AC Newport Joins the NPSL
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the first and only men’s league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, is proud to announce that AC Newport has joined the league. The club will begin play in the 2026 season.
“We are excited to bring the NPSL brand to Rhode Island with AC Newport,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera. “Their ownership group has extensive experience in the highest levels of the game, and their business acumen is equally impressive. This is the ideal group to introduce Rhode Island’s soccer fans and supporters to the NPSL.”
The team is led by General Manager Thomas Loughborough, Sporting Director Jeff “Ziggy” Korytoski, and Director of Partnerships Cameron Appleton.
Loughborough is a seasoned professional sailor with over 20 years of international racing experience. Born in Singapore and raised in England and France, he developed a global perspective that has shaped his career across diverse maritime environments. Throughout his career, Loughborough has forged strategic corporate partnerships, notably, he collaborated with Red Bull Media House to amplify the foiling community through content creation and innovative storytelling.
“The expectations for our inaugural season in the NPSL include establishing a competitive presence within the conference, fostering community engagement, and achieving a playoff berth through disciplined play and strategic development of talent from the region,” Loughborough said. “We aim to blend youthful energy with experienced leadership to create a team that not only competes but inspires the Newport community.”
Korytoski, an American-born soccer manager residing in Newport, Rhode Island, has built a distinguished coaching career marked by consistent success across various levels and regions. Holding a B.S. in Political Science from Saint Leo University and a UEFA A License from the Irish Football Association earned in 2013, Korytoski transitioned from collegiate coaching at Cal Poly in 2009 to international roles. His tenure began prominently with Antigua GFC in Guatemala’s second division, where he secured promotion in his first season and maintained an unbeaten home streak over 2.5 years, culminating in a semifinal appearance in the 2011 Apertura Tournament. Prior to that, he led the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Men’s and Women’s National Teams in their inaugural international matches against Guam. In 2013, he revitalized Deportivo Coatepeque in Guatemala’s top flight, turning around a struggling squad to achieve notable wins against elite clubs.
In 2016, Korytoski became the inaugural head coach of ASC San Diego, leading the club to unprecedented achievements over four years. Under his guidance, the team won two conference championships, qualified for the U.S. Open Cup twice, completed an undefeated regular season, reached the NPSL Regional Final, and advanced to the NPSL National Semifinals against New York Cosmos B in his final season. Over his last four tournaments, he has steered teams to one league final and two semifinal appearances.
Appleton is a renowned New Zealand-born professional sailor, tactician, skipper, and project manager with over two decades of experience in high-performance yacht racing. Based in Newport, Rhode Island for the past 18 years, he has established himself as a key figure in the global sailing community, blending hands-on racing expertise with strategic team leadership and project oversight.
In 2024, Appleton expanded his influence by becoming a partner at Doyle Sails Newport, part of the Doyle Sails franchise — a global leader in high-performance sailmaking. In this ownership role he serves as the Grand Prix and Superyacht expert for the United States. His partnership leverages his deep racing background to offer project management guidance to clients, helping teams navigate complex campaigns and achieve peak performance through tailored sail solutions and tactical expertise.
Home matches will be played at Toppa Field in Newport, Rhode Island. It offers seating for approximately 2,000 spectators.
Fans and supporters can learn more by visiting www.acnewport.com or following the club on Facebook (@acnewport), Instagram (@ac_newport), and Twitter/X (@AC_Newport).
More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.
