USL2 SOCCER Peoria City has new coach, new COO and more
The Peoria City made a pitch to step up their game in the USL2 for the 2024 season, bringing in a new head coach, configuring a new seating area at Shea Stadium and bringing a longtime Bradley University sports administrator on board in its front office.
Here is everything you need to know about Peoria’s soccer team as it embarks on its third season in the pre-professional developmental league.
Who is the Peoria City head coach?
The City introduced Clarke University coach Mike Paye as their new head coach on Tuesday. He’ll be joined on the sideline by Eureka College head coach Ryan Woodside, who will serve as his assistant.
Paye built the Dubuque, Iowa-based Clarke program into a success, with consecutive winning seasons at the NAIA level. The 30-year-old former midfielder was an all-American at Tyler (Texas) Junior College, playing on its 2012 NJCAA national champions and the 2013 runnerup team. He went on to two seasons at Creighton and appeared in the NCAA tournament.
“I grew up soccer,” said Paye, who was born in Monrovia, Liberia and raised in North Carolina from a very young age. “My style is to put the ball in play, keep it moving at a high tempo and be aggressive. A lot depends on the opponent you play, too. We need talented players and push them to the next level. That’s what I like to do.”
Paye said he grew up loving to watch Chelsea star Michael Essien play. “He played the same position, played for a team I really liked,” Paye said. “I modeled my game after him.”
Paye says he drew his coaching influences from Creighton head coach Elmar Bolowich and Tyler’s Steve Clements and a host of others from his amateur days.
“Two weeks ago, I had no ideas for what I was going to do this summer,” said Paye, who has a wife and one child. “Then I got phone calls from three different NCAA Div.-I coaches about this coaching job opening in Peoria. It took me about 5
New Peoria City soccer head coach Mike Paye and new City chief operating officer Bobby Parker were introduced by the team on Thursday. minutes to say, ‘I’m your guy.’ “
Who is in the Peoria City front office?
● The managing partner of the City is John Dorn, from the Chicago area.
● Former Bradley men’s soccer coaching icon Jim DeRose is team president.
● Longtime BU sports administration exec Bobby Parker has resigned from the Braves, effective Feb. 29. He will now serve as City chief operating officer, while also launching his own event and entertainment company.
● Mike Paye (Clarke University head coach) is Peoria head coach.
● Ryan Woodside (Eureka College head coach) is Peoria assistant coach.
What is the Peoria City schedule?
Peoria City will play a 14-game schedule in 2024, opening May 11 on the road against Des Moines. They open the home season May 18 against the Chicago Dutch Lions. The schedule includes the creation of the Lincoln Cup, a two-match, homeand-home exhibition series with Springfield FC.
Here’s the complete schedule:
● May 11: Peoria at Des Moines Menace, Valley HS., Des Moines, Iowa, 7 p.m.
● May 18: Chicago Dutch Lions at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7:30 p.m.
● May 22: Peoria at Chicago Dutch Lions, Spartan Athletic Complex, Aurora, 7 p.m.
● May 29: Sueno FC at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7 p.m.
● June 1: Springfield FC at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7:30 p.m. (Lincoln Cup).
● June 6: Peoria at River Light FC, Spartan Athletic Complex, Aurora, 7 p.m.
● June 11: Peoria at Springfield, Hawk Field, Riverton, 7 p.m. (Lincoln Cup).
● June 15: River Light FC at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7:30 p.m.
● June 26: Peoria at Chicago Hoyne Stadium, Chicago, 6 p.m.
● June 29: Peoria at St. Charles, Lutheran HS, St. Peters, Mo., 6 p.m. (River Cities Cup).
● July 2: Chicago City at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7:30 p.m.
● July 6: Des Moines Menace at Peoria, Shea Stadium, Peoria, 7:30 p.m.
● July 13: Peoria at Sueno FC, ATI Memorial Stadium, Joliet, 7 p.m.
Who is in the Peoria City USL2 division?
City,
Peoria City, which finished 6-6 last season, is in the seven-team Heartland Division, in the Central Conference, with
Chicago City, Des Moines, St. Charles, Chicago Dutch, River Light (Aurora) and Sueno FC (Joliet). The USL2 overall has 128 teams set for the 2024 season, broken into 18 divisions.
Where does Peoria City play?
Peoria City plays its home games at Shea Stadium, the former home of minor league baseball’s Peoria Chiefs, located at 1523 W. Nebraska, Ave., in Peoria.
The field seats about 1,000 spectators, but in 2024 the team has developed a new seating option called grandstand fieldside seating. That new area includes Adirondack chairs placed on the field directly in front of the main grandstand. In addition, there will be fieldside club seats next to the team benches, under tents and with snacks and beverages included in the price.
How to get Peoria City tickets in 2024?
Peoria City has seven home games. Parking is free, but fans can reserve a designated season tailgate space for $25. Season tickets are on sale now and single-game tickets will go on sale later this spring. Season ticket options include:
● $35 for general admission
● $105 for grandstand fieldside
● $175 for the upgraded version, with tent coverage next to team benches and food and beverages included
● $115 for a “friends and family” season pass, which includes four general admission season tickets, with additional tickets in the package available for $30 each.
● $50 for a new kids club called the School of Carp. The price includes a club T-shirt that serves as the child’s general admission season ticket, 10 activity tickets to a kids play area, a meet-andgreet with players and staff, and a monthly newsletter.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.