Adrian Heath’s time as Minnesota United head coach has come to a frustrating ending.
The Loons parted ways with Heath on Friday ahead of this Saturday’s Western Conference showdown with the LA Galaxy, the club announced. Assistant Coach Sean McAuley will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023 MLS campaign, while assistant coach Ian Fuller and goalkeeping coach Stewart Kerr will remain in their current roles.
The Loons also parted ways with Technical Director Mark Watson after originally hiring him in 2017. He has moved into the Technical Director position following the 2019 MLS campaign.
“We are grateful to Adrian for his dedication to our club and for all that we have accomplished over the last seven seasons. This was a difficult decision, but we believe that the time is right to move in a new direction,” said MNUFC CEO, Shari Ballard.
“Whenever a club decides to make a coaching change, there is a tendency to focus only on the end of that coach’s tenure; however, the conclusion of Adrian’s time with MNUFC should not diminish his significant contributions to our club. His passion and hard work have been enormously impactful, and we thank him for all that he has done for MNUFC and for our community.”
Heath joined the Loons in November 2016, ahead of the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2017. In 2019, Heath led the Loons to their first MLS Cup Playoff appearance and the finals of the U.S. Open Cup.
He continued that success in 2020, with a semifinal appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament and a run to the Western Conference Finals. He compiled a 91-101-56 record in all competitions and led the Loons to the MLS Cup Playoffs four times.
The Loons sit 12th in the Western Conference with two matches left to play in the regular season.
McAuley is in his fifth season with Minnesota United, after two seasons as an assistant coach with Orlando City SC and six seasons with the Portland Timbers, The Englishman began his coaching career in 2006, where he spent seven years within Sheffield Wednesday’s academy.
Needed to happen. Heath was destroying their academy pipeline.
Can’t wait for IV to suggest they could get Mourinho.
Good MLS coach. Orlando City fans from the USL still remember!
Sean McAuley is a talented coach technically and developing talented players. He was a big part of Heaths success, which is not saying much. However, being part of Porters staff in Portland he was vital to the Timbers success. Really thought McAuley is worthy of an interview in Portland.
MinnieU’s success was really dependent on Reynoso health and mindset. Surprised more of his off field troubles did not get more press in the US?
Hope SBI doesn’t censor me?
As for Reynoso most SBI readers don’t care about MLS and even fewer about MinnUntd. Also kind of hard to tell what’s truth and not when events are occurring in SAmerica.