Paul Riley hopes to have the Courage vying for the NWSL title. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

Long Island resident Paul Riley reportedly will return to coach the North Carolina Courage in 2018.

Neil Morris of WRAL Sports Fan said the National Women’s Soccer League coach of the year will helm last season’s Supporters Shield champions.

North Carolina reached the NWSL final, losing to the Portland Thorns, 1-0.

Riley was out of contract after the 2017 season, after directing the Western New York Flash to the 2016 NWSL championship. The Flash moved to North Carolina prior to the 2017.

No terms of Riley’s contract were known, Morris said.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.