Union Omaha Bio
Union Omaha Soccer Club is a professional soccer team based in Omaha, Nebraska, competing in USL League One since 2020. The club, commonly called Union Omaha or the Owls, won league championships in 2021 and 2024 and established itself as a competitive lower-division side with notable U.S. Open Cup results.
Early Life and Background
Union Omaha was founded on May 1, 2019, when USL League One awarded a franchise to Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings. The club’s identity was developed through fan engagement including town halls, workshops and online polls; its name nods to the region’s rail heritage and the crest features a great horned owl native to Nebraska.
The Owls adopted black, white and lightning yellow as club colors, with black symbolizing power, white representing new beginnings and lightning yellow denoting striking speed. The crest design includes three stars that represent the supporters, the city and the club’s purpose, reflecting an emphasis on community alignment from the earliest stages.
Path to Soccer
Union Omaha began play in USL League One in the 2020 season, entering a national third-division competition intended to bring professional soccer to communities without prior pro clubs. The club named Jay Mims, formerly of the University of Nebraska Omaha, as its first head coach prior to the inaugural season and quickly became competitive within the league structure.
Early development focused on assembling a roster capable of immediate results in USL League One and engaging a regional supporter base. Fan-driven branding and local ownership under Alliance Sports, later joined by chairman Ron Carson, framed the club’s approach to growth on and off the field.
Union Omaha Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Union Omaha debuted in USL League One in 2020 and finished the regular season in second place, reaching the league final; the championship match was canceled amid a COVID-19 outbreak within the roster. In 2021 the club secured the regular-season title and captured its first league championship, defeating Greenville Triumph SC 3–0 in the final.
The 2021 campaign included multiple individual honors for Omaha players and staff. The club placed several players on All-League teams and goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu earned the USL League One Golden Glove award, while coach Jay Mims received league recognition for his role in the club’s rapid rise.
USL League One Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Union Omaha’s 2021 title confirmed the club as a top competitor in USL League One and set a foundation for sustained success. The team again produced All-League performers and continued to develop players who earned league awards and attention, with forward Greg Hurst finishing the 2021 season as the team’s leading scorer.
In 2022 the Owls made national headlines during the U.S. Open Cup by defeating Major League Soccer opposition; they beat Chicago Fire FC on penalties and then upset Minnesota United FC 2–1 to reach the quarterfinals as the last remaining third-division team in the competition. That deep cup run marked the first time a USL League One team defeated an MLS side in the U.S. Open Cup and underscored Union Omaha’s competitive progress beyond league play.
Following a period of transition in coaching, the club returned to the top of the regular-season standings and sustained league success through 2023 and 2024. Union Omaha earned multiple Players’ Shield trophies as the regular-season leaders and claimed a second league championship with a 3–0 victory over Spokane Velocity FC in the 2024 final, a match contested before the largest crowd in USL League One final history.
Vincenzo Candela Era (Present)
Vincenzo Candela is listed as the club’s head coach and leads the team during the current period of competition and organizational development. Under the current coaching staff, the club has continued its emphasis on competitive league play while pursuing infrastructure goals such as a dedicated downtown stadium project to anchor long-term growth.
The ownership group, led by Alliance Sports founders Gary Green and Larry Botel and joined by chairman Ron Carson in 2024, has overseen both on-field success and strategic planning for a permanent soccer venue. The club announced a new stadium site in North Downtown Omaha in late 2025 with an estimated $114 million project expected to be completed in 2028.
Driving Style and Strengths
Union Omaha’s competitive identity has included organized defensive work, strong goalkeeping performances and a midfield presence known for winning duels. Multiple club players and goalkeepers have received All-League honors and Golden Glove recognition, indicating a consistent emphasis on defensive solidity combined with effective attacking transitions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones for the club include winning the USL League One championship in 2021 and again in 2024, earning multiple Players’ Shield awards as regular-season leaders, and producing the first USL League One victories over MLS opposition in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. The 2024 final attendance record and the selection of a downtown stadium site in 2025 are recent organizational milestones.
Union Omaha Career Wins
Union Omaha’s verified major honors include two USL League One championships (2021, 2024) and multiple Players’ Shields as the regular-season leaders. The club’s U.S. Open Cup run in 2022 represents a landmark victory sequence against higher-division opposition.
USL League One Highlights
The club won the USL League One regular-season title and playoff championship in 2021, claiming its first league crown in just its second year of existence. Union Omaha added another championship in 2024, defeating Spokane Velocity FC 3–0 in the final and becoming the first club in USL League One history to win a second championship.
Across its first five seasons, Union Omaha finished top of the league standings three times, demonstrating consistent regular-season strength and the capacity to translate that form into postseason success. The club has also fielded multiple All-League players and individual award winners across those seasons.
Other Wins & Perfromances
The 2022 U.S. Open Cup run stands out as a signature non-league achievement: Union Omaha defeated MLS opponents Chicago Fire FC and Minnesota United FC to reach the quarterfinals as the last remaining third-division team. That run ended against Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals but signaled the club’s ability to compete above its league level in knockout competition.
Union Omaha Family
Family Background and Club Ownership
Union Omaha is owned and operated by Alliance Sports, founded by Gary Green and Larry Botel, with Ron Carson joining the ownership group and serving as chairman. Alliance Sports has a history in minor league sports ownership and has applied that operational experience to professional soccer in Omaha.
Personal Life
The club emphasizes community and supporter engagement, reflected in the fan-driven crest selection and the symbolism embedded in the crest and colors. The team mascot is the great horned owl, and supporters and local partners have been central to the club’s identity since its founding.
2025 Season Performance
In the 2025 season Union Omaha finished fifth in USL League One’s regular-season standings and advanced to the playoffs, where the club reached the quarterfinal round. The 2025 results continued a pattern of competitive regular-season placement and postseason appearances while the organization balanced on-field priorities with off-field planning for a permanent stadium in North Downtown Omaha.
Looking ahead, the club’s recent championships, multiple Players’ Shields and a sustained record of league-top finishes position Union Omaha to remain a leading USL League One side as it prepares for a permanent home ground and the next phase of growth in the Omaha soccer market.