Heaps Out as Head Coach

By Brian O'Connell
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Updated: September 18, 2017

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

Jay Heaps has been relieved of his duties as Revolution head coach effective immediately the club announced on Tuesday.

The move comes days after a disastrous two-game road swing that included a 7-0 defeat at Atlanta United, the worst in club history. Heaps was in the midst of his sixth season at the helm.

Assistant Tom Soehn has been named interim coach in the wake of Heaps’ departure.

“Jay has done a great deal for the club over the years and had considerable achievements. I have great respect for him and wish him well in the next steps of his career,” said New England Revolution General Manager Michael Burns in a statement. “This decision has not been taken lightly, however, we need to do better than the results have shown from the last couple of seasons and this season left us convinced we need to go in a different direction.”

The Revolution are currently in eighth place with a 10-14-5 (35 points) record and have failed to win on the road this year (0-12-3).

Heaps, who played nine seasons in New England (2001-2009), took the coaching reins following the 2011 season, replacing longtime gaffer Steve Nicol.

“Jay gave the club his all as a player and coach, and we are thankful to him for all his passion and hard work,” said Brian Bilello, New England Revolution President in a statement. “We will always be grateful for his efforts in bringing us back to both an MLS Cup final and a U.S. Open Cup Final and wish nothing but the best for him moving forward.”

Heaps went 75-81-43 in nearly six seasons as New England’s coach. The club reached the MLS Cup final 2014, but was eliminated in the wild-card round the following year before missing the postseason in 2016.