkeeping Co-Coordinator for the New York Red Bulls academy — He also briefly led the United States U16/17 National Team in 2015-16 as goalkeeper’s coach and returned to the college game as a volunteer assistant at South Florida (USF).
His lengthy career has seen him coach numerous United States soccer stars including Rose Chandler, who played in the U20 World Cup in 2014 and 2016, Mandy McGlynn, who played in the U20 World Cup in 2018, and Mason Stajduhar, who plays for the Orlando City MLS team.
Barocas’ road to Lexington properly began in 2020, however, when he became Goalkeeping Coach for Fort Lauderdale CF – which has since rebranded into Inter Miami II – and began working with Lexington SC head coach Darren Powell.
Looking to reunite with Powell, Barocas will join Lexington Sporting Club, taking over the duties of assistant coach and Director of Goalkeeping.
“Chris is a good person and good addition to our staff. He is a hard worker who is specialist in training GK’s. Having known Chris for over 20 years from a player to coach he has always been passionate and focused on developing GK’s to be the best that they can be,” said head coach Darren Powell. “The transition to Lexington SC will be smooth as we have worked together at both Orlando City within the academy and on the bench together with Inter Miami II for 3 seasons. He will be a great asset to the first team but also impacting the youth development of the GK’s within our club. Welcome to Chris, Jess and their young family to LSC!”
Lexington SC is set to kick off its 2024 campaign at home against NC Hailstorm FC on March 9.