The Courage lost only once under Paul Riley’s guidance this season. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley was voted National Women’s Soccer League coach of the year, the league announced Wednesday.

Riley, 55, has guided his team to their second straight NWSL Shield with a 17-1-6 record. With a 3-0 win over Portland Thorns FC Saturday, he became the first coach to secure the Shield and the Championship Trophy in the same season. This is Riley’s second coach of the year award, after he led the Courage to the league’s best record in their first season in North Carolina last year.

Seattle Reign FC coach Vlatko Andonovski and Portland Thorns FC’s Mark Parsons were second and third in the voting, respectively.

2018 Coach of the Year Voting Results:

Coach

FANS

MEDIA

CLUB

PLAYER

TOTAL
Paul Riley

31.3%

50.0%

44.4%

41.9%

41.9%
Vlatko Andonovski

23.5%

28.4%

33.3%

43.4%

34.4%
Mark Parsons

45.2%

21.6%

22.2%

14.7%

23.7%

North Carolina’s 57 points on the season were 15 points more than any other team in the NWSL. The Courage set NWSL records for most wins (17), points (57), fewest losses (1), most goals scored (53), fewest goals allowed (17), goals against average (.71) and largest goal differential (+36). They also became the first team in NWSL history to go unbeaten on the road for an entire season.

Riley, a Bay Shore, N.Y. resident who is the director of football for the Albertson Soccer Club, became the second coach to win back-to-back coach of the year honors after fellow England native Laura Harvey won the award in 2014 and 2015 with the Seattle Reign FC.

Riley’s Courage played in their second straight NWSL championship last Saturday, September 22. His side pulled off a dominant 3-0 victory over Portland Thorns FC, capturing the club’s first NWSL Championship since the team relocated to North Carolina prior to the 2017 season.

List of NWSL Coaches of the Year:

YEAR       COACH                         CLUB
2013         Vlatko Andonovski        FC Kansas City
2014          Laura Harvey               Seattle Reign FC
2015          Laura Harvey                Seattle Reign FC
2016          Mark Parsons               Portland Thorns FC
2017          Paul Riley                      North Carolina Courage
2018          Paul Riley                     North Carolina Courage

The NWSL awards are voted on by club officials, players, media that cover the league on a consistent basis and fans