Familiar Face Returning to Laredo to Lead Heat in 2024
Veteran Coach Hopes to Lead Pre-Professional Side Back to NPSL Playoffs

Laredo, TX (Monday, February 5, 2024) – The Laredo Heat Soccer Club announced today that Coach John
Powell will be returning to lead the Gateway City National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) team into the 2024
summer season, Powell will be returning after taking a year off last season.
Powell is currently the Head Soccer Coach at his Alma Mater in California, Stanislaus State University. He
returned to Stanislaus State University in 2023 after being the Head Coach at Northwest Nazarene University
in Idaho for two years and where he led the Nighthawks to the NCAA Division II Super Regional Final Four (Elite
Eight) in 2022.
“The Vaswani Family is thrilled and genuinely delighted to Welcome Coach JP back for the upcoming 2024
summer season, we greatly value his expertise, leadership and dedication and we believe his return will be
instrumental in the success of our team”, said Heat Owner Shashi Vaswani.
Vaswani concluded, “Furthermore, we are eagerly anticipating what we hope will be our inaugural year at the
state-of-the-art PEG Energy Stadium, the prospect of playing our matches in this remarkable facility fills us
with excitement and optimism for the season ahead”.
“Having the opportunity to coach with the Heat again is a true blessing, the City of Laredo and the Heat
organization have been nothing but welcoming ever since the first time we arrived in 2018 and I am honored
to be tasked with leading the club during its 20 th Anniversary”, said Powell.

“I understand the high expectations and standards that come with a club like the Heat and I am excited to
arrive and get to work”.
Coach Powell concluded, “My staff and I are well underway in building a team capable of competing at the
highest level, I most excited to get to work with another talented roster comprised of some of the top
collegiate players in the country paired with the best local talent from the 956”.
Juan de Dios Ibarra
A Vaswani Soccer Venture, LLC (parent company to the Laredo Heat Soccer Club) have also announced that
current youth coach and former Heat player Juan de Dios Ibarra has been named as head assistant coach for
the 2024 NPSL summer season. This will be Ibarra’s first season on the sidelines for the Heat senior team as a
coach in any capacity.
About the NPSL
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is one of the largest established men’s soccer leagues in the
United States with over 90 teams competing across the country. The NPSL is a successor to the Men’s
Premier Soccer League (MPSL), which was formed in 2002. The NPSL is a member of the United States
Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and is thereby affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation
(USSF). The NPSL’s cooperative and turnkey ownership platform has led to its explosive growth, countless
player development opportunities, and commitment to grow the game in the United States.
On November 18, 2022, the NPSL was designated as Tier 1, the top tier of soccer within the United States
Adult Soccer Association (USASA). 
NPSL Philosophy: We compete for 90 minutes on the field; we are business partners...always. We all work
together to grow the game, build the NPSL, and develop our respective clubs.
NPSL Mission: To grow the sport of soccer in the United States of America -- by providing our members
with a sustainable business model and professionally managed soccer platform, and by serving as an
inspiration to players and soccer fans in our members' communities.
NPSL Vision: To be the foundation of the U.S. Soccer development pyramid with over 100 profitable
teams in 100 communities; in turn, doing our part to help the United States become a soccer nation and
win a World Cup.
For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, tickets and the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please
contact the Heat Front Office at (956) 723 – 4700 or visit our website at www.laredoheatsc.com , LIKE us
on Facebook www.facebook.com/laredoheatsoccer or Follow Us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat
@LaredoHeatSC.