Rising FC Adds Schantz To Coaching Staff

 Phoenix Rising Football Club has added former FC Tucson head coach Rick Schantz as the club’s new assistant coach.

“Rick was incredibly successful at the PDL level as a head coach, and he did an excellent job working with youth soccer in Tucson as well,” said Phoenix Rising FC head coach Frank Yallop. “Rick will not only help us achieve success on the pitch but also strengthen our connections with the local soccer community. We cannot wait for him to get started.”

Schantz was the head coach for Premier Development League soccer team FC Tucson. During his tenure, the team had a winning record of 71-22-17 (a .645 winning percentage) and won three consecutive division titles. He also helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals in three consecutive seasons. In 2013, he led FC Tucson into the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, eliminating two professional clubs in the process.

Schantz also worked in youth soccer in Tucson for 20 years coaching several teams across a variety of ages in the Tucson soccer community. He founded Calcio FC while constructing and maintaining the club’s fields. Schantz also organized the Gunners Competitive Program at Fort Lowell Soccer Club, which helped the club grow threefold to over 900 members. Recently, he was a coach with the CDO Soccer Club while serving on its Board of Directors. 

As a Tucson native, Schantz played his high school soccer at Salpointe Catholic High School, and in 1992 he was selected for the United States U17 National Team Pool. He went on to play his college soccer at the University of Portland, where he helped the Pilots win a conference championship and reach the NCAA College Cup in 1995.