Louisville City FC and Danny Cruz — one of the nation’s top young soccer managers — have agreed to terms on a contract extension running through 2025, it was announced Thursday.
The 33-year-old Cruz is entering his third season in charge of LouCity, which won the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference title in 2022 after a record-breaking campaign. The boys in purple set new single-season club marks for points earned (72) and wins (22).
“I am extremely grateful to John Neace, Chris Harding and our entire ownership group along with our president, James O’Connor, for the opportunity to extend my time here,” Cruz said. “I have said this numerous times in the past, but I don’t ever take for granted the opportunity that has been given to me. I take so much pride in managing this group of men and thank my wife, Brittany, and son, Santi, for supporting me on this journey.
“Louisville City FC is a club constantly looking to support us. I have a president that provides guidance to be the best I can be. I have a staff that is committed to pushing ourselves for greatness. I have players that fight for one another and share the values that we want this club to reflect. We also have a fan base that, when down two goals with 10 minutes left in a playoff game, does everything it can to propel our players forward. This is what our club is all about.
“I am the manager of a club that is synonymous with winning, and I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. I look forward to doing everything that I can to make 2023 a year to remember for this club and for this community.”
Cruz arrived to Louisville in 2018, then as the top assistant to John Hackworth, and took over interim head coaching duties one game into the 2021 season. LouCity moved to make Cruz its permanent head coach later that year.
The boys in purple are 39-13-13 under Cruz’s direction, averaging a stellar two points per game earned. To close last season, Cruz became the youngest head coach to oversee a squad in the USL Championship Final.
“Danny is a proven winner, and we are thrilled by this extension and his commitment to LouCity,” said Neace, the club’s chairman and CEO. “We look forward to adding to the trophy case in coming years with Danny at the helm. Both Danny and we believe records are made to be broken, and we’re excited to see him continue to raise the bar.”
From Petersburg, Virginia, Cruz attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before launching a nine-year professional career played mostly at the Major League Soccer level. Cruz retired from playing while with the USL Championship’s Real Monarchs SLC in 2017 and in 2018 shifted to that club’s coaching staff before his LouCity tenure.
LouCity is preparing for a March 11 opener to its USL Championship season. The boys in purple play their first home game March 25, hosting El Paso Locomotive FC.
Season, single game and group tickets are on sale now by visiting LouCity.com/tickets or calling (502) LOU-CITY during regular business hours.
