Switchbacks coach Alan McCann values communication. He’s proud that one of the things fans have told him over the course of Colorado Springs’ preseason is that they’ve noticed how much more communication there is between the players. 

Naturally, McCann is a clear communicator as well and in Wednesday’s season-opening press conference, he set the tone for the season. 

McCann wants serial winners in his organization. He wants them to be a part of his staff and on his roster. 

Assistant coach Niall McCabe spent all 11 seasons of his USL Championship career at Louisville City FC. Coming from a club that won back-to-back league titles in 2017-2018 and won back-to-back USL Players’ Shields for being the best team in the regular season in 2024 and 2025, McCabe knows what it takes to win. 

It’s why, after being named the Switchbacks’ new coach in November, McCann reached out. 

“But to get these serial winners in the building, it’s what this club needs to be to take the next step. Like Niall said, in his previous club, they were there or thereabouts. Well, we have to be there, that’s what we’re striving toward next, to be there or thereabouts every single year and be in the fight,” McCann said. “If we’re in the fight, then we have a chance, but we need to bridge that gap and that’s the goal. If you’re asking me for a goal at the end of the year, we need to be there or thereabouts, and then we need to be there or thereabouts for the next five to 10 years.”

Colorado Springs will take its first steps toward that goal on Saturday as the club travels to El Paso Locomotive FC for the first game of the 2026 season. Kick off is at 7 p.m. 

McCann said defense was a priority for him during the offseason. In 2025, the Switchbacks conceded 48 goals, which was the seventh-most in the league. 

“We started on the defensive side. Not because I wanted to, because we had to. We had to address that. We had to make sure that in every single game we have every piece in place possible to not be conceding goals,” he said. “That sounds so simple. It sounds obvious but it has to be addressed early because if we keep doing that we have a fighting chance in every single game.”

With the defensive structure in place, McCann added attacking pieces like forwards Adrien Perez and Khori Bennett. But again, his main focus has been on getting the right kind of winners in the building. Based on what he’s seen in practice. He has them.  

“You should see the commitment these lads are putting out there in the ugly moments, the stuff that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. The stuff, honestly, they don’t get bonuses for but all those things matter,” McCann said. “It’s the pieces that nobody can teach them. It’s that last moment in front of the goal, putting your face where some people wouldn’t put their feet. 

“I think a perfect example of that, everyone knows, is Juan Tejada. He’s a warrior, he’s an animal. From Day 1 we’ve seen him now, three or four times, being on the team that’s down one and he’s just a catalyst of making sure his team wins in these training games.”