One Knoxville SC Bio
One Knoxville Sporting Club is a professional soccer team based in Knoxville, Tennessee, competing in USL League One, the third tier of American soccer. Founded in 2021, the club moved from USL League Two to the fully professional USL League One and plays its home matches at Covenant Health Park.
Early Life and Background
The idea for the club began with plans announced in 2021 to field a semi-professional USL League Two side with a long-term goal of promotion to the professional ranks. The team was unveiled initially as Knox Pro Soccer before the official name One Knoxville Sporting Club was announced in July 2021, and the club crest was unveiled in August 2021.
During its first season in 2022 the club used temporary local venues while establishing a permanent home, staging matches at Austin East High School, Knoxville Catholic High School, and Maryville College. Early leadership and staffing moves included the appointment of Mark McKeever as the club’s first head coach during the launch phase in 2021.
Path to Soccer
One Knoxville SC debuted in USL League Two in May 2022 and built momentum quickly, recording an 11–1–2 record to win the South Central Division in its inaugural campaign. The club advanced through two playoff rounds before falling in the South Conference Finals, a performance that accelerated plans to step up to professional competition.
On October 20, 2022 the club announced promotion to USL League One for the 2023 season, a move accompanied by the club’s first professional signings and expanded operations. The roster and coaching structure were reshaped to meet the demands of full professional play, including the club’s first professional signing, forward Ilija Ilić, who also served as an assistant coach.
One Knoxville SC Career
Early Career (2022)
In USL League Two, One Knoxville SC made its debut on May 14, 2022, hosting Asheville City SC in front of 2,200 spectators. The club registered its first victory on May 17, 2022 with a 1–0 win over the Tri-Cities Otters and finished the regular season as South Central Division champions with an 11–1–2 record.
The 2022 playoff run included two postseason wins before elimination by North Carolina Fusion U23 in the South Conference Finals. Those early results established a foundation of competitive performance and community interest that supported the transition to the professional ranks.
USL League Two Breakthrough (2022)
One Knoxville’s 2022 USL League Two season served as a rapid breakthrough, marking a division title in the club’s first campaign. The strong record and playoff advancement underscored the club’s readiness to pursue a professional franchise and helped to galvanize local supporters ahead of the move to USL League One.
The supporters group known as The Scruffs formed early and referenced Knoxville’s Scruffy City nickname; that organized backing was a visible part of the club’s early identity and matchday atmosphere during the League Two season.
USL League One Breakthrough (2023–2025)
Following the announcement of USL League One membership in late 2022, One Knoxville SC began its professional era in 2023 playing home matches at Regal Soccer Stadium, the University of Tennessee facility commonly known as Regal Soccer Stadium. The stadium provided a provisional professional venue while the club worked toward a larger capacity, multi-use home.
The club recorded its first professional win with a 2–1 victory over Lexington SC; midfielder Jimmie Villalobos scored the team’s first professional goal. Early professional seasons also produced steady increases in attendance and supporter engagement as the club settled into USL League One competition.
The 2025 season became the defining breakthrough year for the club. One Knoxville SC finished first in the USL League One regular season and went on to win the postseason, securing the club’s first USL1 regular-season title and the league championship that year. Those achievements marked the club’s first major trophies since founding in 2021.
Covenant Health Park Era (2025–Present)
Beginning with the 2025 season One Knoxville SC relocated its primary home matches to Covenant Health Park, a convertible baseball- and soccer-capable stadium shared with the Knoxville Smokies. Covenant Health Park features a retractable pitcher’s mound and conversion capabilities to accommodate professional soccer at a larger capacity than previous venues.
The move coincided with significant attendance milestones for the club. One Knoxville set a then-record USL1 home attendance of 6,378 fans for a USL Cup opening-round match against FC Tulsa on April 26, 2025, and later hosted a league-title match in front of a reported 7,500 fans at Covenant Health Park when the club secured the 2025 league championship.
Driving Style and Strengths
One Knoxville SC developed a balanced playing style under head coach Ian Fuller, combining organized defensive structure with direct attacking play from the wings and set-piece effectiveness. The club emphasized physical fitness and transitional play suited to the varied surfaces and dimensions of USL League One stadiums.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include the 2022 South Central Division title in USL League Two, the club’s first professional win and first professional goal in USL League One, the 2025 USL League One regular-season title and playoff championship, and multiple attendance records after the move to Covenant Health Park.
One Knoxville SC Career Wins
Across its short history, One Knoxville SC has compiled verified successes at both the USL League Two and USL League One levels, including a 2022 division championship and the club’s first major professional trophy in 2025 when it captured both the USL League One regular-season and playoff titles.
USL League One Highlights
The club finished first among 14 teams in USL League One during the 2025 regular season and proceeded to win the postseason championship that same year. The season included landmark attendance figures at Covenant Health Park and provided the club with its first professional silverware.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In USL League Two, One Knoxville SC won the South Central Division in 2022 and advanced to the South Conference Finals. The club’s early playoff performances and subsequent professional accomplishments reflect a rapid competitive ascent since the club’s inception in 2021.
One Knoxville SC Family
Family Background and Community
The club’s ownership under Drew McKenna and its supporters, most notably The Scruffs, anchor One Knoxville SC in the Knoxville community. The team’s identity—nicknamed The Scruffy Boys in some references—draws on local culture and the Scruffy City tradition tied to Knoxville’s history.
Personal Life
One Knoxville SC expanded its club structure beyond the men’s professional team by announcing a women’s team on March 8, 2025, to compete in the USL W League starting that year, with Simon Duffy named to coach the new side. Ownership, coaching appointments, and community partnerships remain public and central to the club’s growth.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was the club’s most successful professional year to date: One Knoxville SC finished atop the USL League One table, earning the regular-season title, and followed that achievement by winning the postseason to claim the league championship. Head coach Ian Fuller led the squad through a campaign that combined consistent league form with decisive playoff performances.
That season also marked One Knoxville’s transition to Covenant Health Park and several attendance milestones, including a 6,378 crowd for a USL Cup opening-round match and a reported 7,500 in attendance for the championship-clinching match at Covenant Health Park. The 2025 results established One Knoxville SC as a rising club within USL League One and set a foundation for continued community engagement and competitive ambitions.
