Tucson, Ariz- The FC Tucson Women’s team have officially announced their coaching
staff for 2024. The new regime will consist of Roberto Garcia as the Head Coach, and
Caylee Carter as the Assistant Coach. Coach Garcia becomes the 3rd coach in team
history.
Roberto Garcia has been a staple to the FC Tucson Community, as he has been
serving as the Director of Coaching with FC Tucson Girls Youth for the last 5 years. His
vision helped lead 5 separate FC Tucson Youth Girls teams to state championship
appearances in 2019, and he plans on building upon this success with the future
generation of women soccer stars. “We are incredibly excited to add someone of Coach
Garcia’s pedigree in the women’s game in Southern Arizona and nationally.” FC Tucson
President Jon Pearlman said. ”We are pleased that Roberto has embraced our vision of
mentorship for aspiring female players and coaches.”
When asked about what being named Head Coach means to him, Coach Garcia said
this in response, “I’m honored to be given the opportunity by ownership and look
forward to working with all the women and our fantastic staff.” He was also prompted
about how his team will look and feel as opposed to previous seasons of the women’s
team. “The FC Tucson Women’s program will be for our players in Tucson, providing
them an opportunity and environment to train and compete where it will benefit them as
they go to their college programs and back to the Girls Academy National platform. We
will be building on a culture where every player is proud to represent the city of Tucson
when they put on the uniform and play in front of their friends and family”
Roberto Garcia will be joined by former FC Tucson Women’s player, Caylee Carter, as
the Assistant Coach. She previously served as a coach for the FC Tucson Youth
programs from 2020-2023. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Coach Carter spent her
formative years playing with Sereno Soccer Club ECNL. During her time with the
University of Arizona, Carter came to FC Tucson in 2016 as a midfielder. Her tenure as
a player ended in 2023. “The FC Tucson Women’s team has acquired an exceptional
leader on the field and in the locker room,” Pearlman said about Carter. “She
understands the expectations for our WPSL program, and she will undoubtedly continue
to hold her players to this same standard of excellence she held as a player.”
With more than 40 years of soccer experience between Coach Garcia and Coach
Carter, the bridge of greatness between the old and new regimes will begin now with
this new era of FC Tucson Women’s Soccer. The first step in this process will begin on
May 14th as the two coaches begin to evaluate the women trying out for the team
ahead of their 2024 season debut on June 1st.
About FC Tucson
FC Tucson is Southern Arizona’s preeminent soccer club. Founded in 2011, the club
currently consists of an amateur men’s team in USL League Two, an amateur women’s
team in the WPSL, and a boys’ youth academy program in USL Academy. Our men’s
and women’s teams consist of high level youth, college, and adult players primarily from
Southern Arizona and our academy program provides an elite youth platform for top
youth prospects in Tucson.
About WPSL
Since its establishment in 1998, the Women’s Premier Soccer League has been the
pinnacle platform for advancing player development in the United States at the amateur
level. Through its 25-year history, the WPSL has grown into a leading advocate for
women’s soccer by creating multiple avenues for developmental opportunities, including
the WPSL International Combine and the WPSL U21 league. Adhering to its mission of
providing the highest level of development opportunities, WPSL team rosters consist of
elite female players from collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep
athletes. The average age of a WPSL player is 20.7 years old. Sixty-nine percent of
WPSL players are rostered on teams from their hometown’s metro area and 92% of the
WPSL’s collegiate athletes play for NCAA member institutions.
Justin Little
Digital Content and Communications Coordinator
FC Tucson
justin@fctucson.com
Jon Pearlman
Founder/President
FC Tucson
520-440-3855
jonathan@fctucson.com
