skip navigation

Warren Smith joins Energy FC as Senior Advisor

By Josh Evans, 05/15/18, 2:15PM CDT

Share

Oklahoma City Energy FC announced today, Co-Founder and former President of the Sacramento Republic FC, Warren Smith has joined the OKC club as a Senior Advisor.  Smith will be serving the Energy FC in various capacities, although the bulk of his efforts will be focused on supporting the front office staff in their execution of the 2018 campaign and in assisting the club with a solution that will allow it to play in a “soccer specific stadium” for the 2019 season and beyond.

Smith has extensive operational and stadium development experience in professional sports.  With Sacramento Republic FC, Smith led the development of the franchise, that since joining USL, has been among the most successful clubs in the USL and includes winning the USL Championship in the team’s inaugural 2014 season.  Prior to his work with the Republic FC, Smith served as co-founder and Executive Vice President for the Sacramento River Cats professional baseball team, which has also been recognized as one of the most successful franchises in minor league baseball and by Forbes Magazine as the most valuable franchise minor league sports.

“I’ve known Warren for many years going back to the time when each of us were involved with Triple A Baseball,” said OKC Energy FC co-owner Bob Funk Jr.  “I have a tremendous amount of respect for him based on the success he’s had in growing the sport of soccer in Sacramento.  I look forward to the insight he can provide to our staff as we continue to grow as an organization.  He also has extensive experience in successful stadium negotiations.”

“I am excited to work with the ownership and the talented staff of the Oklahoma City Energy FC”, said Smith.  “The Oklahoma City region has always held a special place in my heart since I was born at Fort Sill and the area is filled with the nicest people in the world.  There is a strong foundation already laid here and I am confident that we will be able to make the Energy FC one of the most sought after experiences in the community.”

Sacramento Republic FC formally announced that Smith will no longer be serving as the club as its President and that he will act as a Senior Advisor for the USL franchise. He starts immediately on his efforts in Oklahoma City.