Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin gets two-year contract extension

The second longest tenured head coach in MLS is getting a two-year extension on his contract.

The Philadelphia Union announced Wednesday that Oreland, Pa. native Jim Curtin has had his contract extended through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

“Jim has undoubtedly proved himself to be one of the best coaches in the league,” said Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner in a news release. “Jim remains committed and passionate about winning trophies as well as the development of our young players. Under his coaching, the club has broken multiple records, won their first trophy, and has seen two young Homegrown players transfer to Europe and secure regular USMNT appearances. He is an intelligent leader who continues to strive for more and we are delighted to extend his contract.”

The all-time Union leader in total wins, regular season wins, playoff wins and matches coached for the Union, Curtin is the second longest tenured coach in the league behind Delran, N.J. native Peter Vermes. Vermes has coached Sporting Kansas City since 2009, which was Curtin’s final season as a player in MLS with Chivas USA.

Curtin was the 2020 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year after winning the team’s first trophy, the Supporters’ Shield. An MLS veteran after starring at Villanova, Curtin started with the club as an academy coach and took over as an interim head coach when John Hackworth was fired in 2014. He was signed to a two-year contract when Tanner took over as Sporting Director in 2019.