Fort Wayne FC’s Roster Takes Shape: New Signings, Projected Lineup, and Tactical Outlook

Fort Wayne FC’s Roster Takes Shape: New Signings, Projected Lineup, and Tactical Outlook

Preseason may have been delayed by snow in Fort Wayne, but roster news has continued to arrive at full speed. As Fort Wayne FC prepares for its inaugural USL League One season, early signings give us our clearest look yet at how this team may line up — and how head coach Mike Avery wants them to play.

While not every piece of the puzzle is in place yet, the foundation is becoming clear: experience at the back, energy and bite in midfield, and attacking flexibility built into the system.

Key Player Signings So Far

Goalkeeper: BernD Schipmann

Fort Wayne FC’s most recent signing came as a surprise — not because of quality, but timing. Veteran goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann arrives with extensive USL League One experience, including 33 career shutouts. At 31, Shipman brings leadership, confidence, and a proactive style, comfortable leaving his box to win balls and organize the back line. For an expansion side, that kind of presence in goal is invaluable .

Center Backs: Tiago Dias & Reid Sproat

The heart of the defense looks settled early. Tiago Dias, the club’s first announced signing, anchors the left side of center back. A proven defender with an eye for goal, Dias has already established himself as one of the most productive scoring defenders in club history. Alongside him is Reid Sproat, an aggressive right-sided center back known for stepping into challenges and setting the tone physically .

Fullbacks: Michael Rempel & Anthony Hernandez

The outside backs hint strongly at how Fort Wayne FC wants to play.

• Michael Rempel, a left back capable of also playing as a left center back, is attack-minded and comfortable pushing high up the pitch.

• Anthony Hernandez, returning on the right side, frequently played high last season, often operating more like a wingback than a traditional fullback.

Both players give Fort Wayne width, overlap, and numerical advantages in the attacking third — key traits for a possession-oriented system .

Midfield Core: Balance and Bite

The midfield group is shaping up to be one of the team’s strengths:

• JP Jordan – A true ball-winner, aggressive and physical, unapologetically described as a “dawg.”

• Javier Armas – A deep-lying midfielder who distributes from the back and helps control tempo.

• Taig Healy – An attacking midfielder with a knack for big moments, arriving after scoring in both a USL2 final and the NCAA Championship.

• Jeremy Garay – A versatile midfielder with academy experience at DC United and international caps with El Salvador.

This blend of defensive stability and attacking creativity gives Avery multiple options depending on match situations .

Likely Formation: 4-3-3 With Built-In Flexibility

Everything about the current roster points toward a 4-3-3 as Fort Wayne FC’s base shape — a system Coach Avery has favored in the past.

In possession, this formation offers:

• Width from high-pushing fullbacks

• Numerical superiority in midfield

• Freedom for attacking midfielders to drift wide or between lines

Out of possession, it can easily morph into a 4-2-3-1, with Jordan and Armas shielding the back line while the front three press aggressively. The versatility of players like Rempel and Hernandez also allows the team to temporarily resemble a back three when fullbacks push forward, with midfielders dropping in to cover space .

What’s Still to Come: The Attack

The most anticipated additions are still ahead. Based on last season’s tendencies and Avery’s philosophy, expect:

• Quick, confident wingers capable of winning one-on-one duels

• Multiple striker profiles — pace to stretch lines and size to attack crosses

• Relentless pressing and movement off the ball

Those pieces will ultimately determine how dangerous this team can be in the final third.

Looking Ahead

With nine players announced and preseason starting on Tuesday, Fort Wayne FC’s identity is already coming into focus. Strong at the back, combative in midfield, and structurally flexible, this roster looks designed to control games — not just survive them.

The next wave of signings, particularly in attack, will tell us how high the ceiling truly is.