Equipment manager Zach Gladieux, whose presence has been essential to Fort Wayne Football Club’s success since it began play in 2021, is leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities.
“This experience has been invaluable,” said Gladieux, a native of Fort Wayne. “I have learned so much from the coaches, and I have made lifelong friends with the players and technical staff. I am so proud and appreciative of this team and everyone involved in the operations of it. What Fort Wayne FC has grown into, and the potential still yet to come, is so exciting as a soccer fan in Fort Wayne.”
Fort Wayne FC recently completed its first season of professional soccer in USL League One, after five seasons in the pre-professional level of USL League Two.
Gladieux’s efforts eased the transition into a significantly longer season that required travel throughout the U.S. As the club moved into Ruoff Mortgage Stadium and the training grounds at Concordia Theological Seminary – while both were under construction – Fort Wayne FC practiced at several locations throughout the 2026 season, in all manners of weather. Gladieux’s professionalism and work ethic helped ensure the players’ and coaches’ needs were taken care of daily.
Gladieux, 29, began with Fort Wayne FC as an intern in 2021 and became Equipment Manager in 2022. With Gladieux in the role, Fort Wayne FC won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the club reached the conference semifinals in 2024 and 2025.
In 2026, Fort Wayne FC had a highly successful first season of pro soccer, including an 11-match unbeaten streak – the second longest in USL League One history for a first-year club – and the Autumn Gold & Black missed the playoffs by only one point.
Gladieux graduated from Bishop Dwenger and Purdue Fort Wayne. He also has experience refereeing and coaching youth soccer players.
“This team has allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of working for a pro organization, and I am so grateful to the club for trusting me in this role,” Gladieux said. “While I am very sad to be leaving, I am excited for the opportunity to watch the games as a fan and I intend to go to as many games as possible, so I’ll definitely still be around cheering everyone on! I love this club and I’m so proud to say I was a part of its beginning.”
Fort Wayne FC will immediately begin the search for a new equipment manager. Those interested should keep an eye on the jobs tab at fortwaynefc.com.
Season tickets for the 2027 season are on sale now.
Thank you video for Zach Gladieux
About Fort Wayne Football Club
Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is a professional soccer club playing its first season in USL League One in 2026. The club plays home matches at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium, which opened May 2, 2026, and is a soccer-specific venue. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. For more information, visit FortWayneFC.com.
About United Soccer League
Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.