Sporting JAX made a major splash when it announced the hiring of Steve Fell as the club’s Head of Sports Performance. He has served in similar roles with major organizations like the United States Men’s National Team and looks forward to creating a culture of strength and performance at Sporting JAX.
Rising to the Top
Like many, Fell’s journey to his current role in soccer began as a player, playing collegiately at Towson University. In the classroom, he studied exercise science and saw direct correlation between his studies and athletic participation. This laid the foundation for his future, but it wouldn’t all come together quite yet.
After spending a few years playing indoor soccer professionally, Fell truly began to dive deeper into what he had studied in college. He’d done everything he could to train as a player, but was still constantly suffering injuries.
“I never understood that paradox,” Fell said. “In reality, it was born out of my desire to just want to understand more, to play, to be the best player that I could.”
This yearning drove Fell to enroll in physical therapy school. It was an opportunity that helped him connect with industry titans, allowing him to learn from some of the best in the game. The hard work paid off, as he secured a role with the Houston Dynamo FC organization as a fitness coach after completing school.
From here, Fell worked his way up in Houston and landed a gig as director of performance for a team that Sporting JAX fans may be familiar with: the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC. While this was a dream come true, there were even bigger opportunities awaiting down the road.
Glory in the Gulf
From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to pinpoint the coolest moment of Fell’s career so far. After his time in Phoenix, Fell took on a role with the United States Soccer Federation. After progressing through the ranks, he became a performance coach for the senior U.S. Men’s National Team. This alone would have been incredible, but the timing was everything.
His appointment came in March 2022, meaning that Fell was with the team for the path to World Cup qualification and the tournament itself. This culminated in a solid showing from the USMNT in Qatar, advancing to the Round of 16 before a heartbreaking loss to the Netherlands sent them packing.
It would’ve been easy for Fell to get swept up in the mania surrounding such a massive event–and who could blame him. Working with the USMNT in one of the world’s biggest displays of sport, all while staying in five-star hotels overlooking the Persian Gulf, could distract from the main mission. In a way, though, the process was just like any other for Fell.
“Of course, when you reflect on that, it’s amazing,” Fell said. “But to be honest, when you’re in it, you’re so focused on the work to support the players that you don’t think of it as much as you would think.”
It’s this dialed-in mentality that has helped Fell get to where he is today. This will also come in handy for his new role with Sporting JAX, as he will still be continuing his efforts with the National Team. It takes a degree of focus and skill that few possess in order to excel in two high-pressure roles at the same time, but Fell’s pedigree has shown that he is more than ready for this challenge.
For Club and Country
Having served in roles for both club teams and national teams, Fell has seen a bit of everything. Even with the glitz and glamor of something like the USMNT, there’s a special place in his heart for the club side.
National team players do play for their own club teams, which takes up a vast majority of their time. The little time that Fell does get to spend with them has to account for his counterparts at their clubs and respecting what they do.
“Part of the attraction [of club] for me is that it’s full-time you have way more of an opportunity to affect players,” Fell said. “A big role with the National Team is making sure that you are respecting what the clubs are doing, and you’re getting the players, you’re supporting the players through them, and you’re adding, not taking away.”
Luckily for Fell, his role with Sporting JAX will have his preferred setup of the two. The players and their health will have his full focus and they’ll have his. For someone who has valuable experience with both sides of the spectrum, this will likely be a formula for success early on for players and the coaching staff alike.
Why Sporting JAX?
Sporting JAX has already made some splash hires and the sentiment has been similar among them. This brand new opportunity will allow them to institute systems and methods the way they see fit. This perk was no different for Fell.
“I’ve just been so impressed with the way they’ve gone about it in a very methodical and deliberate manner, which for me is the sign of trying to do it the right way,” Fell said. “I’m honored to be able to take all those experiences and put it to work with a really solid staff to create a situation that is player-centered.”
Ultimately, Fell is poised for this new role and how genuinely exciting it is. It’s an opportunity for seasoned soccer professionals to build a club from the ground up, which has shown itself as a magnetic factor with recent personnel additions. One thing’s certain for Fell and the others: Sporting JAX’s August kickoff can’t come soon enough.
