CHESTER, Pa. (July 11, 2023) – Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has signed Head Coach Jim Curtin to a new, multi-year contract extension. Under the new contract, the two-time MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year is guaranteed through 2026.
Currently in his 10th season as head coach, Curtin is the second longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer behind Peter Vermes. With 127 regular season wins, Curtin stands alongside Vermes, who holds the record with 189 wins with a single team.
“Jim is one of the top coaches in the league and we’re thrilled to have come to an agreement to extend his leadership with the Union,” said Philadelphia Union Principal Owner, Jay Sugarman. “We have set high goals for the club in the coming years and Jim is an essential part of achieving those goals. As we build towards the 2026 World Cup here in Philadelphia, Jim’s leadership is critical to the team’s success and I look forward to watching our players and this team continue to hit new milestones under his direction.”
“Jim continues to bring this team to new heights year after year, proving himself to be one of the most successful coaches in the league as a two-time Coach of the Year,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “His commitment and passion for winning, developing our young players, and steadfast loyalty to this club and city speak volumes to who he is as a coach and as a person. His continued leadership will prove to be crucial to our club strategy going forward.”
Curtin, who guided the team to an MLS Cup final appearance for the first time in club history, is the youngest two-time recipient (2020, 2022) of the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award, becoming the fifth coach overall in league history to win the award multiple times and the first Philadelphia-based head coach across the five major North American men’s professional sports leagues to twice win a Coach of the Year award in their respective sport. In 2022, Curtin set numerous single-season records with the club, including most wins (19), most goals scored (72), fewest goals conceded (26), and greatest goal differential (46). With a 12-5-0 record, the Union were the only team to remain unbeaten at home in 2022 and produced the second-best defensive season in MLS history with 0.76 goals conceded per game.
Curtin helped the club achieve first place in the Eastern Conference for the second time in three years, clinching a Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League berth for the second time in club history. He led his team to victories over Salvadorian side Alianza F.C. and Liga MX side Atlas F.C. to reach the SCCL semi-finals. Previously, Curtin took the Union to the US Open Cup final in 2014, 2015, and 2018, semi-finals of the MLS Is Back Tournament in 2020, and made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons. Curtin achieved his 100th regular season career win as head coach after the Union’s win over the San Jose Earthquakes on March 12, 2022, achieving it in under 250 matches to become the second youngest and 10th coach overall in league history to do so.
Curtin is the all-time Union leader in total wins, regular season wins, playoff wins, and matches coached for the Union.
Jim Curtin’s Coaching Achievements:
- Philadelphia Union U.S. Open Cup Runner-up – 2014, 2015, 2018
- MLS is Back Tournament semifinalist - 2020
- Supporters’ Shield Champions – 2020
- Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year – 2020, 2022
- Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League berth – 2020, 2022
- Best season in Union history (points, wins, goals, assists, goal differential, fewest goals conceded) – 2022
- MLS Cup final appearance – 2022
- Top seed in Eastern Conference – 2020, 2022
Jim Curtin's Playing Achievements:
- Named: Big East Rookie of the Year (Villanova, 1997)
- Three-time team MVP (Villanova)
- First team All-Big East Selection (Villanova, 1999 &2000)
- MLS All Star (Chicago Fire, 2004)
- Chicago Fire Defender of the Year (2004)
