2023 MLS Coach of the Year finalists - ranked
- MLS year-end award finalists have been released
- Two coaches on the list were in their first season with new team
- All three finalists guided their teams to top-three finishes
The three finalists for the 2023 MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award were revealed, with the winner set to be announced during the playoffs.
It's no surprise to see that two of the finalists guided their teams to first-place finishes in their respective conferences, while the other finalist orchestrated a third-place finish in his first season with his new team.
With that being said, here's the finalists for the coach of the year award - ranked.
3. Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew)
After seeing what Wilfried Nancy did at CF Montreal, it's not really a surprise to see him do extremely well at Columbus Crew - except that he's done it in such a short amount of time.
In his first season with the Crew, Nancy has guided them to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, as they're set to host their first ever playoff game at Lower.com Field next week. Nancy also ensured the Crew played an expansive, entertaining brand of soccer that saw them score 67 goals - the most in the league.
Although other teams in the East are favorites to win MLS Cup, Columbus definitely have a case to make with Nancy at the helm.
2. Bradley Carnell (St Louis CITY)
What a first season in MLS for St Louis CITY and Bradley Carnell.
Few expected St Louis to burst onto the scene in which the manner they did, amassing 56 points and a first-place finish in the Western Conference table above the 2022 MLS Cup champions LAFC.
Carnell navigated the team through a difficult few weeks in the summer when they were without Eduard Lowen and Joao Klauss, but he worked his magic to keep them in a strong playoff position. With home field advantage, who knows how far St Louis could go in the postseason.
1. Pat Noonan (FC Cincinnati)
After clinching the Supporters' Shield title, the debate for the best coach of the 2023 season ceased to exist.
Pat Noonan's work in Cincinnati has been nothing short of phenomenal, as he's built off of the team's impressive 2022 season and taken it one step further where his side were the best in all of MLS across the regular season, a true mark of consistency and a good coach.
There will be pressure for his team to win MLS Cup given they're the first overall seed in the competition, and with Lucho Acosta in the form of his life, who's to say they couldn't?
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