There’s an important thing to consider when you take stock of Las Vegas Lights FC’s hiring of Antonio Nocerino as its new Head Coach.

The past season in Miami FC? Forget it, offer it no heed, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Yes, it’s true that Nocerino oversaw arguably the worst season in a decade in the Championship in South Florida. Miami’s three wins, 11 points and 89 goals conceded during the 2024 campaign were an eyesore.

But you could make a case that hardly any of that was Nocerino’s doing.

With a squad that according to Transfermarkt had an average age of 21.9 years old – the youngest in the league – and players with good USL Championship pedigrees like Ben Ofeimu and Ben Mines shipped out early in the season to Indy Eleven, it often felt like there wasn’t much for the first-time Head Coach to work with.

It resulted in his departure before the final coup de grace for the season was administered by Rhode Island FC by way of an 8-1 win on the final day of Miami’s campaign, and the major offseason moves Miami has announced with the aim of righting its ship.

That notion that Nocerino is a coach with a high ceiling who was dealt an unplayable hand is what the Lights are counting on to continue their upward ascent. After this past season, there’s reason to believe owner José Bautista and Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia know what they’re looking for and are making the right move.

After all, the only experience Dennis Sanchez had as a coach in the USL Championship prior to being hired by the Lights was a dismal season as an assistant coach at the Charleston Battery in 2022.

Sanchez’s success in 2024 saw him not only earn nomination for the Championship’s Coach of the Year award but also become the target for New Mexico United, which secured his release to take their vacant position when the coaching carousel began to turn this offseason.

The caveat here is Sanchez’s resume went deeper in the coaching ranks. His time at Sacramento Republic FC’s Academy was notable, and his work as an assistant with Austin FC II as it won MLS NEXT Pro in 2023 added a tangible achievement to what he could offer the club.

It bore out as the Lights recorded their best season in club history and reached the Western Conference Final of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs.

A former Italian international, Nocerino has the resume as a player, and the experience in the Academy ranks at Orlando City SC to fall back on after his experience in Miami. More importantly, he’ll also have a strong returning roster that features most of the essential parts of the Lights’ successful 2024 squad such as playmaker Valentin Noël, leading scorer Khori Bennett and goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena.

It’s funny how good players make for good coaches, sometimes.

As importantly, he’ll have Neglia in his corner as the club looks to balance success on the field with nurturing young talent. If there’s one thing that can be said for Nocerino, he wasn’t afraid to give youngsters a chance in Miami.

Is there a risk here the Lights won’t kick on from the past campaign with Nocerino at the helm?

Of course.

But if there’s one thing you can be certain of, it’s that nothing stays the same for long in sports in general, let alone the USL Championship.

With that in the background, and after their last big decision paid off in full, the Lights are banking on Nocerino to be the man to maintain the club’s momentum this year.