Chandler O'Dwyer. Provided photo.

Professional sports are an interesting entity. Fans can only see what is on the field—the success of an organization becomes binary—did your team win or lose? What drives that success, however, is more than just the collaborative on-field efforts of the players—it stems from a tight knit culture within an organization, where everyone, from the water boy to the owner, is on the same page.

Building that culture is one of the reasons why Chandler O’Dwyer signed with the Sarasota Paradise this December. O’Dwyer, a 26-year-old English midfielder, comes to the Paradise as a seasoned veteran of USL League One—he spent the last four seasons playing for the Richmond Kickers. O’Dwyer understands the toll of a nine-month long season, and how the relationships within an organization are the catalyst for on-field results. “Being at the same club for four years was great,” says O’Dwyer. “I built a name for myself in the league, but I also got to the point where I was ready for a new challenge—being a part of a club that was transitioning to the professional level, of a team where I could be one of the most senior players and a staple of what the culture could look like—was extremely exciting for me.”

Part of creating that culture, O’Dwyer maintains, is fostering a sense of community through every facet of the club. “When I spoke with (owner and sporting director) Marcus Walfridson, everything he told me aligned with what I look for as a professional. Merging the bridge between players and front office staff, for example, is important,” says O’Dwyer. “In Sarasota, players will be mixing and merging with the office staff, building relationships with each other. Seemingly small things like that, in this level of sport, make a big difference, especially considering the length of our season.”

Getting the chance to play for Paradise Head Coach and Technical Director Mika Elovaara, who was an assistant coach for Richmond during O’Dwyer’s tenure, was another reason the midfielder found himself heading south. “Mika was the person that found me, that got me interested in the Kickers, so I’m excited to play for him again,” says O’Dwyer. “We have a very good relationship, both on a professional and a personal level. I know his family well. It’s a relationship that goes beyond just the typical player-coach connection, but it also doesn’t cross boundaries in a way that’s unprofessional. As soon as we go to work, it’s all football.”

Chandler O'Dwyer. Provided photo.

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