When Oakland Roots SC entered this offseason, it knew it needed to go in a new direction.

In new Head Coach Ryan Martin – who helped build FC Cincinnati from the ground up with John Harkes ahead of its first season in 2016, and more recently ushered Loudoun United FC into its independent era, earning the club’s first postseason berth this past year – it found someone for whom building for the long-haul is intrinsic to his approach.

“I’m here to build something for the long haul and make it quite special,” Ryan said in an excellent Q&A with RootsBlog’s Jonathan Comeaux this week. “That was really the drawing point. I’m excited to be here. And the more I get into it with a group that’s coming back, and then the new guys, there’s tremendous potential for where it could go.”


HITTING RESET: It’s been four years since Oakland made a significant splash with its hire of Juan Guerra ahead of the 2022 season. After a difficult break-up later that year when Guerra returned to Phoenix Rising FC to take on the same role at the club where he’d previously been an assistant, Roots got caught in a cycle of promotion from within. Assistant Noah Delgado was named interim Head Coach and led the side to the playoffs that year, and was then appointed full-time manager in the offseason. When Delgado’s side made a slow start in 2024, resulting in his departure, Gavin Glinton was promoted, first as interim and then as permanent Head Coach going into the 2025 season.



FRESH START: After Glinton’s side made a similar slow start to the 2025 season, Roots went outside the organization to hire United States Men’s National Team player Benny Feilhaber – previously manager of Sporting Kansas City II – to lead the group for the remainder of the season. While there was improvement, including a Golden Boot for leading scorer Peter Wilson, there was no long-term deal for Feilhaber, who departed the club two days after its regular season finale.



OFFSEASON OVERHAUL: Feilhaber wasn’t the only departure from Roots’ technical staff this offseason. In mid-November the club announced longtime Sporting Director Jordan Ferrell – who had also served two stints as Head Coach – wouldn’t return, clearing the decks for the arrival of Martin the following day and a broader restructuring that saw Dustin Cleaver appointed General Manager and Nana Attakora promoted to Director of Soccer.


Martin’s experience in building a club year-by-year, though, is what can make Roots one of the most interesting stories in the USL Championship this season. Martin became Loudoun’s manager at the time Oakland’s first Head Coach Paul Bravo was leading the club. Since then, Roots has seen seven changes at the helm, a contrast to the stability Ryan offered as the second-longest tenured Head Coach in the league when he departed United.

He’s also brought some of his former charges in Virginia with him to Oakland to help the building process, with defender Keegan Tingey, midfielder Tommy McCabe and forward Florian Valot all signing with Roots this offseason and potential impact-makers for the side.

What Martin has found in Oakland, though, is talent like 2025 USL-C Golden Boot winner Peter Wilson that is eager to push the club forward as well, giving reason for optimism as Roots looks to set a new course this season.

“He wants to be pushed, and he wants to be a better version of himself, even at 29 and winning the Golden Boot,” said Martin. “He thinks he has another gear in him, which I think as well. He’s asked to be pushed as much as possible, and we’re trying to push him to have a better season than he did last year.”

Since its launch, Oakland Roots has been a model for community-driven clubs off the field, but on-field success has been more hit-and-miss.

Martin’s appointment and approach to team-building has a chance to make Roots consistently competitive and elevate the club’s overall profile accordingly.