AUSTIN, Texas — On Sunday, Austin FC announced the club has fired head coach Josh Wolff, effective immediately. It comes after the team’s 2-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday and calls for Wolff to step down.
The club said the decision was made following an in-person meeting on Sunday morning between Wolff and Austin FC founder, majority owner and CEO Anthony Precourt, Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell.
“As the first manager in club history, we would like to extend our gratitude for Josh’s role in the growth and development of our club. It will always be appreciated,” Precourt said in a statement. “After back-to-back seasons without playoff qualification, we realize that a fresh start is required next season under the leadership of a new head coach.”
The club said an interim manager will serve as head coach for the team’s final 2024 regular season match and will be named soon.
Austin FC hired Wolff as the first head coach in club history on July 23, 2019.
During the team’s second season in 2022, Wolff led Austin FC to a second-place regular-season finish in the Western Conference with a record of 16-8-10, capped by playoff victories at home versus Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas.
After falling short of playoff qualification in 2021, 2023 and 2024, Wolff’s tenure with Austin FC concludes with a combined four-year record of 45 wins, 30 draws and 60 losses in MLS regular-season matches.
“As an organization, our on-field ambitions are to be among the highest performing clubs in MLS year-over-year,” said Borrell. “To do that, progression is essential, and looking forward, we’ll now immediately begin a search for a new manager who can help us translate our ambition into consistent, high-level performance.”
Borrell was announced as Austin FC’s sporting director in June 2023. He joined the team after working with some of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, including Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Verde and Black will close out the 2024 regular season at home against the Colorado Rapids at Q2 Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.