Paul Riley will not be back with Portland Thorns FC in 2016. The former WPS Coach of the Year was brought in after the Thorns won the inaugural NWSL title in2013, but they only managed to go 16-17-11 in the two seasons with Riley in charge.
Riley led the club to one playoff appearance following the 2014 season. In 2015, the Thornswere 6-9-5, finishing in sixth place and missing the playoffs. Portland, which set an NWSL attendance record with 15,639 fans per game in 2015, will host the league final between Seattle and FC KansasCity on Oct. 1. Between injuries and national team commitments, the Thorns were without superstar Alex Morgan most of the season.
“Thanks to everyone at the Thornsfor the amazing opportunity and to the fans who truly make Portland Soccer City, USA,” Riley said in a statement.
Riley made a name for himself in the women’s game as thecoach of the Albertson Fury program on Long Island. He was also the coach of the Long Island Fury and New York Fury of the WPSL between a stint with the Philadelphia Independence, which he tookto the 2011 WPS championship game.
Portland is the second club to make a coaching change after no moves were made during the 2014 and 2015 seasons and in the offseason.