Kokomo Soccer Team Name Unveiled

Marcelo Santos was announced as coach and team manager in January.

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Kokomo’s new soccer franchise now has a name. The Kokomo Mantis FC will compete in the Premier Development League and will play at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.

The team also announced Marcelo Santos will serve as coach and team manager for the Mantis. Santos most recently served as an assistant coach for Marquette University. He also played for and served as assistant coach for the PDL’s Thunder Bay Chill.

The franchise is owned by Wisconsin-based MKE Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Kokomo Jackrabbits and Lafayette Aviators baseball teams. League and team officials announced the franchise in September and held a contest to name the team.

The team will play seven home and seven away matches each season and feature college-aged players seeking to advance to the next level. The PDL serves as a stepping stone to more elite organizations such as Major League Soccer.