Blaise Santangelo – Head Coach
Blaise started his career at WCUSC as an over 30 player in 2007. After four seasons he did double duty as an O-30 & Open team player for 3 more seasons. In 2014 Blaise took over coaching duties for the Men’s Program as the Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations.
In 2015 he led the WCUSC Men’s Open Team to its first NATIONAL Championship (USASA Werner Fricker Open Cup/RWD Adria). Blaise was named the 2015 USASA Region 1 “Coach of the Year”. As a head coach of the Men’s Open Team he has won multiple Regional, State Cup, and Local League titles (see Trophy Case).
In 2016 he would lead WCUSC to its first US Open Lamar Hunt Cup completion (2nd Round/Harrisburg City Islanders) returning again in 2019 (2nd Round/Birmingham Legion) & 2020.
In 2017 Blaise, looking to bring the club into the highest of competitions; led team management, proposed to the board, and was granted a franchise in the National Premier Soccer League/NPSL.
In 2018, Blaise would lead a revamped Men’s Open Squad Back to a National Amateur Cup Final Four where WCUSC would fall to Milwaukee Bavarians. Thus, collecting the NATIONAL ‘FINALIST’ trophy & 2nd place.
In 2020 Blaise was able again to step WCUSC into its second top National League. This time the USL2 (formally PDL).
Blaise is a big believer in developing top-level U-23 Program players who train and compete in multiple leagues and competitions in the summer. His U-23 Program annually boasts +100 players. These players enjoy top training and “a love for the game” as the program focuses on “enjoyment, camaraderie, and responsibility” in preparation for their college fall seasons or professional play!
His players use the national leagues, as well as the USASA Region 1 /U-23 annual tournament as a guide to their progress. Since 2016, WC U-23’s has won the Region 1 Champions 3 of 4 years. In 2019, we entered two teams, and both made the finals.
Blaise’s strongest strength is his undying efforts to help his players become wonderful young men in society. His goal is to help them reach the professional ranks as players or helping them get jobs in post-college graduation.
Blaise played his college soccer at Elizabethtown College. Blaise is married and has five children.
Head Coach of the following WC Predators teams:
- US OPEN CUP
- USL2
- NPSL
- USL of PA (Majors)
- USL of PA (Majors II)
- U23
Troy Amspacher – Assistant Coach
Coaching:
Assistant Director of Coaching, Conestoga Valley Youth Soccer
Current FC Delco Head Coach
Playing Experience:
Lock Haven University
4-year varsity starter/3x team captain
Regional All-American
First team All-Conference selection (PSAC)
6th all-time in career goals at LHU (37)
West Chester Predators:
All-time leader in goals for a single season (38)
NPSL Conference XI selection
Amateur Cup National Finalist
Lamar Hunt US Open Cup 2019 Second Round
Reading United:
2019 Eastern Conference Champions (USL2)
2019 USL2 National Finalist
Ryan Fincher – Assistant Coach
Ryan played collegiately at Franklin and Marshall College and graduated in 2019. A few of his accomplishments included being a two-time All-Centennial Conference Selection as a midfielder and he tied for the college’s all-time record with 82 games played. Ryan attended Rustin High School in West Chester and played club soccer at Penn Fusion Soccer Academy and FC Delco.
Outside of soccer, he is a market analyst in the Healthcare practice at JM Search. He currently lives in Philadelphia, enjoys golfing, the beach, and competitive cornhole tournaments.
