Republic FC Begins Executive Search as Dunivant Assists Transition Through Year-End
Dunivant to Remain Through December as Collins Leads 2026 Roster Build
Sacramento Republic FC wasted no time charting its path forward after announcing that President and General Manager Todd Dunivant will depart at year’s end to join NYCFC as Sporting Director. While Dunivant’s move marks the end of one of the most successful eras in club history, the organization is making clear that the transition will be structured, deliberate, and focused on continuity.
According to the club’s announcement, Republic FC’s Board of Directors has already begun working with executive recruitment partners to identify the next leader of the organization’s soccer and business operations. The search process is expected to run throughout the winter as the club evaluates candidates capable of guiding Republic FC into its next chapter—one defined by an ambitious stadium project, a deepening ownership group, and the continued rise of the USL.
Dunivant Stays Through December to Ensure Stability
Despite accepting his new role with NYCFC, Dunivant will remain with Sacramento through the end of the year to support a structured handoff. His responsibilities over the next month include assisting with recruitment efforts, helping complete the 2026 roster-building process, and guiding the ongoing development of the club’s new stadium in the Railyards.
This transitional period is not ceremonial—Dunivant will play an active, hands-on role. December will include detailed briefings, project reviews, and the formal transfer of key initiatives to the executive leadership team, Wilton Rancheria COO Chris Franklin, and Managing Partner Kevin Nagle.
Neill Collins at the Center of Soccer Operations
With the GM role vacant for the first time since 2018, Republic FC confirmed that soccer operations will continue under the direction of Head Coach Neill Collins, who will lead the construction of the 2026 roster and broader competitive strategy.
Collins’ remit expands significantly during this period. As the club evaluates GM candidates, the head coach is charged with keeping the football side aligned and moving, ensuring Sacramento enters 2026 with the continuity and competitiveness expected from a perennial playoff contender.
Training camp, including the annual Open Tryout, is set for mid-January, giving Collins and his staff a firm timeline as they shape the squad that will step into the club’s new era.
A Club Positioning for Its Next Decade
Republic FC emphasized that organizational continuity remains a point of strength. The club’s six-member executive leadership team—one of the most decorated in the USL—will support the transition in collaboration with ownership and Wilton Rancheria. Their combined experience across the NBA, NFL, MLB, and major regional businesses positions the club to maintain momentum across operations while the executive search unfolds.
Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango underscored that message, calling leadership changes “a part of growth” and reaffirming the club’s long-term vision. With the stadium nearing vertical construction and structural planning underway for the club’s future, the organization insists that all major projects remain on track.
A Multi-Layered Search, a Critical Moment
This is one of the most consequential hiring moments in Republic FC’s modern history. The next President/GM will inherit a club on the verge of a new downtown stadium, with an ambitious ownership group, an expanding footprint, and heightened expectations following deep cup runs and consistent postseason success.
By engaging executive recruiting partners early—and by keeping Dunivant in place through December—Republic FC is signaling both urgency and stability. The club’s 2026 ambitions won’t pause during the search. Neill Collins will continue to shape the roster, the executive team will keep strategic projects moving, and ownership will push forward the work required to usher in the next decade of Republic FC.
A new leader is coming. But the course, the vision, and the competitive drive remain firmly in motion.
No Vlade Divac types please. What damage one bad hire can do....