Lone Star add Penaloza, Secundino as assistant coaches for 2025-26 Dallas debut

DALLAS, Texas – Texas Lone Star S.C., the newest franchise in the Major Arena Soccer League Women (MASLW), have announced today that Carlos Peñaloza and John Secundino have been named to the coaching staff, joining Head Coach Ricky Mejia's staff for the club’s inaugural season this fall.

Club leaders said the appointments bring two passionate, locally-rooted, and dynamic coaches with significant and unique experience in player development and DFW soccer culture; reinforcing the club’s vision to be a dynamic and community-driven presence in the MASLW.

“ To be successful in sports you need to have an infrastructure that is solid, and a staff that is hungry for success, opportunity, and will be fighting everyday for your program,” said Brad Namdar, co-owner, and Sporting Director of Texas Lone Star S.C. "Carlos and John have displayed the dedication, care, and commitment to growing the game, supporting the growth of women’s soccer, and have the confidence of our Head Coach Ricky."

Peñaloza joins the staff bringing a unique blend of traditional coaching experience and modern soccer engagement. After starting his playing journey in high school, Peñaloza transitioned his passion into several crucial roles within the North Texas soccer ecosystem.

Peñaloza leveraged his time running the unique social media platform “FUTVIDA,” which allowed him to collaborate with local soccer entities like Boca Dallas (TST) as a content creator, giving him a deep understanding of the local fan and player landscape. He later moved into formal coaching with organizations like Soccer Shots and the Pit Academy in Frisco, leading to his current role as the the Head Coach for Elite Vida VFC.  Peñaloza also spent time working with FC Dallas as part of the stretcher team, building strong connections with the players there, among other local soccer projects in the greater DFW area. 

“I am honored to join the Texas Lone Star S.C. program, and to serve with Coach Mejia,” said Peñaloza. “This club’s commitment to community and excellence aligns with my belief that God has called us to be our best. Being able to help build this program, especially with my beautiful baby, was a huge motivation, behind this decision, this is truly a dream.”

 Secundino brings an exceptional eye for scouting and a profound dedication to shining a light on upcoming local talent. After falling in love with the sport at the age of four, Secundino channeled his passion into an entrepreneurial approach to DFW soccer.

He recalls the challenges faced by his immigrant parents, which ultimately meant he had to miss out on early trials to travel and play in Brazil. This experience strengthened his resolve to ensure other promising athletes would have opportunities, where he did not. Noting the repetitive nature of the local tournament scene, Secundino created his own team, DFW Venezia, specifically to attract top local players and highlight them through social media, providing exposure that led many to better teams. His coaching journey shifted dramatically after coaching his first women's team for FUTVIDA.

“Watching those girls play gave me a new vision and made me enjoy watching the sport again,” Secundino stated. This new focus led him to partner in co-creating Elite Vida VFC, dedicated to identifying top women players in the greater Dallas metroplex. “The atmosphere and the powerful drive of success Texas Lone Star S.C. has created in such a short time supporting women’s sport made this opportunity a dream come true for me.”

Head Coach Ricky Mejia indicated he is confident that Peñaloza and Secundino are great additions to his coaching staff, and believes they will execute the club’s technical and cultural goals.

“The depth of local knowledge and the passion that Carlos and John bring is exactly what we need,” said Mejia. “They understand the DFW talent pool, they have already demonstrated success developing players in the women’s game through Elite Vida VFC, among other endeavors, and their drive to create opportunities for women in soccer perfectly matches the vision of our ownership group.”

Texas Lone Star S.C. co-owner, Juan “Nani” Castillo stated, “I believe Carlos and John will be assets to our program, both on and off the field. Our program has been growing in all facets and this new announcement further demonstrates our growth as a club. I couldn’t be more excited for the new additions to our coaching staff.”

Based in Dallas, Texas Lone Star S.C. is an expansion franchise in the Major Arena Soccer League Women. The club is led by a dynamic ownership group, committed to youthful energy, entrepreneurial vision, and community-driven leadership. The club aims to be a bold, visionary, and dynamic presence in the North Texas sports landscape and elevate professional women's arena soccer.