The Santa Barbara Soccer Club has found its new Executive Director, Michael Hannon.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to is sort of getting Santa Barbara up and going again,” Hannon said. “And really making the destination and the brand of the coast and the strong club of the coast.”
Originally from Swansea, Wales, Hannon grew up playing soccer and has expertise in the soccer world as a coach since he was 16.
Before Santa Barbara Soccer Club, Hannon was the executive and technical director at 1974 Newark FC.
He has experience in club membership growth, strengthening staff mentorship and enhancing player advancement pathways. While coaching, he also has a background in scouting, where he worked for Oakland Roots SC.
Hannon coached in many collegiate areas, including Divisions I through III within the NCAA. When coaching for college, the priority for the coaching staff, he explained, is to form a winning team and win.
That differs when coaching younger athletes who hope to one day reach that level.
“In youth soccer, while people want to win, it’s not the main priority,” Hannon said. “The main priority is to develop.”
Therefore, there have been four core values Hannon has wanted to bring to the Santa Barbara Soccer Club.
Communication and trust are seen as big ones for him.
“The families obviously have to have trust in leadership to make sure that they’re doing the right things toward their athlete,” Hannon said. “Communication is key.”
With his experience in player pathways, Hannon aims to make a clear pathway for athletes within the soccer club. The development stage for players, he said, is what do the players want and how can they get better.
Another focus is the club’s identity and brand, where it’s a club that players are proud to represent.
Hannon hopes to explore access and facilities. He’ll work alongside the club’s leadership and partners to explore more opportunities that will go toward the club’s long-term growth.
“I think being a partner of any local organization that takes our players to the next level is always of interest,” Hannon said.
The first thing he said he aspires to do is spend time with families, athletes and coaches of the club.
To be a team, one needs to feel a sense of community and he said he wants every player and every family to feel connected.
“Michael Hannon is the kind of leader who listens, builds trust and gets things done,” Sheralyn Baltes, president of the board of directors, said in a news release. “SBSC’s best days are ahead, and we’re ready.”
Hannon felt it’s important to know what’s going on within the Santa Barbara Soccer Club community and hopes to learn the history, strengths and challenges.
He’s sensed that Santa Barbara has a big future ahead and has always been a strong place for soccer.
“This is an exciting new chapter for our club,” Baltes said.
He will start his new position at Santa Barbara Soccer Club on July 1.
