2025 Season Preview: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
The Chattanooga Red Wolves SC’s sixth season was their worst yet. A leaky defense and the worst record of any team in the second half of the campaign saw the club finish in 11th place, second-last but only ahead of Central Valley Fuego on goal-difference. There’ll be pressure on Head Coach Scott Mackenzie to get more from this team, especially in a bigger and likely more competitive USL League One.
Last Season
USL League One: 5 wins, 3 draws, 14 losses; 11th place.
USL Jägermeister Cup: Group Stage
US Open Cup: 3rd round.
2024 Recap
Not so much a season of two halves as a season with a mediocre half followed by a poor one. Across their five first league matches, Chattanooga lost 2, drew 1, and won 2. This inconsistent start would characterize the entire first half of the campaign. High-points included impressive away wins at Greenville in week 5 and Omaha in week 12. Lows included some notable drubbings, at Tormenta and Charlotte and at home against Omaha. The second half of the season was miserable, with only that surprise win in Nebraska in week 12, and no other wins right up to a depressing 0-3 home capitulation to Lexington. 48 goals were surrendered across 22 matches, with little positive to say.
In the Jägermeister Cup, Chattanooga was drawn with Lexington, Knoxville and Madison in the ‘Central Group’. A single 1-0 home win to Richmond was their only win in 90 minutes, with the club finishing on 6 points and in last place.
Their US Open Cup run was perhaps more successful, seeing off semi-pro outfits Brockton FC United (UPSL) and Apotheos FC (NPSL) to set up a third-round match-up at the Birmingham Legion. A Leo Folla goal on 12 minutes gave the Red Wolves a dream start before Stefano Pinho scored the first of his four goals of the evening. Ricky Ruiz notched a penalty on 76 minutes to give Chattanooga genuine hopes of a cupset of their own, before Pinho equalized late in the 80th minute. The Red Wolves deserved credit for pushing their more senior opponents to extra time, but the quality of Pinho was too much, as he banged in a brace of strikes to finish the game 4-2.
Notable Moves
The Red Wolves lost their three highest goalscorers of 2024 in the offseason. Top scorer Ropapa Mensah (9 goals) and Jamaican international Chevone Marsh (6) have both left to join rivals Greenville Triumph while Mayele Malango has moved up to play for Monterey Bay in the USL Championship.
The Red Wolves shipped 48 goals last season, the second most of any team. Unsurprisingly, this has led Mackenzie to focus on strengthening his back-line. Eric Kinzner (St. Louis City 2), Jordan Ayimbila (Miami FC) and Kimball Jackson (loan from Lexington SC) have all been brought on board. US Virgin Islands international Josh Ramos is another who can fill in at the back as well in midfield after being signed from South Georgia Tormenta for whom he played 27 games last season. Michael Knapp is a talented midfielder who arrives with USL Championship experience and could form a solid partnership with Ualefi. Finally, Matt Bentley arrives from England, but has previous USL League One experience from his time with Richmond Kickers and may bring goals and assists.
The loss of key goalscorers (23 combined of the players who have left) however is the most glaring void in this current Red Wolves side as the season approaches.
Who to watch for
Key Player: Declan Watters
Age: 26 | Position: Central Defense | Nationality: Ireland
While Ualefi is the most influential figure in this Red Wolves’ side, as well as the club’s all-time appearance leader; I’ve opted for center-back Watters. The 6-foot 4-inched Irishman arrived at CHI Memorial Stadium last season with only brief tastes of pro-soccer in his native country and Sweden having mainly come through the college game here in the US. While the Red Wolves’ defense wasn’t water-tight last season, Watters cannot harbor much blame. In league play, statistically he was the club’s best defender leading in clearances (91), blocks (19), tackles won (28), and duels won (115). There are few defensive or distribution statistics where he wasn’t in the top three in his team, and he also chipped in with a goal.
While only 26, he is a calm and disciplined defender (3 yellow cards and no reds in 2024) and will be expected to be a leader among his relatively inexperienced and youthful back-line partners.
Young Player to Watch: Gharret Morris
Age: 18 | Position: Central Midfield | Nationality: USA
It might be too much to expect Gharret Morris to play a huge role for the Red Wolves in 2025; but in flashes last season he showed that despite his age, he can be an intense and tricky player. He was impressive in his four cameo appearances despite the Red Wolves losing three of them (none his fault).
A product of their academy, Morris captained the Utah Red Wolves SC USL Academy side to a USL Academy Finals appearance in 2023, knocking off the top ranked team in the country in the process. He also played on the Utah Red Wolves SC USL League Two team which three-peted as the Mountain Division Conference Title as well as the Conference champion UPSL side. The Red Wolves are keen to have academy players make it at their most senior affiliate, given how much they invest into this system as a whole, so expect them to give Morris every chance as he develops to stake a claim for himself in this squad. Turning 19 this season, this may be his break-through campaign.
Coach: Scott McKenzie
Nationality: Scotland / England
The Dunfermline-born tactician was named full-time Red Wolves’ Head Coach in October 2023 after having held the role on an interim basis for three months. Familiar to the franchise’s model, having coached their League 2 affiliate in Park City, he began his stint in late-2023 well, averaging over two goals per game and collecting the fourth most points in the league during the fall of that season. Last year, however, wasn’t a success by any standard and pressure will be on to bring this squad along and improve. Made more difficult by the loss of key attackers, Mackenzie’s new charges and remaining players will need to gel fast before a USL League One season that will be busier and more competitive than any in its history.
Biggest Question
Is there enough squad depth?
The loss of goalscorers will weigh on this Red Wolves side this season; but overall the squad looks light. This writer is uncertain how many senior professional players they have contracted as of writing this article; but a cursory glance suggests about 23 players, which isn’t enough for a slog of a season with 30 league games, and an unknown number of cup ties. The defense should be better than last year, but where will goals come from and how much rotation can be expected of a 23-man squad?
Reason to Watch
In spite of losing key players and a light squad list, there are some exciting new names in this team that, if they gel and this team clicks, could be a very fun story. Their 2025 preseason has been a success, so a surprise could be in the offering. A youthful defense, an experienced midfield and some fast wingers could provide entertainment. Or, it could be a long, hard season in East Ridge.
First 5 games
@ FC Naples – Mar 8
@ New Jersey Alliance FC (Cup tie) – Mar 18
@ Charlotte Independence – Mar 28
v South Georgia Tormenta FC – Apr 5
@ AV Alta FC – Apr 12
Philip: Interesting piece! But can you elaborate on the following three items? Thanks much!
1. The Utah Red Wolves SC USL Academy seems to be affiliated with the Chattanooga Red Wolves first team (the latter's logo is prominent on the Academy website!) --but why is it based in Utah?? Is the owner of both an avid skier or hiker with a second hone in Park City (where the Academy is located)?
2. Has the owner of the Red Wolves been featured in the local media or press, or any recent interviews available? The ownership seems enigmatic --would be great to have visibility into what the short-term and long-term vision is....
3. How has the Red Wolves preseason gone? Is there any social media coverage of it?