In somewhat of a surprise announcement, One Knoxville SC and USL League One revealed the club as the newest addition for the 2023 season. Ostensibly replacing FC Tucson, which announced its own self-relegation to USL League Two this week, One Knox has been promoted from USL League Two.
This brings the total number of clubs in the league back to the expected 12, as expansion side Lexington SC also joins for 2023. One Knox and Lexington join an expanding group of regional rivals in the south, including Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Charlotte Independence.
After a successful inaugural 2022 season in USL League Two, the club will continue management under head coach Mark McKeever. Under McKeever, the club finished first in the USL League Two Southern Conference, with a record of 11-2-1. The club fell to North Carolina Fusion 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
One Knox will play home matches at the University of Tennessee’s Regal Soccer Stadium, shared with the university’s Lady Vols soccer team. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000. Construction of their long term home in a new 7,000 capacity multi-use facility in downtown Knoxville is slated for completion by 2025.