FC Cincinnati's Pat Noonan voted MLS Coach of the Year
If Pat Noonan's name wasn't already being mentioned among the best head coaches in Major League Soccer, it will be now.
Noonan, FC Cincinnati's second-year head coach, was voted the MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year, league officials revealed Tuesday. The award is the fourth of the postseason for an individual involved with FC Cincinnati's record-setting 2023 campaign and the second major honor.
FCC also claimed both the goal and save of the year, which is voted on by fans, and Matt Miazga was voted Defender of the Year.
In the year-end voting completed by players, MLS club officials, and select media members, Noonan accumulated 45% of the vote. St. Louis City SC's Bradley Carnell finished second with 27.78% while Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy finished a distant third place with 11.73%.
More than 41% of player votes went to Noonan compared against about 24% for Carnell. More than half of the participating club officials voted for Noonan (56.1%).
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It was among media members where Carnell's case resonated the most. Carnell edged Noonan (37.57%) in the media vote with 39.88% after expansion side St. Louis topped the Western Conference by the end of the regular season.
But it was dominance over both conferences and winning the Supporters' Shield that likely bolstered Noonan's campaign and lifted him to the honor in the end.
Noonan presided over a 20-win FC Cincinnati that became one of the most dominant Shield winners in MLS history via 69 points. Cincinnati clinched its Shield, along with a berth to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, on Sept. 30 and with three regular-season matches still to be played.
Noonan was hired by FC Cincinnati in December 2021, taking over a club that finished last in the league in three straight seasons. Noonan received a contract extension to remain at FCC before his second full season was completed.
Cincinnati reached the playoffs and won its first-ever MLS Cup playoff match during the 2022 campaign.
The Coach of the Year award has been presented each season in MLS history. In winning it, Noonan joins a club that includes his mentor, four-time winner Bruce Arena, his former head coach from his playing days at New England Revolution, Steve Nicol, current FC Cincinnati assistant coach Dominic Kinnear, and other big names from the league's history.
FC Cincinnati remains in the middle of its MLS Cup pursuit. It hosts the Philadelphia Union at TQL Stadium (8 p.m.) in an Eastern Conference semifinal.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati's Pat Noonan voted MLS Coach of the Year
