One Knoxville SC Overview
One Knoxville Sporting Club is a professional soccer team based in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. The club competes in USL League One, the third tier of the American soccer league system, and plays its home matches at Covenant Health Park, a multi-use stadium shared with the Knoxville Smokies, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. Founded in 2021, One Knoxville SC is owned by Drew McKenna and coached by Ian Fuller. The team is nicknamed “The Scruffy Boys” and is supported by an independent supporters group known as The Scruffs, whose name references the long-standing “Scruffy City” nickname for Knoxville.
In only a few seasons, One Knoxville SC has risen from a semi-professional startup into a championship-winning professional organization. The club captured its first major trophy in 2025, winning the USL League One league title after claiming the regular-season championship, known as the USL1 Players’ Shield, earlier the same year. With a strong connection to its East Tennessee community and a growing rivalry with Lexington SC, One Knoxville SC has quickly established itself as one of the rising clubs in the lower divisions of American professional soccer.
Founding and Organizational Origins
One Knoxville Sporting Club was first unveiled as Knox Pro Soccer, a semi-professional organization with the stated long-term goal of eventually reaching the professional ranks of the United States soccer system. The official name One Knoxville Sporting Club was announced on July 15, 2021, giving the project a clear identity tied to the city of Knoxville. Shortly after, on August 19, 2021, the club revealed its official crest, which was designed by artist Matthew Wolff, giving supporters a visual symbol for the new team.
On January 13, 2021, Mark McKeever was appointed as the club’s first ever head coach, beginning the process of building the playing staff and technical structure. The organization was built around the idea of developing a competitive team that could represent Knoxville at the highest level possible within the United States soccer pyramid. Ownership of the club rests with Drew McKenna, who has guided the franchise through its rapid rise from a lower-division startup to a championship-winning side.
Growth Into USL League One Competition
One Knoxville SC began competitive play in the semi-professional USL League Two, which serves as a key developmental tier in the American soccer system. The team made its USL League Two debut on May 14, 2022, hosting Asheville City SC at a temporary local venue and falling by a score of 2–1 in front of 2,200 spectators. Just three days later, on May 17, 2022, the club recorded its first victory, defeating the Tri-Cities Otters 1–0, signaling the start of a strong inaugural campaign.
That first season proved highly successful, as One Knoxville SC finished with an 11–1–2 record and won the South Central Division. The club advanced through the early rounds of the playoffs before being eliminated by North Carolina Fusion U23 in the South Conference Finals. On October 20, 2022, just months after the end of that strong debut season, the club announced that it would move up to the fully professional level by joining USL League One beginning in 2023, marking a major step forward in its young history.
One Knoxville SC Competitive Journey
Since its founding, One Knoxville SC has progressed from a new semi-professional side to a USL League One champion in only four seasons of competitive play. The club’s journey has included a division title in its first year, a smooth transition to professional soccer, and a historic 2025 campaign that produced both a regular-season crown and a league championship. Along the way, the team has built a recognizable identity through its supporters, its stadium, and a developing rivalry with Lexington SC.
Early Seasons and Development (2021–2022)
One Knoxville SC spent its earliest competitive years establishing itself in the Knoxville sports community, with a focus on building the foundation for future professional play. During its inaugural 2022 season, the club used temporary home venues, including Austin East High School, Knoxville Catholic High School, and Maryville College, while a longer-term home was still being arranged. The team’s early identity was shaped by its crest, its connection to the city, and the leadership of first head coach Mark McKeever.
The 2022 USL League Two season provided the club with its first taste of competitive success, as the team won the South Central Division and reached the South Conference Finals. That same year, One Knoxville SC created the Smoky Mountain Series rivalry with Asheville City SC, which was won by One Knoxville through a 4–3 aggregate result. These early achievements gave the organization the confidence and credibility needed to pursue professional status.
Breakthrough in USL League One (2023–2024)
One Knoxville SC entered USL League One in 2023 and immediately began laying the groundwork for long-term professional success. The club announced its first professional signing on December 12, 2022, when forward Ilija Ilić joined the team in a dual role as both player and assistant coach. During the first two seasons in USL League One, One Knoxville played its home matches at Regal Soccer Stadium, home of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers soccer program, which has a capacity of 3,000 fans.
The club’s first ever professional victory came in a 2–1 win over Lexington SC, with midfielder Jimmie Villalobos scoring the team’s first professional goal. An attendance record at Regal Soccer Stadium was set on March 18, 2023, when 2,512 fans attended the match against Lexington SC. During this period, the rivalry with Lexington SC, known as the Battle of the Barrel, also began to grow, rooted in the traditional Kentucky–Tennessee sports rivalry between the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
The 2025 season marked a turning point in the history of One Knoxville SC, as the club moved into Covenant Health Park, a modern multi-use stadium designed to convert between soccer and baseball with a retractable pitcher’s mound. The stadium, shared with the Knoxville Smokies, has a listed capacity of 6,355 and has allowed One Knoxville SC to host matches in front of significantly larger crowds. On April 26, 2025, the club set the record for largest home attendance for a USL League One club across all competitions, drawing 6,378 fans for a USL Cup match against FC Tulsa.
On the field, the 2025 season delivered the club’s greatest achievements. On October 25, 2025, One Knoxville SC won its first ever USL League One regular-season championship, earning the USL1 Players’ Shield. The club then added the league title on November 16, 2025, defeating Spokane Velocity FC 2–0 in front of a record 7,500 fans at Covenant Health Park. In 2026, the team continued to build on this success by upsetting D.C. United of Major League Soccer in the round of 32 of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, becoming only the third USL League One side ever to defeat an MLS opponent.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
One Knoxville SC’s identity is built around a connected, community-driven approach to professional soccer in East Tennessee. The club emphasizes the use of a modern, soccer-specific home venue and a growing supporter culture led by The Scruffs. On the field, the team has shown an ability to perform in high-pressure moments, as demonstrated by its 2025 playoff run and its 2026 U.S. Open Cup victory over a top-flight opponent.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among the most important milestones in the club’s history are the debut USL League Two match on May 14, 2022, the first professional signing of Ilija Ilić in December 2022, the move into Covenant Health Park in 2025, and the record home attendance of 6,378 fans set on April 26, 2025. The 2025 USL1 Players’ Shield and the 2025 USL League One title stand as the most significant competitive achievements to date, while the 2026 U.S. Open Cup upset of D.C. United further cemented the club’s reputation for producing landmark results.
One Knoxville SC Achievements and Results
In only a short period of time, One Knoxville SC has compiled a record of competitive success that includes a division title, a regular-season championship, a league title, and a historic cup victory over a top-flight opponent. The club’s 2025 campaign is widely regarded as the breakthrough year for the organization, with multiple major trophies and record-breaking crowds highlighting the season.
USL League One Achievements
One Knoxville SC captured its first USL League One regular-season championship, the USL1 Players’ Shield, on October 25, 2025, finishing the season as the top side in the league standings. The club then completed the campaign by winning the USL League One title on November 16, 2025, defeating Spokane Velocity FC 2–0 in the final. These two accomplishments represent the highest honors One Knoxville SC has earned since joining the professional ranks.
Conference Achievements
During its 2022 USL League Two season, One Knoxville SC advanced to the South Conference Finals, also referred to as the league quarterfinals, before being eliminated by North Carolina Fusion U23. This playoff run represented the club’s first significant postseason achievement and helped establish the team’s reputation as a competitive side.
Divisional Achievements
In its inaugural 2022 season, One Knoxville SC won the USL League Two South Central Division with an impressive 11–1–2 record. The division title was the club’s first competitive championship and served as a strong foundation for its future move to the professional level.
Series Achievements
One Knoxville SC claimed the 2022 Smoky Mountain Series against Asheville City SC with a 4–3 aggregate result, winning the rivalry during the club’s first competitive season. The series was determined by head-to-head matches, with aggregate score serving as the tiebreaker. Although the men’s teams no longer meet regularly, the Smoky Mountain Series has continued on the women’s side following the launch of the One Knoxville SC women’s program in 2025.
