The 2017 FC Cincinnati season was the club's second season of existence, and their second in the United Soccer League (USL). It was FC Cincinnati's first season as a second-tier team in the U.S. soccer pyramid, as the United States Soccer Federation provisionally promoted the USL from Division III to Division II for the 2017 season. FC Cincinnati plays in the Eastern Division of USL.

Gregory Austin Berry is an American former soccer defender from Cincinnati, Ohio. After playing for the Louisville Cardinals in college, he was a first round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He signed with Chicago Fire, and was named MLS Rookie of the Year after his first season. He played another season with Chicago before he was traded to Philadelphia Union. After spending his second season with Philadelphia on loan to the South Korean club FC Anyang, Berry returned to his hometown to play for the newly formed club FC Cincinnati in the lower division United Soccer League. He served as FC Cincinnati's team captain for two seasons before retiring from his playing career and accepting a position as the club's strength and conditioning coach.