Our Story

Inner Cincinnati Soccer Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2020 by Dan Lueking, the former soccer coach at Norwood High School. Recognizing that his players lacked opportunities to engage in competitive soccer during the spring season due to financial and geographic barriers, Dan sought to address this gap. Drawing from his high school coaching and teaching experience, he understood that many players from similar school districts faced the same challenges.

With the support of a few friends, they established a competitive, non-profit soccer club called Inner Cincinnati Soccer Academy aimed at providing players from urban, low-income school districts around Cincinnati and the tri-state area the chance play competitive club soccer, to train in a competitive environment and develop their skills, and compete against their peers at the highest levels.

Since its inception, Inner Cincinnati has expanded to include several boys' teams, comprising nearly 100 players aged 9 to 19. In fall fo 2025 they launched their first girls team! The club has achieved significant success in its short history, winning both league and tournament championships, all while maintaining a seasonal fee of under $200,  which is approximately one-tenth of that of comparable clubs.

Inner Cincinnati is proud to be an official club partner with FC Cincinnati and even boasts Nick Hagglund, a current member of FC Cincinnati, as a board member and guest trainer. 

In Inner's first 5 years it has had:

• 500+ players come through it's program

• 14 players signed to play in college

• Given over $10,000 in scholarships

• Numerous league and tournament titles