North Carolina Courage fire head coach Sean Nahas, cite 'multitude of factors'

The North Carolina Courage fired coach Sean Nahas "effective immediately," the team announced both via social media and in a statement on Wednesday. 

The Courage have made it to playoffs three out of four years since Nahas took over as head coach, but never advanced past the first round. Currently, the Courage are below the NWSL playoff line with a 5-4-5  record. 

“In situations like this, there’s always a multitude of factors that are considered," Dr. Ceri Bowley, chief soccer officer and sporting director, said on Thursday. “And a multitude of factors were considered in this situation. The standards of this club are extremely high. It was felt that there were reasons to make a change to uphold the standards we expect of the North Carolina Courage.”

Nahas was hired in 2021 following the termination of long-time North Carolina head coach Paul Riley. Nahas took over as interim head coach in the fall of 2021 and then became head coach in 2022.

No replacement or interim hire has been announced.

Nahas led the Courage to two NWSL Challenge Cup wins and playoff runs over the past two years.

Nahas has strong ties to the North Carolina area, with his involvement in the Courage academy and his brother taking over as head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.