By Rob McLaughlin
As we get closer to the start of the season State of the Union will be looking to inform fellow Hearts fans of some interesting coaches and players in the USL1 and US Soccer who may make excellent additions to our matchday squad.
As we get closer and closer to the start of the 2025 season the prospect of our first head coach being named becomes more likely with each passing day. To date, expansion sides Naples, Westchester, and AV Alta have all named head coaches for the 2025 season. The State of the Union has researched and identified some coaching talent to watch as Hearts continue searching for a head coach.
The Locals:
USL League 2
Alex Ryan - Seacoast United Phantoms
The only coach on this list to have won hardware this summer, Alex Ryan has been the coach of USL2’s Seacoast United Phantoms of Portsmouth for 4 seasons and affiliated with Seacoast’s academy programs for several years. This summer Ryan, took his side to new heights by winning the USL2 national championship, beating out several notable local teams including the Western MA Pioneers and Vermont Green. In their final game to clinch the championship, Seacoast United took on Illinois side Peoria City and came out of extra time on top 3-2. In addition to the championship, Seacoast has been a constant playoff contender for last few seasons.
Concurrent to his time as head coach, Ryan has also served as general manager of Seacoast’s southern operation in NH and ran their MLS NEXT academy including their recruitment. Ryan is self-made at the academy having risen from being a sales and marketing coordinator to being a top coach of their academy teams. Match footage from a game against Lionsbridge FC showed Ryan deploying a 4-2-3 playing style. Ryan also played soccer for 4 years at Campbellsville University in Kentucky and holds a USSF A License.
United Soccer League
Blair Gavin - New England Revolution
Former MLS player, Blair Gavin currently serves under Caleb Porter at the New England Revolution as an assistant manager however, Gavin previously served as USLC coach of FC Tulsa. As a manager in 2023, Gavin struggled to make a dent in the table, racking up a 10-15-9 record. While this record may not appear impressive, New England did move forward to sign Gavin as an assistant coach, paying FC Tulsa an undisclosed amount for him to move to Foxborough. Before FC Tulsa, Gavin served the Columbus Crewand at Phoenix as an assistant and briefly as interim head coach in Phoenix. While serving at Phoenix, Gavin participated in the coaching staff of a juggernaut of a club with a 54-16-14 record. Gavin prefers a 4-2-3-1 playing style and holds a USSF A License.
Gavin’s contract with the Revs is set to expire at the end of December which would make him available for the beginning of Hearts' inaugural season. Given Gavin has tried his hand at skippering a club with mixed results, he may be interested in trying again in League One. If he is interested in staying in New England, Hearts would be an obvious move.
Marcelo Santos - New England Revolution II
Another name from the New England Revolution organization, Marcelo Santos has served as assistant coach for the New England Revs II since 2020. This past season he was elevated in title to associate head coach of the team. Before his work with Revs II, Santos coached their U-19 and U-17 sides and was an assistant coach at Marquette University for 10 years. Interestingly, Santos also has a background in scouting, serving as a network scout for the USSF looking at youth development for the national team. Santos did have 1 season of head coaching experience in the USL2 coaching Kokomo Mantis FC with a record of 4-6-4 in their inaugural and only season in the league. Santos prefers a 4-3-3 attacking style of play and holds a USSF A License.
It is unclear if Santos would desire to leave the New England Revs given his 6-year affiliation with the club but, like Blair Gavin, if he seeks to have more head coaching experience he may be interested in a move to Portland.
USL League One Veterans:
Mark McKeever - No Current Professional Club
While Scottish-born, 47-year-old Mark McKeever has coached the American game since 2006 mostly in the USL2 including the Des Moines Menace whom he led to the national championship in 2021. Before his time coaching, the Scotsman played professional soccer in his home country for Hamilton Academicals before coming to the United States for college where he continued to play in the NCAA and was drafted by former USL side Nashville Metros. Because of his success as a coach, McKeever was selected as the first head coach of USL2 side One Knoxville who rose to the USL1 last season. McKeever prefers a 3-4-3 style of play and holds a Scottish FA D License and an NSCAA license.
McKeever is available following his sacking by One Knoxville on August 15th which came about as the team has somewhat struggled offensively despite being firmly mid-table with a playoff berth. That said, McKeever has been surrounded by controversy before including an investigation into physical and verbal bullying stemming from an incident in October of 2023 in which McKeever berated players on several occasions and aggressively bumped into a player during halftime. Given McKeever’s long time of coaching in the United States, it may be possible he will be looking for a job here as opposed to returning to Scotland.
John Harkes - No Current Professional Club
A veteran player of the Premier League, the MLS, and the USMNT, John Harkes would be among the more high-profile names on this list. Not only has he appeared in 2 World Cups but he is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Following his retirement from play in 2002, Harkes spent time as a TV commentator before moving into coaching. Harkes spent 2 years as the gaffer of FC Cincinnati before becoming the first head coach of USL1’s Greenville Triumph, leading that team to the playoffs in each of his 5 years as coach. Known for his strong focus on defensive play, Greenville won the league under Harkes in 2020 in both the regular season and the playoffs. Harkes chose to not renew his contract with Greenville at the end of the 2023 season. He ended his time with Greenville with a 60-37-37 record. Harkes prefers a 4-4-2 style of play and holds a USSF Pro and USSF A license.
Since he parted with Greenville, Harkes has signed on as a Technical Director with McLean Youth Soccer, a non-profit soccer academy in Virginia. While this makes his availability or desire to return to professional soccer somewhat murky, his time at Greenville proves he can take a new club and bring it up to a competitive level quickly.
United Soccer League
Éamon Zayed - Northern Colorado Hailstorm
Irish-born Libyan international Éamon Zayed has been coach of Northern Colorado Hailstorm since 2021 leading the team to on-field success despite difficult conditions (more on that in a minute). As a player, Zayed played professionally in Ireland and the USL with stints spent in several other countries. He represented Libya, the birthplace of his father, and competed in the Africa Cup of Nations. Following his playing career, Zayed turned to coaching in the USL. Zayed led Northern Colorado to the semi-finals in the USL1 playoffs last year while also finishing third in the league. This year the team is holding steady in the middle of the table but has excelled in the Jägermeister Cup where they have clinched their group. Zayed prefers a 4-2-3-1 format for his teams and holds a UEFA Pro License.
Recall those difficult conditions I mentioned a moment ago. One of the reasons Zayed may soon be available comes from recent reports on stressful financial conditions in Northern Colorado. Local news outlets report their ownership has effectively stopped all work on their soccer-specific stadium and sports complex with some facilities woefully underdeveloped. Reportedly, no working bathrooms are on site and all fans and players must use portable toilets. KUNC, a Colorado-based radio station reported several days ago that the facility is facing $13 million in outstanding liens and ownership is facing $11.3 million in lawsuits. An unsubstantiated, but well spread, rumor is that the team’s ownership is in such deep financial straits that the USL has been paying player salaries instead of their ownership. If the team folds, the most likely scenario would be the league would release all players and technical staff as free agents just as they did last year when the San Diego Loyal folded. This could mean Eamon Zayed may not be the only person who may be trading the Rockies for Casco Bay (our oysters are substantially better).
Coaches on the Come-Up
Mark Ward – Greenville Triumph
Mark Ward has been involved in USL1 soccer for 4 seasons now including this last year as assistant coach at Greenville Triumph. Before his time at Greenville, Ward spent 3 years as Director of Coaching at Chattanooga Red Wolves Academy effectively running its whole operation. Before his time in the USL, Ward was an assistant men’s coach at the University of Alabama – Birmingham. Ward holds a USSF B License.
United Soccer League
Neil Hlavaty – Forward Madison
Hlavaty has become a perennial face at Forward Madison and has served as the assistant coach there since the founding of the club. Hlavaty was an accomplished player in his youth playing a season for Sparta Praha’s academy teams before joining Boston University where he played for 3 seasons. Hlavaty also played for the Minnesota Stars (now Minnesota United) in both USSF Div 2 and the NASL. He also spent time with NASL teams and USL2 side Myrtle Beach. Hlavaty has coached Madison on at least 1 occasion as head coach during the suspension of Dayrl Shore in 2019. Hlavaty holds a USSF B License.
Shalrie Joseph is available after the Arena debacle. Grenada thought enough of him to give him a shot at manager. Since then he hasn't had a chance to make a team his own. If he could instill his drive and fight into a starting 11, they would be tough as nails and hard to beat.
Another post-Arena option could be Clint Peay. He did a good job with Revs II in USL 1 before getting promoted to assistant for the first team. He may not be content to remain a sidekick to a new coach.
What do you think? Which one of these coaches do you think would be the right fit for Portland? Do you think we missed someone who should be considered?