DME Academy – Sarasota, which consists of a tri-venture ownership group including DME Academy, IOI Ventures & Antista Enterprises, has acquired Next Generation Soccer Academy out of Sarasota, Florida, effective immediately.

Next Generation Soccer Academy is a well-established and respected soccer club that has been providing high-quality training and development programs to youth soccer athletes. With this acquisition, DME Academy will expand its reach into the Sarasota area, offering unique and effective training programs to more young athletes looking to expand their competitive soccer path further.

“We’re excited to bring our training methodology, player pathways, winning culture, financial support, and passion for athlete development to the existing customers of Next Generation Soccer Academy. What Adam DeClerico, the founder of Next Generation Soccer Academy, and his team did in such a short period of time is inspiring. He disrupted the market and put a spotlight on an antiquated youth soccer model in our area. That said, we are only just getting started, and our goal of supporting passionate and committed players and their families is the true motivator for our team,” says Jared Antista, CEO of IOI Ventures and acting General Manager for DME Academy – Sarasota.

As DME takes over the operations of Next Generation Soccer Academy, the plan is to finish up the 22/23 season in accordance with the current plans that customers are expecting. DME’s history of success, established leadership, proven coaching methodology, unique player pathway opportunities, and strong industry network will be paired with the sports marketing and sales experience of IOI. This pairing with give young athletes more opportunities and support that many local clubs simply can’t offer. DME Academy – Sarasota will be hosting a series of in-person meetings, free training sessions, and virtual webinars for both current and interested players from Tampa Bay to Ft. Myers over the coming months. Discussion points during these meetings will include coaching details, style of play, leadership introductions, our commitment to proper communication with customers, league, tournament, and scrimmage details, and player development both on and off the field.

DeClerico expressed his excitement about the acquisition. He said, “DME represents all of the same standards that are part of the NextGen foundation. We are ecstatic for the future of the Academy and its athletes and know that DME can help take things to the next level -opening many doors for our athletes.”

DeClerico will move forward with a new venture, Linea (www.golinea.us). During his time running NextGen, he identified a huge gap in the youth sports software management space. “Linea is a SaaS company designed to streamline and improve the management of youth sports clubs, beginning with soccer. With the same startup concepts that made NextGen a success, we aim to revolutionize the youth sports industry and make it more accessible and efficient for everyone involved,” DeClerico added.

“There is a lot of work to be done. Our priorities are to the current customers of Next Generation Soccer Academy. Sharing our vision, answering questions, hearing their ideas, and discussing our approach to youth soccer & player development is priority number one for us,” says DME Academy Founder Dan Panaggio.

DME Academy is an elite, multi-sport training and educational institution designed for student-athletes who are looking to reach their ultimate potential, harness their strengths, and achieve their goals. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, our full-time academy offers a wide variety of programming, from our 6th-12th grade co-ed boarding school and post-grad programs to year-round camps, tournaments, team events, and collegiate and professional training. Already on the national stage in many sports, with the likes of IMG Academy and Montverde Academy, this brand is on the rise and impacting student-athletes from all over the world. Founded by brothers Mike and Dan Panaggio, DME has grown significantly over the past few years. With NBA coaching experience and a passion for helping student-athletes reach their goals- DME is living up to its tagline of “Igniting The Dream” for all.

IOI Ventures, which stands for Integrity Over Income, is a digital marketing and sales company focused on the youth sports industry. With a goal of helping SMBs beat larger companies through innovative marketing and lead generation efforts, they’ve quickly grown to 20 employees and helped dozens of sports companies including SMC Soccer Tournaments, Super Soccer Stars, Surf Soccer Club, DME Academy, International Development Academies, Challenger Sports, Under Armour Flag Football, and Black Bear Sports Group.