Former Union coach Brendan Burke leads Hartford Athletic to first trophy

Former Philadelphia Union assistant and Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke led his Hartford Athletic side to a league cup title with a win over Sacramento Republic, capturing the club’s first trophy in the USL Jägermeister Cup final in Sacramento on Saturday night.

Burke is in his second year as head coach of the USL Championship squad. He was previously an assistant coach with the Houston Dynamo after leading Colorado Springs Switchbacks for two seasons. A former Reading United standout and coach, Burke was an assistant on John Hackworth from 2011-2013 and returned to the organization as Steel FC head coach from 2015-2019.

“It changes the club,” Burke was quoted saying in the USL Rondo newsletter. “You know, anytime you add silverware, and especially when it’s your first piece, that’s a special night. That was a special year for us, a special run. We still have a lot of work to do. That’s how we feel in the locker room, but we’ll certainly celebrate tonight and enjoy each other’s company there.”

Former Philadelphia Union and Steel attacker Michee Ngalina started in the cup final. Blue Bell, Pa. native Joe Farrell subbed in for Ngalina in the 90th minute to close out the 1-0 win. Former Philadelphia Union striker Aaron Wheeler is an assistant coach under Burke.

The USL Cup began in 2024 as a League One competition but brought in USL Championship sides for the first time in its second edition this year.

Burke isn’t the first from the Philadelphia Union coaching tree to win a major trophy in USL. Former Bethlehem Steel captain James Chambers won the USL Championship last season in his first season as head coach of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.