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Landon Donovan moves full-time to SD Loyal Executive VP of Soccer Operations

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 12/02/22, 2:00PM EST

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Nate Miller promoted to Head Coach ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season


Nate Miller (right) has been appointed as the new Head Coach of San Diego Loyal SC, with Landon Donovan set to focus full time on his role as Executive VP of Soccer Operations. | Photo courtesy San Diego Loyal SC

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC announced on Friday that Landon Donovan would step aside as the club’s Head Coach to focus full time on his role as Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations for the club, while appointing Nate Miller as the club’s new Head Coach.

Miller has been Donovan’s associate head coach over the past three seasons, and previously served as Head Coach at Lansing Ignite FC in USL League One during the 2019 season. Leading all tactical aspects of the SD Loyal First Team, Miller has been an integral part of the team’s on-field success. Coming off a COVID-inflicted inaugural 2020 season and another shortened 2021 season, SD Loyal saw record highs in 2022 including points (60), home wins (12) and goals scored (68).

“It’s a tremendous honor to represent this club on the field and in the community,” SD Loyal Head Coach Nate Miller said. “I am extremely proud of the identity we have formed, the culture we have created, and the success we have achieved up to this point.  We are building something very special in San Diego and I am excited to lead this team to achieve our ambitious goals.”

Miller recently completed his U.S. Soccer Pro License, the highest-level coaching license in North America, and will aim to continue the side’s success after a second-place finish in the USL Championship’s Western Conference in the past campaign.

“There isn’t a better coach suited to take the lead managing our club than Nate Miller,” said Donovan. “We’ve built a club here in San Diego that this community has embraced and come to expect a lot from, and Nate’s tireless work ethic has been a big part of that. We owe it to our fans to maintain the highest level of play on the field and promoting Nate Miller to Head Coach continues that commitment.”

The concurrent moves will allow Donovan to focus on his role as co-owner and EVP of Soccer Operations. Donovan will continue to develop and grow all facets of SD Loyal soccer operations including Loyal Select, scouting, player development, building the first team roster, community involvement and business operations.

After back-to-back playoff appearances, the continued commitment to SD Loyal remains at an all-time high for both Donovan and Miller. As the club looks forward to its fourth season of USL Championship play in 2023, the goals on and off the field have never been higher.

“We couldn’t be happier with the progress of our organization,” said SD Loyal President Ricardo Campos. “The club culture that’s been created and our on-field success is hugely credited in part to the work of Nate Miller. Nate has been a tremendous club advocate and works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our players are bought in, committed and prepared to play week in and week out. Nate is a great leader and an even better person that we have complete confidence will lead our club into a bigger and brighter future.”

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