Photo by: Seth Seebaugh / Wake Forest Athletics
Cooper Flax Signs Homegrown Contract with New York City FC
12/22/2025 10:43:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Wake Forest captain and four-year starter recently capped off a stellar Demon Deacon career with First Team All-ACC honors.
NEW YORK -- Following a decorated Demon Deacon career that included 2025 First Team All-ACC honors and recently graduating with a Wake Forest degree in Communication, Cooper Flax has signed a Homegrown Contract with New York City FC, the club announced on Monday.
Flax becomes the 14th Demon Deacon to sign a Homegrown Contract under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 17th Homegrown Contract signing in program history. The 14 Homegrown signings since 2017 are also most in the country over the last nine years.
He is also the third Wake Forest men's soccer player to sign a Homegrown contract with NYCFC, joining Nico Benalcazar (2022) and former teammate Prince Amponsah (2025).
"Four years, countless memories, championships, lessons, relationships and a degree that means everything to me," Flax said. "Wake Forest gave me more than soccer, it gave me family, belief and a place that will always be home. I'm endlessly grateful for my teammates who became brothers, the coaches who pushed me to be better every day, the faculty and professors who invested in me beyond the field, the congregation and fans who showed up no matter what and everyone who made this journey unforgettable. Once a Deac, always a Deac."
Flax finished his senior season with nine goals and seven assists, totaling a team-high 25 points in 17 starts. The senior converted four-for-four on penalty kicks, notched two game-winning goals, and recorded at least one goal contribution in nine separate matches, including seven of the last nine.
"From the day we met Cooper, it was clear what his ultimate goals were — to earn a degree from Wake Forest and to play professional football," Muuss said. "To see him accomplish both makes me beam with pride and excitement for him. Cooper has meant so much to me, my family and this program. I know I speak for everyone when I say how proud we all are of him, and we wish him nothing but the very best as he begins his professional career."
He ranked top 10 in the ACC in the three major offensive categories, sitting third in total points, fourth in goals and seventh in assists.
The two-time All-American totaled 21 career goals, putting him in a tie for 18th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list with Geraint Davies (1986-89). He also moved into 20th all-time in career points with 59.
Flax helped Wake Forest to its fourth ACC Championship in 2024, leading the team with nine goals on the season and earning a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Wake Forest Homegrown Signings Under Muuss
Cooper Flax Career Honors
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American
● 2025 First Team All-ACC
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-South Region
● 2025 Midseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players - #55
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch
● 2025 Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Best XI - First Team
● 2025 Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players - #11
● 2024 United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-American
● 2024 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-South Region
● 2024 ACC All-Tournament Team Selection
● 2024 All-ACC Second-Team Selection
● 2024 TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players (No. 42)
● 2023-24 ACC Academic Honor Roll
● 2023 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
● 2022-23 ACC Academic Honor Roll
● 2022 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
● 2022 ACC All-Freshman Team Selection
● 2022 TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen (No. 44)
● 2021-22 ACC Academic Honor Roll
Flax becomes the 14th Demon Deacon to sign a Homegrown Contract under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 17th Homegrown Contract signing in program history. The 14 Homegrown signings since 2017 are also most in the country over the last nine years.
He is also the third Wake Forest men's soccer player to sign a Homegrown contract with NYCFC, joining Nico Benalcazar (2022) and former teammate Prince Amponsah (2025).
"Four years, countless memories, championships, lessons, relationships and a degree that means everything to me," Flax said. "Wake Forest gave me more than soccer, it gave me family, belief and a place that will always be home. I'm endlessly grateful for my teammates who became brothers, the coaches who pushed me to be better every day, the faculty and professors who invested in me beyond the field, the congregation and fans who showed up no matter what and everyone who made this journey unforgettable. Once a Deac, always a Deac."
Flax finished his senior season with nine goals and seven assists, totaling a team-high 25 points in 17 starts. The senior converted four-for-four on penalty kicks, notched two game-winning goals, and recorded at least one goal contribution in nine separate matches, including seven of the last nine.
"From the day we met Cooper, it was clear what his ultimate goals were — to earn a degree from Wake Forest and to play professional football," Muuss said. "To see him accomplish both makes me beam with pride and excitement for him. Cooper has meant so much to me, my family and this program. I know I speak for everyone when I say how proud we all are of him, and we wish him nothing but the very best as he begins his professional career."
He ranked top 10 in the ACC in the three major offensive categories, sitting third in total points, fourth in goals and seventh in assists.
The two-time All-American totaled 21 career goals, putting him in a tie for 18th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list with Geraint Davies (1986-89). He also moved into 20th all-time in career points with 59.
Flax helped Wake Forest to its fourth ACC Championship in 2024, leading the team with nine goals on the season and earning a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Wake Forest Homegrown Signings Under Muuss
- Cooper Flax, New York City FC (2026)
- Prince Amponsah, New York City FC (2025)
- Dylan Borso, Chicago Fire (2024)
- Roald Mitchell, New York Red Bulls (2024)
- Garrison Tubbs, Atlanta United (2023)
- Nico Benalcazar, New York City FC (2022)
- Machop Chol, Atlanta United (2021)
- Isaiah Parente, Columbus Crew (2021)
- Omir Fernandez, New York Red Bulls (2019)
- Sam Raben, Colorado Rapids (2019)
- Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Union (2018)
- Kevin Politz, New York Red Bulls (2018)
- Brandon Servania, FC Dallas (2018)
- Ian Harkes, D.C. United (2017)
Cooper Flax Career Honors
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American
● 2025 First Team All-ACC
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-South Region
● 2025 Midseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players - #55
● 2025 United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch
● 2025 Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Best XI - First Team
● 2025 Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players - #11
● 2024 United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-American
● 2024 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-South Region
● 2024 ACC All-Tournament Team Selection
● 2024 All-ACC Second-Team Selection
● 2024 TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players (No. 42)
● 2023-24 ACC Academic Honor Roll
● 2023 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
● 2022-23 ACC Academic Honor Roll
● 2022 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
● 2022 ACC All-Freshman Team Selection
● 2022 TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen (No. 44)
● 2021-22 ACC Academic Honor Roll
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
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