Armada FC Part Ways With GM Dario Sala And Coaching Staff

Jacksonville Armada FC owner and CEO Mark Frisch announced on Monday the dismissal of GM Dario Sala and head coach Guillermo Hoyos along with assistant coaches Edison Ibarra, Rafael Perez Niño, and Sebastian Fabres.

The Armada FC currently sits in last place in the North American Soccer League Fall and Combined Season Standings and has been held scoreless in their last five matches and 498 minutes of play. In addition, the team has yet to win a single game on the road, with a record of 0W-2D-11L.

“Since the inception of the Armada FC, I have made it clear that I have a very high standard for performance on and off the field. To achieve success in this league, and win championships, we must defend effectively, attack relentlessly, score goals and win games – both at home and away from home – on a consistent basis. We have not done this,” Frisch said. “Following an in-depth analysis of the team and operations, I am confident that a new direction is needed to turn around our team. Our players and fans deserve our very best and I strongly believe this is what is needed for us to move forward.”

Frisch added: “I want to thank Dario for his service, and appreciate his efforts. I also thank Guillermo and the coaching staff for their efforts and wish them the best in their future endeavors.”

Sala was named Armada FC general manager in 2014 and worked with Frisch to form the Sunshine Soccer Group, LLC, the holding agency of the Armada FC, in 2013. Hoyos, who was joined by Ibarra, Perez Niño and Fabres, came to Jacksonville in January as Armada FC co-head coach and was named head coach in June. He posted an overall record of 6-5-12 in NASL competition, including a 3-2-8 record in the Fall Season. The Armada FC also fell, 3-0, to the Richmond Kickers in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 27.

Eric Dade, Jacksonville FC Executive Director and Armada FC Director of Player Development, has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2015 Fall Season. Current Armada FC Director of Soccer Operations Nathan Walter will assist Dade.

“We have not given up on the 2015 season. While the challenge of reaching the NASL Championship playoffs in this, our inaugural season, is steep, I am confident in Eric’s ability to lead the team and show marked improvement for the remainder of the season,” Frisch said. “I will take further stock at the end of this NASL season to chart the best course of action and direction for our team moving forward.”

Dade, who has more than 28 years of experience in professional and youth soccer development, is a former Major League Soccer player, playing as a defender with the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) from 1997-2001 and also played with the USL Dallas Rockets and professional indoor soccer for the Dallas Sidekicks and Baltimore Spirit. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor of science in physical education after playing on the men’s soccer team from 1987-91 and was inducted into the VCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

Dade has coached at all levels, including the U.S. men’s and women’s national team programs at the U-18 and U-14 levels. He also serves as the Director of the U.S. Market Training Center in Florida and the U.S. Club Soccer PDP Director (Florida) & Id2 Staff Coach.

Dade has served as JFC Executive Director since 2012, overseeing the club’s growth into one of Florida’s premier youth soccer development institutions and leading the club’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy program. As head coach of Jacksonville United FC in 2011, he coached current Armada FC players Nurdin Hrustic, Tommy Krizanovic, Ramak Safi, and Tyler Williams and won the NPSL Championship. Prior to Jacksonville United and JFC, Dade was an assistant women’s soccer coach at Jacksonville University.

Before moving to Jacksonville, Dade spent three years in Birmingham, Ala., as Executive Director/Director of Coaching for the Birmingham United Soccer Association, where he coached and administered both the U.S. Development Academy and Elite Clubs National League teams. In his time at BUSA, the club won 30 state AYSA State Cup championships. Prior to BUSA, Dade served as Director of Coaching at the Dallas Sting Soccer Club.

Dade currently holds his USSF “A” license.