Coach Josh Wolff was fired by Austin after missing the playoffs for the second straight year

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Coach Josh Wolff was fired by Austin on Sunday after the team failed to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs for the second straight year.

Wolff, a former striker and assistant coach for the U.S. men’s national team, was hired in 2019 shortly after MLS announced the club’s expansion, nearly two years before play began. He led Austin to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.

“As the first manager in club history, we would like to thank Josh for his role in the growth and development of our club,” majority owner and CEO Anthony Precourt said in a statement. “After two consecutive seasons without qualifying for the playoffs, we realize that a fresh start is needed next season under the leadership of a new coach.”

The team said Precourt and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell met with Wolff on Sunday morning to make the change.

Despite reaching the Western Conference finals in 2022, Austin has failed to make the playoffs in three of Wolff’s four years. He had a record of 45 wins, 30 draws and 60 losses in MLS regular season games.

Austin was eliminated from this season’s playoffs with Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy.

Wolff was the sixth MLS coach to be fired this season, following Nashville’s Gary Smith (June 16), Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda (June 3), Dallas’ Nico Estévez (June 9), San Jose’s Luchi Gonzalez (June 24). . June) and St. Louis’ Bradley Carnell (July 1).

“Our ambition on the pitch is to be one of the top performing clubs in MLS year after year,” said Borrell.

Austin has not announced an interim coach for its final game against Colorado on Oct. 19.

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