Marlon LeBlanc
Head Coach
LeBlanc serves as the inaugural head coach of Brooklyn FC’s men’s team, leading roster construction, methodology, training, and the club’s overall competitive strategy in the USL Championship season.
A U.S. Soccer Pro Licensed coach, LeBlanc joined Brooklyn FC following five successful seasons as head coach of Philadelphia Union II, where he guided the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2022 to 2024, winning the 2024 Eastern Conference Championship and advancing to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final.
Prior to his time in the professional ranks, LeBlanc spent 14 seasons as head coach at West Virginia University, leading the Mountaineers to six NCAA Tournament appearances and three conference championships while earning Soccer America Coach of the Year honors.
LeBlanc has a proven track record of developing talent and building competitive teams. In 2025, he served as head coach of the U.S. U18 Men’s National Team, leading the group in June to the UEFA Friendship Cup title in Nyon, Switzerland, with victories over France, Argentina, and Australia in group play before defeating Portugal in the final. Prior to winning gold with the U18 USMNT, he also led the team to a 3-2 win over Norway and a 2-2 draw against Morocco in Marbella, Spain.
Yannick Diese
First Team Assistant Coach
Diese supports training, match preparation, and player development, contributing to session design, opponent analysis, and post-match evaluation.
He brings experience across elite youth and professional environments, including time with New York City FC, where he worked with U14 and U16 age groups and contributed to NYCFC II. He also served as an MLS NEXT Head Coach at New York Soccer Club and held Head Coach and Technical Director roles at PSG Academy New York.
Diese holds both UEFA A and U.S. Soccer A coaching licenses.
Nenad Babic
Assistant Coach & Lead Analyst
Babic supports training, tactical preparation, and match analysis, working closely with players and staff to reinforce team principles and performance standards.
He brings a background across coaching and performance analysis, with experience at the U.S. Soccer Federation, D.C. United, Chicago Fire FC, Orlando City SC, and The St. James, where he served as Assistant Technical Director and MLS NEXT Academy Director.
Babic holds both a UEFA A and USSF A Coaching License.
Nedin Tucakovic
Goalkeeper & Set Piece Coach
Tucakovic leads goalkeeper development and set piece strategy, overseeing performance analysis, individualized training plans, and opponent-specific preparation.
He brings experience across MLS, collegiate, and academy environments, most recently serving as Goalkeeper & Set Piece Specialist with Austin FC II. He previously held roles as Head of Academy Goalkeeping for Austin FC and San Jose Earthquakes, and as an assistant and goalkeeper coach at San Jose State University.
A former professional goalkeeper for Beşiktaş JK and FK Sarajevo, Tucakovic also represented Bosnia & Herzegovina and the United States at the youth international level.
Michael Higbee
Head of Performance
Higbee leads the club’s physical performance strategy, working closely with the coaching staff to support player development and optimize performance.
He brings experience across professional environments in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including roles with Houston Dynamo FC and York United FC. Earlier in his career, he held positions with Swansea City AFC and Birmingham City FC.
Edu Pena Rollet
Team Administrator & Player Care Officer
Pena Rollet manages all operational, logistical, and administrative functions of the First Team, and serves as the primary liaison to league officials while overseeing daily operations and matchday execution.
He has progressed through multiple roles within Brooklyn FC, including operations and player services, and brings additional experience in soccer operations and matchday environments through positions with Syracuse University and the New York Red Bulls.
Roger Dieterle
Head Equipment Manager
Dieterle oversees all equipment operations for the men’s team, ensuring players and staff are fully supported for training sessions and matches.
He manages gear preparation, locker room setup, and travel logistics, supporting day-to-day operations and match readiness.
