Lansing Common Head Coach Josh Oakley announced this week that he has accepted the Head Coach position at Eastern Illinois University. Assistant Coach Brent Sorg has been named Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2022 season.
“We’re extremely grateful to Oaks for everything he’s put into helping us build this club in its first two seasons,” said Lansing Common President Eric Walcott. “He’s been the perfect fit in terms of building a team culture that meshes perfectly with our identity as a community-based club, and while we’re sad to lose him, we wish him all the best in this new opportunity.”
Under Oakley’s leadership through two seasons, Lansing Common went 13-2-3 in 18 league games with 48 goals scored. In 2021, Lansing Common finished as the top independent club in the league, earning a berth in the 2022 NISA Independent Cup. The club has never lost consecutive games and never lost a Midwest Premier League match at home.
“I’m excited & honored to lead Lansing Common,” said Sorg. “Coach Oakley has done a tremendous job and following in his footsteps will be challenging. As we continue into our final month we will work diligently to ensure we put our best foot forward.”
Sorg brings a wealth of experience to his new position, including stints as an assistant coach under Oakley at Spring Arbor University and Alma College, and 12 years as Head Coach at Williamston High School where his teams were 7-time district champions and 3-time state finalists. Sorg was named Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2014.
“Brent is a great coach and the team is in good hands the rest of the way. He’s been on staff since day 1 and has built a great connection with this year’s team. We’re excited to see what he can do this next month as we continue to push for a league championship” Walcott added.
Lansing Common’s first game under Coach Sorg will be Friday, July 1st at 7pm at Eastern Stadium as they take on Tulip City United in the Grand River Open Cup.
