From the Pitch to the Podcast: How C2 Communications Got FC Naples’ Coach Matt Poland Featured on How I Built This Sports Club

Apr 10, 2026

When a client’s story is this compelling, our job at C2 Communications is simple: find the platform that deserves to hear it. For FC Naples Head Coach and Sporting Director Matt Poland, that platform was How I Built This Sports Club — and the conversation that followed was exactly what strategic PR is designed to produce. 

Coach Poland played professionally in Finland and Sweden before a career-ending injury transitioned him into coaching. He has since built FC Naples from the ground up — arriving with no equipment, no staff, and no signed players — and led the club to the playoffs in their inaugural USL League One season. This episode gave him the space to tell that story in full. 

How I Built This Sports Club is a podcast focused on the people and decisions behind sports organizations. For an audience of sports executives, coaches, and club builders, Coach Poland wasn’t just a guest — he was exactly the kind of voice they tune in to hear. 

What They Talked About 

Coach Poland covers a lot of ground in this episode — and it’s worth listening to from start to finish. A few highlights from the conversation: 

Building from zero. Poland describes signing on in May 2024 with preseason set to begin January 15th — without a ball, a cone, or a signed player. He walks through the challenge of building every process from scratch while simultaneously recruiting staff and players. 

Defying expectations in year one. FC Naples were predicted to finish 13th out of 14 teams. Instead, they went unbeaten in their first eight matches, became the first team in USL League One history to host and win a playoff match in an inaugural season, and reached the semifinals. 

Building a club that reflects the community. Poland explains how the club’s name, crest, and identity came directly from listening sessions with the Naples community — including design elements that reference the city’s hurricane-damaged pier. 

Leadership and player management. Poland shares how he approaches trust between coach and player, why he asks recruits to come prepared with questions, and how he thinks about getting the best out of players at different stages of their careers. 

“Leadership is delegation. And the problem is when things are challenging, the natural is to tighten your grip around it — and that’s usually the worst thing you can do,” said Poland. 

The club’s development identity. Poland talks about FC Naples’ goal of being a stepping stone club — developing younger players and moving them to higher levels — while also being competitive on the field. He points to the club’s striker from last season, who was sold to Tampa Bay Rowdies and started in USL Championship, as an example of that vision in action. 

 

Why This Placement Matters 

At C2 Communications, every media opportunity we secure has a clear goal behind it. This one was no exception — and the impact goes further than a single episode. 

A Niche Audience With National Reach. How I Built This Sports Club isn’t a general sports show. Its listeners are sports executives, club operators, and coaches who are actively in the business of building organizations. Placing Coach Poland in front of that audience positions FC Naples not just as a team to watch — but as a model worth studying. 

Every Appearance Builds the Blueprint. Authority isn’t built overnight. It’s built through a consistent, deliberate presence across trusted platforms — the kind that search engines index, AI tools surface, and industry peers reference. This episode adds another layer to Coach Poland’s digital footprint, making FC Naples easier to find and harder to ignore in professional soccer conversations happening online. 

One Episode, Many Assets. A podcast appearance doesn’t end when the recording stops. Clips, pull quotes, episode links, and show notes all become content the FC Naples team can deploy across social channels — extending the reach of a single conversation into weeks of meaningful engagement with fans, partners, and prospective players. 

This is PR with purpose — building visibility, credibility, and long-term authority one strategic placement at a time. 

A special thank you to the How I Built This Sports Club podcast team — their commitment to thoughtful, engaging conversations made this collaboration seamless. 

 

Work With C2 Communications 

Are you interested in doing a podcast media tour to build your authority blueprint? 

C2 Communications can help you craft the messaging and pitch your story to the right podcasts to move your business forward. Schedule a discovery call today. 

Learn more about how we help leaders turn their expertise into impact through our Public Impact program: 👉 https://www.c2-com.com/c2-public-impact-books-master-program 

 

Links and Resources: 

How I Built This Podcast:  

FC Naples: 

Coach Matt Poland: 

C2 Communications 

 

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