It wasn’t until last Fall that USC came into contact with super star Mack Panameno.  DCI Director of Coaching and Mack’s head coach, Tom Shanklin identified Mack in the Ft Payne area as a special player long before his connection to USC. Coach Tom Shanklin (DCI Director of Coaching for 2 years, Head Coach at Ft Payne HS for 11 years, 5A AHSAA State Champs, 6A AHSAA State Champs and 4 time Finalist)  has a history of identifying top level players in North Alabama and developing them into top notch players, but more importantly teaching them life lessons, and helping them understand the most important things we develop from sport are character, responsibility positive attitude and work ethic. This can be seen in the success story posted earlier post this month on USC website of former DCI/USC standout Christian Hernandez who is having an outstanding career at Birmingham Southern College. 

Fast forward to the next generation of players coming through, and the bar continues to be raised.   Mack Panameno joined the USC 05B Premier this past Fall, one of the top teams in the USYS Mid South Region League for years, and on day one, USC Head Coach Paul Tedesco noted this kid was something special. "Lightning in a bottle" describes Mack’s quickness and acceleration on the ball, and makes for a deadly attacking player that creates all kinds of havoc for opposing teams. Mack helped USC 05B Premier to their 6th DI State Title in ASA Soccer. But, there was even bigger things ahead for Mack.   During the Fall USC Director of Coaching Rusty Campbell asked former ASA Director of Coaching and Former Scout for US Soccer, Scott Spencer come and scout the USC 05/04B Premier pool. From that several players were ID’d and Mack Panameno was referred to one of the top DA level programs in the country in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio FC Pro Academy. SAFC (https://www.safcyouthsoccer.com/proacademy ) is a Pro Academy that has a top level USL Championship team (just under MLS level) and has a youth pro development academy that competes in the top level league in the country along the likes of FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and the other top level MLS Youth Academies in the country. They focus on the development of young athletes to become the best they can be, and ultimately are driven at developing top level pro soccer prospects, 

Mack and his family made the trek to San Antonio at the beginning of the 2021 year in January for a trial. He did extremely well, and the SAFC staff welcomed him to the program and assisted his family in finding employment, living accommodations, school placement etc. Since then Mack has began an incredible journey at the highest level of soccer in the country. His team competes against the top level DA teams in Texas, as well as U20 and U23 Pro teams from around Texas. Mack has been starting and playing 90 minutes of almost every match and getting quality goals and assists in every game. He has made many new friends and teammates and is really enjoying his experience. USC is sad to see him move on, but when the opportunity comes along to move to the highest standard of soccer in the country at the youth pro level where the organization is funded, and is above the standard pay to play model in lower level US Youth Soccer programs, we fully support the opportunity. SAFC has a history of developing pro soccer players as they have signed several of their own players into their USL Championship team for quality contracts, as well as have signed players to pro contracts to Mexican La Liga Mx, MLS and even sent players to European clubs. 

SAFC Executive Director Nick Evans called USC Director Rusty Campbell a few weeks ago to report. He said Mack has fit in very well, and has done excellent adapting and learning to the speed of play and quality of their team, and the level of competition they play. He says in the Fall, he expects MLS DA Youth League to return to somewhat of a normal schedule (Covid considered), and he anticipates the SAFC 05B to be a top 10 team in the country. Coach Nick expressed genuine gratitude in the connection to Mack, and expressed an interest into connecting with USC Huntsville for the potential of future players from North Alabama to have the opportunity to travel to San Antonio and gain education and experience in the hopes of finding the next Mack Panameno. USC is in talks with coach Evans on the prospect of several USC players going to San Antonio this summer for trials.

We are extremely proud of the way Mack is performing and representing DCI/USC Soccer. We wish him and his family all the best and continued success as he continues to pursue his dreams of reaching soccer at the highest level.