Latest news with #RepublicFC
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark Briggs named head coach of Birmingham Legion FC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Birmingham Legion FC has found a new head coach. Mark Briggs was named Legion FC's head coach Wednesday. He replaces Tom Soehn, who was fired April 9. Briggs is only the second coach in the club's history. Briggs' coaching debut with the Legion will be Saturday, when the team faces the Tampa Bay Rowdies. From there, the team will come back home for a match against Rhode Island FC on May 14. 'I'm so grateful to Legion FC for giving me this opportunity,' Briggs said in a statement. ''In meeting with staff and ownership, I love the direction and I love the vision. It's a fantastic club that has top facilities. And then you look at the roster and you understand that there is a lot that can be achieved here. I look forward to building something here in Birmingham.' Briggs, who grew up outside Birmingham, England, was the head coach of Sacaramento Republic FC from 2019-24, where he took the club to the USL Championship playoffs four times and reached the Western Conference Final in 2023. In 2022, Republic FC qualified for the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In 170 games with Sacramento, Briggs' had a record of 74-49-47. Following the 2024 season, Briggs and the club mutually agreed to part ways. Before leading Republic FC, Briggs was the head coach of Real Monarchs from 2017-18, where he was named USL Coach of the Year during his first year with the team. 'We are thrilled to welcome Mark as the next head coach of Birmingham Legion FC,' Birmingham Legion FC CEO and Chief Soccer Officer Jay Heaps said in a statement. 'He is a proven winner with extensive USL experience and is known for building strong team culture, developing players and driving success on the pitch. We are excited about the future of Legion FC under Mark's direction.' WATCH: BWWB holds news conference opposing bill that would restructure board Since firing Soehn, Legion FC has gone 2-0-1, winning contests at Protective Stadium against El Paso Locomotive FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves FC. Eric Avila, who was serving as Birmingham interim head coach, is reassuming the first team assistant coach role. 'We want to create a culture where everybody who works for this football club plays an important role in our success,' Briggs said. 'It's about treating people the right way and making people feel special in what they do, then it's about implementing a vision that can be bought into.'I think coaching is the best job in the world and I'm grateful that this club believes in me. I want to repay that belief by creating a culture and getting results. We want to win games, so the importance to the details that allow you to win games have to be understood and valued.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sacramento Republic FC heads into new season with a new manager, same lofty goals
With a new ownership group in charge and construction of a downtown stadium underway, Sacramento Republic FC is banking on a fresh start. The club made bold offseason moves, headlined by the hiring of a new manager tasked with restoring championship glory and delivering Sacramento its first USL title since the team's electric debut season in 2014. Republic FC kicks off the new campaign Saturday night at Heart Health Park at Cal Expo where they host New Mexico United. Neill Collins takes the helm as the club's new manager, stepping in after Republic and Mark Briggs parted ways in November following a five-year run. 'I set higher expectations on myself than anyone else can,' Collins said after Friday's training session. 'We understand there's been success before in certain regards, but want to try and win somewhere down the line, so that's what we're all trying to achieve. And no one will put more on me than myself.' Republic FC has entered the last few seasons with championship expectations only to come up short. The team last season dealt with a slew of injuries and finished fifth in the Western Conference before falling in the first round of the playoffs. The year before, they had the West's best regular season record but lost in the semifinals. Not coming away with a second league championship factored heavily into the club electing not to bring Briggs back despite his popularity. With the Collins, Republic FC hopes his fresh perspective and pedigree will end the decade-long championship spell. 'His history of success in USL, combined with a steady demeanor and well-respected reputation, align with our pursuit of championship hardware,' team president and general manager Todd Dunivant said when the Scotsman was hired. Collins joins Republic FC after leading the Tampa Bay Rowdies to three straight Eastern Conference Finals, including advancing to the USL Finals in 2020 and 2021. Collins believes his team would have won the USL Championship over Phoenix Rising FC in 2020, but the game was canceled after players and staffers tested positive for COVID-19. A year later, Collins was named USL Coach of the Year when the Rowdies finished with the top record in the Eastern Conference. The Troon, Scotland, native came to Sacramento shortly after being hired by the Raith Rovers of the Scottish Championship League in September. He also coached Barnsley F.C., a League One team in South Yorkshire, England. Collins said he's excited to get to know Sacramento's avid fan base, which for years has been considered one of the best in USL. 'It's quite a huge advantage to have 10,000 fans that are passionate. And that's one thing that struck me,' Collins said. 'There are a lot of teams that have fans that support the team because they like to go to the games. Here, they really support the team and they're there win, lose or draw — through thick and thin because they're passionate about football.' On the field, Sacramento is bringing back mainstays such as Rodrigo Lopez, Russell Cicerone and Lee Desmond. They also have Da'Vion Kimbrough, the 15-year-old who became the youngest professional soccer player in U.S. history when he signed with Sacramento in 2023. It's believed he was the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract in any team sport. Kimbrough, a Vacaville native who worked through Republic FC's developmental academy, could see more time in 2025 after getting scarce minutes last season. But the team is working to manage expectations despite Kimbrough being one of the most talented teenagers in the country. 'He's just a kid, a really, really young kid,' Collins said. 'I just like the modesty that he's got. He's just a good player, simple as that. He's got some great traits, especially considering he's only 15 years old.'
