Add an unique invisible sprite for each player in your start screen and make these global objects.
Store your settings for the player in the sprites variables, and use the sprite for each player to reference them in your game.
The global object will not get destroyed and will keep the information.
ie
Player1sprite.controller = 1
Player1sprite.name = player 1
Player2sprite.controller = 2
Player2sprite.name = player 2
etc