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This article features Nick Mulvaney, CEO of Chicago City SC, and explores how his leadership guided a successful—but not perfect—organizational restructuring that prioritized staff understanding, alignment with the core organizations values, and player-first focus. Located in Chicago and serving over 2,500 players, the club has undertaken a significant structural change, reinforcing its reputation as a community focused and progressive club. This article breaks down the steps taken, the lessons learned, and some of the imperfections of refining strategy through trial and error.

A Club on the Rise

Founded in 2013, Chicago City SC serves more than 2,500 youth players across five locations in the greater Chicago area. Operating with 40 full-time and 20 part-time coaching staff and supported by 6 administrative personnel, the club has evolved from a grassroots startup. Nick Mulvaney, originally the founder, transitioned into a CEO role and now works alongside a General Manager, Head of Operations, and a tiered leadership team overseeing soccer, operations, and performance departments.

Recognizing the Need for Change

As the club evolved, staff feedback and a leadership transitions highlighted some friction points. There was a growing sense of fatigue from excessive meetings, unclear responsibilities, and overlapping expectations. Staff wanted greater clarity and more time to focus on what mattered most—developing players. Initially, Nick launched a set of structural adjustments aimed at solving these issues. However, the first wave of changes didn’t have the desired outcomes and misalignments persisted.

Leadership Insight: Initial strategies don’t always yield immediate results. Persistence and reflection are key during organizational change.

Reset

After recognizing that early changes fell short, Nick and the GM doubled down on a deeper discovery phase in Fall 2023. They conducted department reviews and one-on-one conversations to identify issues and better understand staff needs. This ‘listening’ phase revealed inconsistencies in communication and expectations, along with a desire among staff for clearer ownership and support.

In response, Nick reimagined the club’s structure. A tiered staffing model was implemented to establish accountability at every level. Leadership ‘pods’ were created to oversee each major function, from technical development to logistics. Meetings were scaled back and made more purposeful and focused. The revised structure provided room for staff to engage more meaningfully in their work.

Leadership Insight: A willingness to revise plans and incorporate feedback allows restructuring efforts to have impact.

Culture

The organizational shift reaffirmed Chicago City SC’s commitment to a player-first culture. With improved internal alignment, coaches and staff could better model the values of development and community.

The club doubled down on initiatives that reflected this ethos. It partnered with under-resourced clubs to share resources and training, and it expanded the Galway Sister Cities cultural exchange, which gives players and staff opportunities to connect globally. These programs weren’t new, but the restructuring allowed them to scale and flourish.

Leadership Insight: Organizational change is most effective when it unlocks the potential of initiatives aligned with the club’s values.

Next Steps

As of July 1, 2025, the new structure is fully operational. Staff report higher levels of engagement, and productivity has improved across departments. Feedback loops remain active, ensuring that the structure adapts to new challenges rather than becoming rigid.

The next step for the club is scaling its model to new locations while preserving its core values. Chicago City SC is exploring ways to replicate its approach, especially in communities where access to elite-level development has traditionally been limited.

Aligning Strategy with Mission

The club has a central goal: to be the best development pathway in the Midwest. By removing inefficiencies, reinforcing club culture, and clarifying roles, the club is now in a stronger position to achieve the vision.

Nick emphasized that these changes were never about cutting costs or trimming staff. They were about enhancing what the club already had—great people, a strong culture, and an ambitious mission. By aligning the daily work of staff with organizational goals, the club has created a foundation for long-term impact.

Summary of Key Insights:

• Organizational growth must be supported by evolving systems.
• Clarity often takes iteration and honest reflection.
• Regular one-on-one engagement uncovers friction and opportunities.
• Tiered staffing structures increase efficiency and accountability.
• Cultural programs gain momentum with support.
• Feedback loops help new systems to be adaptive.

Final Thoughts

As youth sports clubs mature, their leadership must transition from daily management. Nick Mulvaney’s journey with Chicago City SC offers a replicable roadmap—one that embraces the reality of trial, error, and refinement.

By sharing these lessons and continuing the conversation through IYSL Conferences and leadership CIRCLES, we can make better decisions, learn from one another, and build environments where athletes and communities thrive.

Three Key Conclusions for Executive Directors:

1. Be prepared to revise initial plans—successful restructuring often requires second attempts.
2. Build in mechanisms for regular staff feedback and responsive adjustments.
3. Keep all changes rooted in your organization’s core mission to avoid cultural drift.

About Nick Mulvaney

Nick is the Founder and CEO of Chicago City Soccer Club, a nonprofit he has grown from 80 players and 4 coaches into one of the leading youth soccer organizations in the U.S., now serving over 2,500 players with a staff of 50+. With experience in New Orleans, London, Dublin, and Chicago, Nick is one of only 12 Americans to hold a Master’s in Sporting Directorship. He is recognized for building high-performance cultures and driving innovative, high-impact strategies that elevate the youth sports landscape.

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