James Thomas joined One Knoxville SC in 2025 to serve as a First Team Assistant Coach
Coaching Staff
Brendan Pulley
Brendan Pulley joined One Knoxville ahead of the 2025 season as its Goalkeeper Coach.
After leading Vermont’s keepers to the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2024, Pulley steps into the professional ranks and joins our technical staff.
After a successful career playing for the University of Vermont, he joined their coaching staff and later named the 2024 United Soccer Coaches Staff of the Year.
Ilija Ilić
In 2023, Ilija Ilic capped off an incredible playing career that included over 170 professional games across the USL League One and USL Championship, over 50 professional goals, and two USL Championship Titles with Louisville City.
His American career began in the North Georgia mountains where Ilic scored 64 goals in 72 appearances at Young Harris College.
The Belgrade, Serbia-native was One Knoxville SC’s first professional Club signing in 2023, ahead of its first season in the USL League One, after a lustrous career in the USL Championship with spells at Louisville City FC, Indy Eleven and most recently with New Mexico United.
In August, 2024, Ilic stepped up to act as the interim-head coach and led One Knoxville SC to its first USL League One playoff qualification in its history.
Now, his role extends beyond his First Team Assistant duties to Head-Coach Ian Fuller, Ilic acts as the Academy Director and oversees the progression and development of Academy Players competing for Two Knox, One Knoxville’s second team.
The 34 year old now resides in Knoxville with his wife Iva and 2 young daughters.
