Andy Smith

President

Andy Smith, a well experienced sports executive, joins Carolina Core FC as the team President. Having over 20 years of executive experience leading highly successful professional soccer teams on and off the field, Andy first began working at MLS clubs where he was a Corporate Account Executive for the Colorado Rapids, the Director of Sales at D.C. United, and the Vice President of Sales at FC Dallas. 

Outside of MLS, Smith was the President & General Manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks, and then later GM of Reno 1868 FC during their expansion launch and inaugural seasons. The team in Reno, while sharing a stadium with their minor league baseball team partner, had the highest per capita attendance of any team in a U.S. soccer league and reached the playoffs in each year of its existence.

Andy graduated from Roanoke College where he was a four-year starter on the soccer team, and is top-5 all time in points and goals. Smith now lives in High Point, NC with his wife, two daughters, and son.

Eddie Pope

Chief Sporting Officer

Eddie Pope, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, joins Carolina Core FC as Chief Sporting Officer, overseeing all soccer operations, including technical staff management, player personnel, transactions, and scouting.

Pope was born in High Point, NC and attended Southwest Guilford High School. He played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1992-1995 and was drafted second overall by D.C. United. In just his second year, Pope was named Major League Soccer Defender of the Year. Widely considered one of the best defenders in American history, Eddie Pope was a four-time MLS Best XI winner, part of the “Top 25 MLS Players of All Time,” and was selected to the MLS All-Time Best XI. Pope retired from MLS play as a 3-time MLS Cup Champion, Open Cup Champion, a CONCACAF Champion, and an InterAmerican Cup Champion. Pope also represented the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1996-2006, appearing in 82 games and appearing in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002 & 2006).

Following his on-field retirement, Eddie Pope served as the director of player relations for the MLS Player Union from 2008-2015 and helped negotiate two collective bargaining agreements. From 2015 through 2022, he became the Director of the North American Soccer Division at Octagon Sports and Entertainment. Octagon Sports is one of the premier sporting agencies in the world, representing some of the world’s biggest talent, such as Stephen Curry, Gabriel Jesus, Michael Phelps, and Simone Biles. 

Eddie returns to High Point with his wife, daughter, and two sons.

Brian Gavigan

Vice President of Corporate
Affairs & Legal

Brian Gavigan joins Carolina Core FC as its Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Legal. Gavigan is a versatile business attorney and innovative leader. He concentrates his practice in corporate law and has expertise in design, negotiation, drafting, and operations.

Gavigan has acted as a core figure in several new developmental projects in North Carolina. He is the founder and president of the Super PAC High Point Political Alliance, which focuses on regional economic development and public/private partnerships. He was the High Point Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 “Vision Investor of the Year” award winner. Gavigan was an important figure and leader in the $175 million downtown economic development and revitalization of High Point, including the creation of Truist Point.

Brian graduated from the University of Maryland where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor (Law School) degrees. He served in the Air Force, where he was Captain of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. The Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps provides the Air Force with professional, full-spectrum legal support for mission success in joint and coalition operations. As a result of his exemplary practice of law, Gavigan was awarded three Air Force Commendation Medals for his service.

Brian and his wife are long term High Point residents, where he raised his children.

Evan Mitz

Chief Operating Officer

Evan Mitz joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Operating Officer, where he works in collaboration with the club’s executive staff within all areas of the organization.

Mitz first began working at FC Dallas in 2006, where he won many league-wide annual MLS awards as an Account Executive. Later, he developed a comprehensive skillset from managing the operations of San Antonio’s professional soccer club expansion launch, serving as a Competition Manager at Copa America Centenario, and working for the Atlanta Silverbacks as the Vice President of Business Operations and Assistant General Manager. Specifically, while he was in San Antonio, the Club had immediate success in winning the second division regular season championship, shattering second division attendance capacity records, and generating support for its non-profit enterprise partner Morgan’s Wonderland (The World’s First Ultra-Accessible Theme Park).

Evan graduated from the University of Wisconsin after playing soccer for two seasons at Butler University. He and his wife have relocated to High Point, where they are raising their daughter.

Chris Baretta

Chief Revenue Officer

Chris Baretta joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Revenue Officer, where he will be responsible for building out all revenue streams to include Sponsorship, Ticketing, Merchandise, Ancillary Game Day Revenues as well as oversight of all Marketing initiatives.

Beretta previously served as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty, where he oversaw all club revenues, which grew by over 185% from 2019 through 2022. Following the 2021 season, he was awarded the Chief Revenue Officer of the year in the United Soccer Leagues.

Before working in Greenville, Beretta worked in Account Executive roles at FC Dallas (MLS), and with the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) and Seattle Seahawks (NFL). At those teams, he was recognized for league awards including: MLS Sales Executive of the Year, MLS Total Ticket Sales Revenue Leader (4 seasons).