Westchester SC Bets Big On Gjokaj To Rebuild The Club
Westchester SC made its most sweeping and ambitious decision to date, announcing longtime FC Westchester leader George Gjokaj as Sporting Director and Head Coach and appointing Ray Selvadurai as Technical Advisor. Combined, the two bring more than 60 years of experience developing, scouting and elevating New York talent. Their arrival signals a full-scale reset as the club prepares for its second USL League One season in 2026.
Principal Owner Mitch Baruchowitz said the decision became obvious once the club took a hard look at its needs — and at the unique opportunity sitting right in its backyard.
“When we looked at both the needs and the opportunity we have in re-focusing and building our organization from the academy level to the professional side, we realized that two professionals who were almost literally in our backyard were interested and available, and we are proud to welcome George and Ray to our team,” Baruchowitz said. “We have said from day one our success lies in the talent in our region that we need to develop, a fan base that needs to be cultivated and inspired, and to make sure that the level of play and execution on the pitch at our USL League One club mirrors our growth on every level, and we are confident these two well-respected soccer lifers are the ones to take us there.”
The move comes on the heels of a difficult first season, where Westchester finished at the bottom of the USL League One table with a 5-15-9 record and parted ways with Head Coach Dave Carton and the full technical staff. The message from ownership was clear: the club needed fresh leadership, deeper local knowledge and a fully rebuilt sporting philosophy.
Gjokaj, a lifetime New Yorker, understands exactly what that means.
“I look at Westchester Soccer Club and understand the vast potential and impact we can have, especially as someone who has lived and worked on the development and coaching side right here in the area for decades,” he said. “It will be an honor to help lead and realize that potential for years to come as we build and grow together in this amazing community.”
Gjokaj arrives with one of the strongest résumés in the region. He spent nearly three decades leading FC Westchester, coached the Purchase College men’s program and was a key scout for NYCFC during its MLS launch, helping build a roster that ultimately delivered an MLS Cup. His career began as a youth player with Blau Weiss Gottschee before starring at Adelphi and St. John’s University, where he captained the Red Storm to a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in 1995. As a player, he also featured for FC Kaiserslautern, NY Fever, North Jersey Imperials and Albany Alley Cats in the former USISL.
Those roots matter. The New York City player pool runs deep — and Gjokaj is one of the rare figures who can truly tap into it. His experience helping shape the tri-state landscape and his track record boosting players into college and pro pathways give Westchester instant credibility and access to the region’s top prospects.
Selvadurai brings a complementary and equally powerful skill set.
A native New Yorker with more than 25 years across youth, college, pre-professional and professional levels, Selvadurai has been the Director of Coaching for Manhattan Soccer Club, the region’s largest youth organization. He oversaw development for more than 1,500 players and built a nationally recognized program that produced four youth national championships, numerous collegiate athletes and multiple professionals competing in MLS, USL and overseas.
“Like George, being a native New Yorker who has been involved in every area of the soccer development pipeline, I understand both the challenges and the potential,” Selvadurai said. “I firmly believe that the potential here for both performance and business growth from the academy level through the professional side is very much untapped. It is an honor to take on this role and help execute a vision that is needed not just in this area, but nationally as well.”
Selvadurai’s leadership in player relations, club operations and talent acquisition gives Westchester a second seasoned evaluator and an architect who knows how to build sustainable player pathways in the most complex soccer marketplace in the country.
Even amid a challenging first season, Westchester showcased what New York–bred talent can deliver. Forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., born in New York City, captured the 2025 USL League One Golden Boot with 17 goals — three more than FC Naples’ Karsen Henderlong. The Honduras international became the season’s standout performer and a clear proof point of the region’s untapped potential.
Now Gjokaj and Selvadurai take control of a club ready for reinvention.
With two deeply connected New York soccer minds steering the project, Westchester SC is positioned to build a competitive identity rooted in local development, relentless standards and real community impact as it prepares for the 2026 season.
