RKC Third Coast Soccer Club of the USL 2 and FC Wisconsin (FCW) are excited to announce they have agreed to a strategic partnership to benefit FCW players.

FC Wisconsin and RKC have entered into this strategic partnership to provide additional playing opportunities for FCW's elite level U19 and alumni players who want to continue to advance their game. Former and current players within FC Wisconsin's playing pool will be consistently identified and provided opportunities to play at the USL level within the RKC Program.

”FCW, and in particular Ben Shepherd and Billy Solberg, have demonstrated a commitment to developing young players into college athletes over the past decade,” states RKC owner Wayne Howard. “FCW is recognized as a top boys program nationally, while playing in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), sending the most players in Wisconsin off to play college soccer each year. The success that these players are having at the collegiate level is a testament to their club and the culture that they have within their organization.”

Wayne Howard also states: “This strategic partnership formalizes the support Ben, Billy, and FCW have shown us since our inception in 2023. It also provides a more formal way for RKC to see developing players on a regular basis while staying with their existing youth club."

For those FCW players and alumni that are ready, it opens more access to the highest level of pre-professional soccer and beyond in the United States. Ben Shepherd, Co-Director of Coaching, says: “To be able to offer our players an additional pathway to play at the USL level is extremely exciting and beneficial. For our U18/19 current players that are about to embark on their college careers, the RKC playing opportunities that they will be provided in the summer will help prepare them for their freshman year. For our FCW alumni currently playing in the college game, the opportunities to play at the USL 2 level will only help to continue their development and provide them additional exposure to potentially play at the professional level. This partnership with RKC helps FC Wisconsin to continue to provide additional opportunities and support to all our players whether past or present. We thank RKC and Wayne Howard for having the belief and trust in us as a club and the players that we are producing for the next level.”

About RKC Third Coast Soccer Club:

RKC Third Coast Soccer Club is made up of men’s and women’s pre-professional soccer teams, playing in the USL-League 2 for men and in the USL-W League for women, in addition to other regional and national leagues. The teams consist of mostly college-aged players playing during their team's offseason to improve their game and gain exposure to professional leagues, all while keeping their NCAA eligibility.

RKC’s mission is to provide an elite pre-professional soccer platform that provides young players a process to progress through the pathway of playing professional soccer.

About FC Wisconsin:

FC Wisconsin was founded in 2013 as the re-structured and re-focused successor to the FC Milwaukee Nationals. The new brand of FC Wisconsin reflects a new philosophy, club vision, and club structure all designed to improve the daily player development environment.

FC Wisconsin's player pool represents the scope of its vision – to represent and include the top players from throughout the state of Wisconsin.