Samantha Johnson
General Manager
A veteran of professional women’s soccer in both the United States and Australia, Johnson brings nearly a decade of top-flight playing experience to her leadership role with Brooklyn FC.
Over five seasons in the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars, Johnson established herself as a key figure in the club’s back line, earning NWSL Team of the Month honors and helping lead multiple playoff runs. She also competed internationally, winning the W-League Premiership with Melbourne Victory.
Johnson joins Brooklyn FC as General Manager of the women’s team, tasked with building a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous development on and off the pitch.
Alex Smith
Head Coach
Smith, who was born in the UK before moving to Texas as a child, returns to the United States following a successful stint as head coach of Brisbane Roar in Australia’s A-League Women. While in Queensland, he led a multi-year rebuild of the squad, guiding the club to the semi-finals of the A-League Women Finals after multiple years when the club missed the playoffs.
With the Roar, he earned plaudits for his tactical innovation, commitment to youth development, and ability to maximize player performance, establishing himself as one of Australia’s most promising coaching talents.
Dennis Mejia
Goalkeeper Coach
Mejia leads goalkeeper training and development, designing position-specific sessions and match preparation while supporting overall defensive organization.
He also contributes to opponent analysis, focusing on attacking phases and set pieces to inform goalkeeper preparation and team strategy.
Mejia brings experience across academy, collegiate, and club environments, including roles with Hofstra University, the Long Island Goalkeeper Academy, and FC Barcelona Academy Pro NY.
Jenna DeAngelis
Strength & Conditioning Coach
DeAngelis is responsible for creating performance programs that enhance speed, strength, power, agility, and endurance. Her main focus is aligning physical preparation with the demands of the game.
She brings a background in high-performance training and athlete development, including experience as a Tier X Coach at Equinox and work with Gotham Girls FC. A certified strength and conditioning specialist and Precision Nutrition Level 2 Master Health Coach, she focuses on integrating training, recovery, and nutrition to support long-term performance.
Alexa Bruni
Head of Player Operations & Team Administration
Bruni oversees all team operations and administrative functions for the women’s team, ensuring seamless coordination across travel, scheduling, compliance, and day-to-day logistics.
She brings more than six years of experience supporting collegiate and professional athletic programs, with a background in team operations, event management, and player engagement. Bruni serves as a central liaison between players, coaches, league officials, and external partners, ensuring all operational details are executed to a high professional standard.
Artie Verdi
Equipment Manager
Verdi oversees all equipment operations for the women’s team, ensuring players and coaches are fully supported for training sessions and matches.
He manages daily gear preparation, laundry, and equipment setup, while coordinating logistics for both home and away matches to support consistent day-to-day operations.
