The upcoming professional soccer club Sporting Cascades FC recently announced that Eugene (US) native and accomplished sports and business executive Bill Cornog has joined the club as the Lead Owner thus adding significant global soccer and investment expertise to the organization.
Joining the Cascades as the Lead Owner Cornog brings a wealth of experience with him vis-à-vis global soccer and has earned his chops.
‘uslleagueone.com’ stated that the Sporting Cascades plans to launch in the 2027 season pending final league and federation sanctioning approval. The Men’s team will join the United Soccer League (USL) League One, a growing league in the third tier of the US professional soccer pyramid.
The Sporting Cascades FC is an upcoming professional soccer club based in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Founded in April 2024, the club is planning to make its USL League One debut in 2027.
The United Soccer League (USL) is an organizer of various professional and amateur soccer leagues in the United States league system.
‘Perfect Fit’
Enthused Lee O’Neill, USL League One President, “We’re thrilled to welcome Bill as the primary owner. Dave Galas (President and Co-Founder of Sporting Cascades FC) and the Sporting Cascades team have worked tirelessly for years to bring this club to life and adding someone with Bill’s strong local ties and business expertise is the perfect fit to support the club’s long-term future.
The Sporting Cascades will play an important role in the continued growth of League One, particularly as we expand across the Western United States and move toward a regionalized competition structure.”
Man-of-many-parts
‘uslleagueone.com’ further stated that Cornog brings extensive experience across global soccer and executive leadership to the Sporting Cascades. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Blue Crow Sports Group whose ownership portfolio includes the international soccer clubs Le Havre AC (France’s Ligue 1), CD Leganés (Spain’s Segunda División – the men’s second professional association football division of the Spanish football league system) and Cancún FC (Mexico’s Liga de Expansión MX – the second level of the Mexican football league system).
Cornog previously spent 20 years as a partner at the investment firm KKR and prior to that he served as the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the network services of the Williams Communications Group (a women-owned strategic communications agency).
Cornog currently serves on the External Advisory Board of the University of Oregon’s Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact and is restoring Eugene’s historic Treetops mansion, built between 1908 and 1910, for future use by the university and the broader community.
Ties Run Deep
Cornog’s ties to Eugene run deep. He grew up in the community, attending the local schools before earning his Bachelor’s degree from the Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
The Blue Crow Sports Group is a newly launched business based in Houston, Texas (US) which owns football clubs and businesses around the globe.
In February, Dave Peterson, Head Soccer Coach at the South Eugene High School and a lifelong friend of Cornog, introduced Cornog to the Sporting Cascades Co-Founders Dave and John Galas thus sparking a relationship that led to his investment in the club.
Cornog Speak
Commented Cornog, “Owning a soccer club in Eugene was not on the family bingo card at the beginning of the year. Our family loves footy and Oregon and this opportunity is a great way to express our passion for both while enhancing the sports and the cultural community of Eugene.”
Kidsports Legacy
Cornog put forth a condition before taking the position with Sporting Cascades – he will continue working with the Kidsports Executive Director Bev Smith to honor the Kidsports legacy and mission through philanthropic endeavors that will help to keep the kids playing and having fun for years to come.
Stated Smith, “Bill Cornog’s investment in professional soccer and Sporting Cascades reflects a lifelong connection to the game and a heartfelt commitment to the Kidsports mission of ‘all kids play. As a Kidsports alumnus his giving comes from a genuine desire to ensure that Kidsports and our community of volunteer coaches continue to help kids to play, develop and have fun for years to come. We’re honored to welcome him back to Civic Park in this new role.”
Business Chops
Maintained Dave Galas, President, Sporting Cascades, “This is a tremendous moment for Eugene-Springfield and our club. Bill has spent decades making the companies top performers. So, he has all the business chops to make Sporting Cascades successful. Most importantly, Bill believes in his hometown, he believes in the USL and he wants to win. We hit it off immediately and from our first conversation it was clear that we share the same vision for building a club where the players are eager to compete, the community feels a sense of pride and the team is competitive on the field.”
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