Forward Madison FC has named Patrick Nyarko as assistant coach of the men’s first team, following the departure of long-time assistant coach Neil Hlavaty, who will become associate head coach at Spokane Velocity.
Nyarko joins the first-team staff after serving as a coach with the Forward Madison FC Academy and brings prior professional coaching experience with Chicago Fire II. As a player, Nyarko had an MLS career highlighted by eight seasons with Chicago Fire FC, where he made 196 appearances, along with two seasons at D.C. United. He was selected seventh overall in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft after a three-year collegiate career at Virginia Tech and earned one international cap with the Ghana national team in 2012.
Nyarko began his coaching career in 2021 with the Chicago Fire Academy U-19s, helping the team win the inaugural MLS NEXT Cup, and later served as an assistant coach with Chicago Fire FC II in MLS NEXT Pro, reaching the playoffs in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, he moved to Madison to coach the Forward Madison FC Academy’s U-17 and U-19 teams at the MLS NEXT level. He holds a USSF National B coaching license and will transition out of his academy role as he assumes first-team duties.
Forward Madison FC opens the 2026 season on the road against One Knoxville SC on March 14 and hosts Detroit City FC on May 16 in its home opener at Breese Stevens Field.
