The National Premier Soccer League announced that Coyotes FC has joined the league as an expansion team.

The Temple, Texas club will begin competition in the South Region’s Lone Star Conference in 2020.

“Coyotes FC has a strong and stable management team and will immediately make an impact on the conference,” NPSL managing director Cindy Spera said. “We expect them to thrive in the NPSL for years to come.”

Coyotes FC is led by founder and general manager Manuel Velasquez and Director of Coaching Rolando Gonzalez.

Velasquez, a native of Bogota, Colombia, moved to New York City in October 2010 and joined the U.S. Army in January 2013. After completing four years with the U.S. Army he graduated with a BBA in Computer Information Systems from Texas A&M University – Central Texas in 2017.

He is a local entrepreneur that has invested his time not only in Coyotes FC but also with different ventures in the hospitality and software industries.

Gonzalez is from Cali, Colombia and had been in New York City area for more than 25 years. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience and holds the USSF B License, United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Diploma, USYS National Youth Coaching License, and the NSCAA National Diploma. Gonzalez is leading the launch of the club’s academy by creating an exclusive curriculum that is linked to their philosophy and playing style.

“We believe the NPSL has participated in many successful club stories and beginnings,” Gonzalez said. “We also believe that this platform will give our local players a wonderful opportunity to expand their talents in a higher level and may even open other doors for them.”

Home matches for Coyotes FC will be played at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple, Texas.

“Our team will bring good competition and experienced players to the conference,” Gonzalez said. “We will also bring the community of Central Texas that supports local soccer.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.