Phil Wheddon - Assistant Coach and Director of Goalkeeping 

Phil Wheddon joined the Union's coaching staff prior to the 2020 season as the club's Director of Goalkeeping after spending one season as the goalkeeper coach for Philadelphia Union II. Before joining the organization, he was the Women’s Head Coach at Syracuse University.

Having worked in Major League Soccer and the Women’s United Soccer Association, Wheddon is the only goalkeeper coach in history to have coached for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams in a FIFA World Cup. In his career, he coached in three World Cups as well as bringing home two Olympic gold medals.

Wheddon has been instrumental in goalkeeping education throughout the country for the past decade and is a U.S. Soccer Instructor. A highly respected and sought after coach and educator, he was involved in training some of the nation’s top goalkeepers including Tim Howard, Kasey Keller, Hope Solo and Brianna Scurry. Wheddon also serves as the director of the International Goalkeeper Coaches Conference held annually in Wilmington, DE and attended by goalkeeper coaches from all over the world.

In his inaugural year, Wheddon played a pivotal role in guiding the Union to a historic achievement by clinching their first trophy, winning the 2020 Supporters' Shield. Under Wheddon's leadership, goalkeeper Andre Blake tallied eight clean sheets and secured his second MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.

In 2021, the Union conceded the second fewest goals in the Eastern Conference, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered 12 shutouts, the second most in his career. In the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, he made two crucial saves in the victory against Nashville SC, not letting a single shot make it past him in penalties. Blake was also a finalist for the 2021 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year award, having previously claimed the award in 2016 and 2020.

In 2022, Wheddon helped the team set numerous club and league records. The Union's defense produced the second-best defensive season in MLS history, conceding only 0.76 goals per game. With just 26 goals conceded, Wheddon contributed to the team setting a new MLS record for the fewest goals allowed in a single season. Goalkeeper Andre Blake registered a career-high 15 clean sheets, producing the most clean sheets in a single season in club history.

In 2023, Blake registered eight clean sheets and maintained a 1.06 GAA. He also became the first goalkeeper in club history to record an assist in an MLS regular-season match. Under Wheddon's leadership as the Director of Goalkeeping, the team has consistently reached the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs in three out of his four years, culminating in an MLS Cup final appearance for the first time in club history in 2022. Since 2020, Andre Blake has earned the following accolade/rewards under Wheddon: MLS is Back Tournament Golden Glove (2020), MLS is Back Tournament Best XI (2020), MLS All-Star (2021, 2022), MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (2020, 2022), and MLS Best XI (2020, 2022).