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Orange County SC

Orange County SC's Peter Nugent Succeeds Oliver Wyss as President of Soccer Operations and General Manager

December 5, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Orange County SC News Release


Orange County SC Soccer Club President Oliver Wyss will be unveiled today as the United Soccer League's new Head of Global Football Development and Sporting Director.

Wyss, who has been with the 2021 USL Championship Champions since 2014, is taking on the newly created role with the USL league office after leading OCSC's trailblazing player transfer pathway that has seen six players transferred to major European clubs over the past three years.

Wyss will be replaced as President of Soccer Operations and General Manager by Peter Nugent, who has worked closely with Wyss every day over the past nine years in his role as the club's Sporting Director.

Nugent's promotion represents a seamless transition for the club and has been indispensable in building OCSC's first team rosters and revolutionary player development platform, having extensive experience previously in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers as Head of Recruitment and Scouting.

Wyss has overseen exceptional success at OCSC since joining in 2014. During his time at the helm of the club, OCSC has reached the playoffs six times, including a Western Conference Final and the club's famous Championship run in 2021. The Swiss national also spearheaded the club's international profile, securing partnerships with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers and reigning Dutch champions Feyenoord. Wyss has helped build a talent-rich OCSC player development pipeline and youth development academy that will yield lucrative European player transfers for years to come.

"Both for me personally, and on behalf of the fans of OCSC, I am exceptionally grateful to Oliver for the dedication, work ethic and professionalism that he has demonstrated over the past nine years. Oliver has been with the club since the beginning and is one of the core foundations upon which our club was built. He will be greatly missed," said OCSC owner James Keston.

"But, as the player development platform and transfer model OCSC pioneered in USL continues to develop, we like to see our players and technical staff with ambition and drive move on to bigger positions with more visibility. We're delighted that OCSC's success and Oliver's work have been recognized with an executive role at the USL, where he can share his knowledge to the broader benefit of the league, and US soccer more broadly.

"Peter Nugent has been the engine that makes the Club's Soccer Operations run in the proper direction and on time over the past nine years, working hand-in-hand with Oliver. I am extremely confident that OCSC's soccer operations will not miss a beat and will rise to new heights in the coming years under his leadership."

Wyss begins his new role with the league in January.

"From day one at Orange County, my hope and vision was to build a well-respected successful organization that the entire community can identify themselves with, and be proud of," said Wyss. "It's been an absolute privilege working closely with so many talented coaches, players and staff over the last nine years, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.

"I would like to sincerely thank James for his enduring commitment to OCSC and for sharing a joint vision for the club. The organization is in the best hands with Peter leading the technical side forward to many more successes on the field.

"Most importantly, a big thank you to all the fans who have supported me and the club with unwavering passion and I am certain the best is yet to come!"

With the experienced Nugent in place, and coach Morten Karlsen signing a multi-year deal last month, the club is well positioned to build on its successful season following a run to the Conference semifinals, as well as two significant player transfers that saw Korede Osundina sold to Feyenoord and 2022 Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski transferred to FC Nordsjaellend.

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