Nashville SC hires Brian Callaghan as new head coach
Callaghan replaces Gary Smith, who was fired in May after posting a 3-4-5 start in his seventh season.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Nashville Soccer Club announced Wednesday it has hired recent U.S. National Team assistant head coach B.J. Callaghan as its next head coach.
Callaghan will officially join the club on July 22, ahead of Leagues Cup 2024 and Nashville SC’s match against Mazatlán F.C. on July 31 at GEODIS Park, according to the team’s media release. He replaces Gary Smith, the Nashville SC’s first and only head coach in franchise history until his departure.
Smith was fired in May after posting a 3-4-5 start in his seventh season.
“We are so excited to usher in this new era for Nashville Soccer Club with B.J. as our head coach,” Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs in the media release. “B.J. has a tremendous amount of experience that spans all levels of soccer at the highest levels of the game and has excelled throughout the MLS ecosystem. He is an exceptional leader who gets the most out of the players and teams that he has coached and brings a hard-working and relentless mentality to our club. B.J. is ready for this opportunity to continue to build and develop a winning culture and is the right person to drive our club’s ambition for success.”
Callaghan’s time with U.S. Soccer began in 2019 as a strategy analyst before being promoted to assistant coach that same year, according to the media release. Since his appointment, U.S. Soccer has seen success, including reaching the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ with Nashville SC defenders Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman on the roster. He’s also familiar with Nashville SC players Tyler Boyd and Dan Lovitz.
“Taking the head coach position at Nashville SC is an incredible opportunity and an exciting next step in my career,” Callaghan said in the release. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gregg Berhalter for his mentorship and support throughout my time with the U.S. Men’s National Team. The experience I’ve gained here has been invaluable, and I’m deeply appreciative of the relationships and memories made along the way.
He continued: “While I am thrilled to embark on this new journey, it is bittersweet to leave a team and staff that I believe in so deeply. I have full confidence in the exceptional coaching staff we have in place and know the team is in great hands. As we approach the 2026 World Cup, I’ll be cheering on the team every step of the way. Thank you to everyone at U.S. Soccer for the support and camaraderie – it has truly been an honor.”
Rumba Munthali will remain the interim head coach for the team until Callaghan joins the squad in July.
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