vincenzo candela
Candela joined Omaha in January 2024 after a ten-year playing career that saw him make 144 professional appearances and play over 8,000 minutes. He made his debut in 2013 and went on to play abroad in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and his native Colombia, where he was a second-division finalist in 2017. His U.S. career included successful stints with Charleston Battery, New York Cosmos and Detroit City. In USL League One, he won the 2022 Players’ Shield with Richmond Kickers. In addition to his on-field experience, Candela has spent six years coaching at academy and youth levels in both Colombia and the U.S.
JAMIE HENDERSON
Henderson worked for Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer as an international scout since November 2019, conducting both live and video scouting in over five years with the club. His purview ranged from transfer targets, based on the club’s philosophy and budget, to monitoring of the team’s homegrown prospects in collaboration with Atlanta United’s academy.
Prior to his stint with Atlanta United, Henderson was the Director of Player Development at Papillion Soccer Club, overseeing the development of players from ages 8 to 18 as well as instituting a club philosophy to codify that development. At the same time, Henderson worked with Hudl to implement their video analysis software across the country, even hosting seminars to educate coaches about the Hudl and Wyscout platform. Henderson, a native of Lincoln, England, graduated from Bellevue University, where he was a three-year captain of the men’s soccer team and earned 2015 Second Team All-NSAA honors.
ollie richardson
Ollie Richardson carries a wide range of experiences, both stateside and in England, into his new role as Assistant Coach. A former English youth national team player, Richardson got his start in coaching at Grimsby Town FC while still a player. Richardson spent the entirety of the 2010s coaching with Phoenix Rising FC, with the majority of that time being heavily development-focused. He also spent time as an assistant for Arizona State University, and briefly scouted for the NWSL’s Houston Dash.
LARS ECKENRODE
Lars Eckenrode takes on the role of both Head of Sports Performance and Assistant Coach, and brings more USL League One playing experience to the staff. A former captain at South Georgia Tormenta FC, Eckenrode hung up his cleats after winning the 2022 USL League One title, having also served as an academy coach during his time there. Eckenrode stayed in Georgia for coaching and developmental roles with Bulloch Academy and Life University, and took that experience into a 2025 where he served as an academy coach with Atlanta United.
luke baxter
Luke Baxter, who will be the Owls’ goalkeeper coach, hails from England but has significant ties to the Omaha area. After coming up through the Lincoln City academy, Baxter jumped across the pond to attend Bellevue University. Following a brief return to England to coach for Scunthorpe United, he put down roots in Nebraska in 2015 and has remained stateside since. Baxter worked as an assistant coach for his alma mater as well as Creighton University and Elite Girls Academy, then moved west to eventually become Head of Goalkeeping for Real Salt Lake’s academy. Since 2021, Baxter has been Technical Director and Director of Coaching, among other roles, at Sporting Nebraska.
ryan thompson
ryant@unionomaha.com
josh sindelar
joshs@unionomaha.com
