Sporting Club Jacksonville, commonly known as Sporting JAX, is a professional soccer club based in Jacksonville, Florida. The club is scheduled to make its debut in the USL Super League in 2025.
History.
Founding.
A USL Championship franchise for Jacksonville was awarded to an investment group led by venture capitalist Ricky Caplin and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow on August 30, 2022. The team established a partnership with USL League Two and USL W League club Florida Elite Soccer Academy to create a full development pathway from youth to professional levels for both men and women.
In May 2023, the JAXUSL group was awarded a conditional franchise in the USL Super League, pending completion of a soccer-specific stadium project.
The club expanded its leadership team with the addition of former Florida Gators women's soccer head coach Becky Burleigh as a women’s team advisor in June 2023. Later that year, on November 30—coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the National Football League awarding Jacksonville its franchise—former Jacksonville Jaguars star Fred Taylor joined the ownership group.
Sporting Club Jacksonville, branded as Sporting JAX, was officially unveiled on December 12, 2023, along with its logo and team colors.
Super League era.
Mark Warburton, best known for leading Rangers FC back to the Scottish Premiership in 2016, was named Sporting Director and Head of Soccer on March 20, 2025. He oversees both the men’s and women’s teams.
The coaching staff for the women’s team began taking shape in spring 2025. Stacey Balaam, former associate head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's program, was appointed the inaugural head coach in early April, bringing prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level with the West Georgia Wolves. Alan Kirkup, whose résumé includes head coaching roles with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Maryland Terrapins, and SMU Mustangs, was added as associate head coach the following month. On June 17, 2025, the club announced the appointment of Mat Cosgriff, former associate head coach of the SMU Mustangs women's soccer team, as its new goalkeeper coach.
Player signings began on May 21, 2025, with defender Georgia Brown and midfielder/forward Ashlyn Puerta becoming the first additions to the inaugural roster. The move marked the club’s initial step in shaping a competitive and community-focused team for its debut USL Super League season.
Inaugural season.
The full schedule for the 2025–26 USL Super League season was released on May 6, 2025. Sporting JAX is set to open their inaugural campaign at home against DC Power FC on August 23, 2025. The regular season will run through May 16, 2026, with matches primarily held on weekends.
Sporting JAX will host their first preseason matches against Scottish club Hibernian W.F.C., the 2025 Scottish Women's Premier League champions, and Welsh side Wrexham A.F.C. Women, which gained international attention as part of Wrexham A.F.C.’s high-profile ownership by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. These matches will mark Sporting JAX’s first appearances in international competition.
Men's team.
The club will also have a men's team that will debut in 2026 in the USL Championship.
Stadium.
Until the completion of their permanent home venue, Sporting JAX will play its home matches at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. The stadium, which seats approximately 12,000 spectators, will serve as the club's temporary home beginning with its inaugural USL Super League season in 2025.
The club has announced plans to construct a new soccer-specific stadium in Jacksonville, with a target opening date in 2026 or 2027, subject to final approvals and construction timelines. The new facility is expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators and serve as the long-term home for both the men's and women's teams.
Uniforms.
Sporting JAX unveiled its inaugural home kit for the 2025–26 season during a public launch event and Fan Fest at Friendship Fountain on May 13, 2025. Designed in collaboration with Adidas, the kit features a custom light blue jersey accented with bold orange Adidas three-stripe detailing. Caplin Ventures, owned by majority owner Ricky Caplin, appears as the primary shirt sponsor. The launch marked a major milestone for the club as it enters USL competition and aimed to unify its professional, pre-professional, and academy teams under a single visual identity.
The home kit will be worn across all Sporting JAX teams, including those in USL League Two, USL W League, and the Sporting JAX Academy. The event also showcased goalkeeper kits, alternate and youth academy kits, as well as training wear and equipment. Players from the club's men's and women’s pre-professional teams modeled the kits, with the event drawing hundreds of fans and featuring appearances from club executives, coaching staff, and adidas representatives.
Media.
Sporting JAX maintains a growing presence in local media through strategic partnerships with television, radio, and digital platforms in the Jacksonville area. These outlets provide fans with comprehensive coverage of Sporting JAX, the USL Championship, the USL Super League, and global soccer news.
In addition to traditional media coverage, the club produces a podcast titled, "The Sporting Pod", hosted by Cole Pepper and featuring regular appearances from team officials and players. It's available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Emerson Burris serves as the club’s official team reporter.
On April 25, 2025, Sporting JAX expanded its outreach by partnering with Norsan Media to deliver Spanish-language broadcasts. As the club’s exclusive Spanish-language media partner, Norsan Media offers coverage via La Raza 92.9 FM, Kaliente 94.1 FM, and Hola News, aiming to engage and grow the local Hispanic fan base.