Sporting Cascades FC has named Conner Cappelletti its assistant coach, the team announced today. Cappelletti, who holds a USSF “A” senior coaching license, was formerly a coach at Lane United FC alongside the late John Galas, and was most recently an assistant coach at Richmond Kickers under new Sporting Cascades FC head coach Darren Sawatzky.
“My family and I, for so many reasons, are overjoyed to return to Eugene and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Sporting Cascades FC,” said Cappelletti. “It means more than words can describe to be able to help carry on the legacy of my former mentor and great friend, John Galas. It’s a surreal feeling to return for this new project, and getting to work with Darren Sawatzky again after being on staff with him for three years at the Richmond Kickers is icing on the cake.”
During Cappelletti’s three years on the Kickers’ sideline, Richmond—the longest running pro soccer club in the USA—produced one USL League One first-team honoree, two USL League One second team honorees, and one Young Player of the Year finalist. That player, 19-year-old Griffin Garnett, recently signed with Hungarian side Ferencvárosi for a USL League One record six-figure fee.
Cappelletti also served as head coach of the Richmond Kickers U20 side in 2024 and 2025, a two-year stretch that saw the team maintain an unbeaten record at City Stadium while claiming back-to-back South Atlantic Division crowns and making back-to-back USL Academy Finals appearances. Two academy players signed first team contracts in 2024, while four Academy contracted players made their professional debuts in 2025.
Cappelletti and Sawatzky’s ties also extend beyond Richmond and now Sporting Cascades, as Sawatzky was also Cappelletti’s head coach when the former defender made three international appearances for Guam in 2016.
Kent, Wash., native Cappelletti is well-known within the Eugene soccer community, having played in the first match in Lane United FC history, a 2013 clash against Portland Timbers U-23. He then accepted a role on the LUFC sideline as the team’s assistant under head coach John Galas, and when Galas left Lane United FC to become assistant coach of then-USL League One side FC Tucson in 2019, Cappelletti replaced him as LUFC head coach and led the team to a 5-4-5 record.
Cappelletti also coached Lane Community College in 2017 and 2018, leading the Titans to the NWAC playoffs for the first time in school history and earning Southern Region Co-Coach of the Year honors.
CONNER CAPPELLETTI COACHING HISTORY
2023-25 Richmond Kickers (assistant)
2022 Lane United FC (assistant)
2022 Willamette University (women’s and men’s assistant)
2020-21 Cincinnati United Premier (head coach, MLS Next assistant)
2019 Lane United FC (head coach)
2017-19 Lane Community College (head coach)
2014-18 Lane United FC (assistant)
2013-19 Eugene Metro FC (head coach)