Front Office

Michael Hitchcock

Partner

Michael Hitchcock (Hitch), a prominent sports executive with a deep understanding of professional soccer through his 12+ year career in Major League Soccer and his leadership roles with MLS teams FC Dallas and LA Galaxy, will be a major asset to the Sidekicks' legacy moving forward.

Prior to joining the new passionate ownership group, Hitch launched his company PMI in November 2009 – a Texas-based sports management company with a consulting, management & technology division that works with professional sports teams, leagues, events, stadiums & facilities. With the goal of helping sports properties realize their business potential through the playbook management system, PMI provides a number of services and products to hand-selected clients.

Hitch is also the CEO of the Professional Futsal League (PFL) which launched in January 2015.

Show less

Donnie Nelson

Partner

One of the most respected minds in the NBA, Donnie Nelson is involved in every aspect of the Mavericks basketball operations. Nelson, who owns 22 years of NBA experience, came to Dallas on January 2, 1998 after three seasons as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. Nelson was instrumental in rebuilding a team that suffered a decade long playoff drought into a perennial playoff team and champion contender. Under Nelson, the Mavericks have won 66.0% of their games with three 60+ win seasons, including a franchise record 67 win season in 2007 which tied for the sixth best record in NBA history. The Mavericks are also one of just six NBA franchises to win 60 game or more three times in a five year span. During his tenure, the Mavericks have made the playoffs seven consecutive seasons, been to the Western Conference Finals twice, reached a franchise milestone in 2006 when they advanced to the NBA Finals, and won their first Division Title in 20 years in 2007.

Jesse Llamas

President

Emailjesse@dallassidekicks.com

Jesse Llamas was named President of the Dallas Sidekicks in June 2021. Vilkofsky got promoted from serving as the General Manager/Director of Operations. Before joining the Sidekicks organization, Llamas served as an Athletic Director for thirteen years.

Llamas was born and raised in California and grew up playing the beautiful game of soccer at the age of five. After playing ten years of club soccer in California, he moved to Guadalajara, Mexico where he pursued his dream of playing professional soccer. He played in the 3rd, 2nd, 1A and first division soccer for the Autonoma De Guadalajara Tecos for six years. He then returned to the USA to play in the USISL league for the El Paso Patriots from 2001-2003.

After the 2003 USISL season, Llamas was drafted by the Dallas Sidekicks and won Rookie Goalkeeper of the year in 2003. In 2003 Llamas decided to stay in Dallas and pursue his coaching career while obtaining several coaching licenses alongside Tatu, Kevin Smith, and Jason Kreis. In 2006, Llamas was a member of the biggest upset in US Open Cup history when Roma FC became the first amateur team to defeat MLS Side Chivas USA. Llamas saved Juan Francisco Palencia and Jesse Marsh’s PKs respectively for the win.

Llamas currently lives in Frisco, Texas with his wife Ellen and his two boys Christiano and Isaac

Show less

Jessie Vilkofsky

Director of Sales and Marketing

Emailjsky@dallassidekicks.com

Jessie Vilkofsky joins the Dallas Sidekicks organization as the Director of Operations. Vilkofsky comes with a wealth of experience in the soccer world both playing and coaching. Being a collegiate assistant coach for NCAA Division I and Division II programs, Vilkofsky has firsthand experience in how to successfully operate a team, lead people, and manage the day-to-day elements of an organization.

In addition to her coaching experience, Vilkofsky played her collegiate career at the NCAA Division II level, then for two years as a semi-professional player in the WPSL, as well as her most notable achievement which was playing professional soccer in Poland for Liga I KKP Bydgoszcz from 2018-2019. Taking her natural drive of hard work and optimism, Vilkofsky is ambitious to implement tactical strategy to help excel the Sidekicks organization.

Vilkofsky is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently in the United States Soccer Federation National C License Course for coaching. In her spare time, she loves to go to the gym, run outside, play pick up soccer, and read.

Show less

McKayla Malloy

Director of Social Media

Emailmckayla@dallassidekicks.com

McKayla Malloy was named Director of Social Media. Malloy started as an intern for the Sidekicks organization where she helped develop multiple areas of digital content as well as designing merchandise. She also helped grow social media presence for the organization across multiple platforms.

Malloy recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington. She holds several certifications for platform use and social media marketing which will be integrated into the growth model for the Sidekicks organization. Content creation, analyzing data and optimizing campaigns for our specific target market are only a few of the many areas Malloy will take on and help develop.

In addition to her expertise in social media and public relations, she also has a background in athletic training where she helped both her high school soccer and football teams.

Malloy was born and raised in Richardson, Texas, and in her spare time, she likes to obsess over Harry Styles, scroll on Tiktok, and watch Criminal Minds.

Show less

Arliss Alvarez

Community Relations Manager

Emailarliss@dallassidekicks.com

Arliss Alvarez is entering his second season with the Sales and Marketing team for the Sidekicks. Alvarez got promoted to Manager of Community Relations where he will be working directly with sales and marketing as well as helping reestablish community engagement.

Alvarez is no stranger to the professional soccer world where he worked as a coach, game day operations manager, and player/team operations specialist. Before he joined the Sidekicks, Alvarez was an intern for FC Dallas where he helped contribute to the development of operations for game day, oversaw community outreach, and assisted in logistics of team operations.

In addition to his extensive internship, he also was a part of the game day operations team for the University of Nebraska at Kearney and an Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach for 3 years. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer, workout and go fishing.

Show less

Nicolle Banachiewicz

Community Relations Manager

Emailnicolle@dallassidekicks.com

Nicolle Banachiewicz has joined the Sidekicks as a Community Relations Manager. Banachiewicz brings a lot of knowledge in customer relations, recruiting and marketing.

Banachiewicz has experience at Nike as a sales associate where she focused on providing proactive customer service, adapted brand stories to help optimize the retail setting, and drive sales. She also was a lead recruiter for sales and marketing at D1 Sports Training.

Show less