Kings II Joins the Club Structure

Soccer in Savannah continues to evolve, and Coastal Kings FC is at the center of that growth. What began as a new club focused on developing players and building a competitive team has quickly grown into something larger. With the addition of Kings II, the organization now fields two men’s teams competing in the UPSL structure, marking another step forward for what many around the city are starting to recognize as a rising soccer program.

For Head Coach David Koebler, the expansion was always part of the long term vision.

“It was always our plan to add a second team to the club,” Koebler said.

What has surprised many, however, is how quickly the club has reached that milestone. In a city that has seen several attempts at professional soccer over the years, Coastal Kings FC has built early momentum both on and off the field. That success has created a growing buzz around Savannah’s soccer community and helped establish the Kings as a legitimate presence in the local sports landscape. Still, the club’s rise has not come without challenges. One of the more common misconceptions locally is the belief that the Kings are somehow connected to the former Savannah Clovers, a club that competed in the now defunct NISA third division before the league suspended operations. Koebler says the comparison misses the reality of the timeline. “It’s a little frustrating that people think we are some kind of Clovers reincarnation,” Koebler said. “The reality is they failed long before we even launched the Kings.” The confusion reflects a broader challenge facing soccer in Savannah. With Tormenta FC stepping away from local play this spring, many fans have been left without a team to follow. That has created both an opportunity and a responsibility for the Kings as they work to build a sustainable soccer culture in the city. “There are a lot of fans out there who want to see soccer succeed in Savannah,” Koebler said. “Our fan base is growing and the people who come out to the matches have been fantastic. We just have to keep giving them a reason to come back.” Koebler is also quick to acknowledge where the club’s priorities lie and why the organization has chosen to grow the way it has. “In all honesty, our growth is likely going to be slower than some of the others before us,” Koebler said. “That’s because our complete focus has been on developing the players and putting a competitive team on the field.” Koebler believes that focus will ultimately be the deciding factor in the club’s long term success. “Marketing, media, ticket sales, branding, building stadiums, all of those things are absolutely important,” he said. “But if the team on the field isn’t winning games, you’re not going to put fans in the stands.” By that measure, the club’s first season exceeded expectations. “No other club before us has accomplished what we did in our first season performance wise,” Koebler said. “We’re very proud of that, and it’s that success that allowed us to add a second team to the club.” The demand from players has been evident from the start. According to the club, there have consistently been 30 to 40 players on a waiting list hoping for an opportunity to join the program. “Players want to play for the best teams,” Koebler said. “They want to play for teams that compete.” Kings II now provides another pathway for those players while also strengthening the soccer ecosystem in the region. “The second team is going to be a great addition to the club and a great addition to soccer in this region,” Koebler said. “When you add more high level teams in Savannah, you don’t just bring better soccer to the community.” The benefits ripple throughout the local sports landscape. “It means more games for referees to work. More opportunities for athletic trainers to earn additional income. More openings for sports management students to get internships and experience. Growth like this is natural. It’s needed, and it will continue.”

And the expansion may not stop with Kings II.

The club has already begun exploring future additions to the Coastal program, including the potential launch of Coastal Queens, a women’s side that would further expand opportunities within the organization.

“We have plans to add a Coastal Queens program in the near future,” Koebler said. “There are also a couple other projects in the works that could eventually add two more adult teams. We’ve even talked about adding some competitive 8v8 cash money teams or recreational adult teams down the road.”

For now, however, the focus remains firmly on the present. Kings II continues to prepare for the season with a roster that reflects the club’s developmental philosophy. The squad includes a mix of high level high school players, past and present college players, and several local talents eager to prove themselves at the next level.

“Our focus right now is bringing the Kings II players up to standard and preparing for the season,” Koebler said.

If the early trajectory of Coastal Kings FC is any indication, the club’s expansion may only be the beginning of a much larger story for soccer in Savannah.