Riverhounds Notebook: It’s a time to savor. Also, now’s time to prepare for 2026 transition

While everyone involved in earning the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ first-ever League Title in the 26-year history of the club continue to cherish the moment and head into the offseason on a very high note, club officials, coaches and players will also be dealing with the reality of the business side of pro soccer in short order.

That accomplishment will be something that the franchise, the coaches, players involved and the Pittsburgh soccer fans will cherish forever.

After Saturday’s win, while club officials had some time to savor the team’s accomplishment, they also nad no choice but to start begin planning to transition and focus on the 2026 campaign.

Because of the team’s extended postseason run, the typical period of time shifting from the end of one season to the next, which under normal circumstances would be under tight time constraints, has been ramped up in the past week as important decisions will have to be made regarding the coaching situation and players with option year contracts hanging in the balance.

As soon as two days after clinching the title, the team began rounds of player exit interviews, as is the case when the season comes to an end, while the club has also been meeting to decide its leadership structure for the 2026 season.

Among the most pressing orders of business will include:

• What happens with Head Coach Bob Lilley? The club’s longtime gaffer was put on administrative leave less than 24 hours before the team’s third-to-last regular season match on October 10. Since that time, acting Head Coach Rob Vincent, working with the existing technical staff that included Jon Busch (goalkeeping coach), Kenardo Forbes (assistant) and Dan Visser (Sporting Director), guided the team to unprecedented heights.  We’ll dissect this a bit more below as there are a few different directions that this could go.
• There are a number of players who will have contracts expire and others who the club holds contract options for the 2026 season. See the list below as we bread down each player’s status.  Keep in mind, the club must made decisions on picking up contract options for players by November 30.

According to team officials, there are no announcements or press conferences planned for the remainder of this week. It appears any news regarding the coaching situation and players with team options who will be returning will be shared publicly sometime next week (on December 1 or shortly after).

Penguins Welcome, Celebrate Riverhounds Championship

Then, there’s the question about if there will be additional plans to celebrate the club’s monumental victory.

We may be learning more about this too — in the week to come.  UPDATE 12/1: The City of Pittsburgh will be celebrating the Riverhounds victory with an event on Thursday, December 4, at Noon, on Grant Street. 

In the meantime, Thanksgiving weekend kicked with a celebration of sorts at PPG Paints Arena.

On Wednesday night, at the Penguins game at PPG Paints Arena, the USL Championship Trophy was on display as multiple players and team officials were on hand, with Eric Dick and Robbie Mertz interview during the SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcast.

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Laying out different paths club can take with Head Coach decision

Throughout the past seven weeks, Riverhounds club officials have been insistent that Bob Lilley is still the team’s Head Coach and Rob Vincent was the team’s acting coach as Lilley’s been on administrative leave.

For purposes of clarity, almost all business model definitions of an acting manager vs interim manager are broken down in these basic terms:

• acting management roles are temporary, usually short-term and focused on maintaining continuity in operations until a permanent replacement is found.  The acting manager is almost always selected from the current organization and team structure to maintain continuity.  This usually lasts for a period of a few weeks or months, depending on the situation
• interim roles are designed to bridge the gap until a permanent solution is in place, from a short-to-mid term basis to lead during a time of transition.  The duration can last up to a few months, or longer, depending on the organization’s needs. 

According to varying sources, Lilley’s most recent contract extension is to run through the end of the 2026 season, though after Lilley’s initial contract extension (announced in 2021, which ran through 2024), the club never formally or publicly announced an additional extension (unless we missed it).

By the above definition of acting (fill-in-the-blank for leadership position), Vincent’s tenure as acting coach is, in all likelihood, over, as the season has ended, rather ultra-successfully. **

(**An added note — that in doing some unofficial internet research — there not another case where an ‘acting coach’ won a major pro sports league Championship in the U.S.; however, numerous interim coaches have won championships, including here in Pittsburgh, in 2016, when Dan Bylsma took over the Pittsburgh Penguins at midseason and guided the Pens to the Stanley Cup. Other more famous interim Head Coaches who won championships included Pat Riley with the Miami Heat in 2005-06, Ty Lue, with Cleveland Caviliers in 2015-16 and lastly, Shannon Harris, who toook over Birmingham Stallions, in USFL, to win 2025 title)

In light of the team winning the USL Championship title, in all likelihood, the club is facing these current options when it comes to moving forward in its head coaching position:

• Lilley returns…   the clear-cut architect, who built a winning culture upon strong defensive principles and dictating terms of matches, who never has experienced a losing season or missed postseason in his eight-year tenure in Pittsburgh and in his entire, 20-plus year coaching career, is brought back for the final year of his contract, pending that the administrative leave has been handled within the organization.
• Lilley resigns or is let go…  after eight years, Lilley, who turns 60 next May and this season, was the oldest coach in the USL Championship, is let go by the organization, resigns to explore another opportunity or retires.  The club announces that they will undergo a formal search for a new head coach.  As the club undergoes search for a new head coach, Sporting Director Dan Visser assumes leadership and oversight for the coaching search and roster build for 2026 (and beyond).  While many will want Vincent to be considered for the Head Coach position, but it’s important to note, upon his hire to the first team as an assistant under Lilley, in 2024, Vincent’s highest coaching license obtained was USSF ‘B’ coaching license (*).
• Lilley remains with the Riverhounds in a different capacity…  it’s possible that the organization could attempt to try to maintain continuity while bring on a new coach to steer things forward. Among the roles that they could offer Lilley include Technical Director, Technical Advisor, General Manager or special advisor, while working closely with Visser to build roster and identify a new Head Coach who can continue to move the organization forward in the same, positive trajectory they’ve been going since Lilley’s arrival.

So, what will happen?

This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

This is probably harder to project than any Hounds starting lineup or predicting a match result.  It really does come down to why Lilley was placed on administrative leave to begin with — and without that knowledge — it’s hard to tell how the organization will handle.

If this is something that can be worked out, it would be fair and prudent to provide Lilley with a chance to either come back in his previous capacity or in a role that would continue to keep the organization’s on-field soccer product moving in a positive direction. After all, other than Tuffy Shallenberger, Lilley is the one person most responsible for the club’s success over the past eight years.

That being said, it would be hard to imagine Bob Lilley, who has operated successfully for the entirety of his career in a very hands-on manner when it comes to player procurement, roster building, managing the day-to-day operations of the team, in addition to his tactical and technical oversight, take such a role.

However, if there was a rift during the season that took place between Lilley and the players, which caused USL Players Association to get involved on behalf of the players, and/or something that transpired that left management with no choice but to investigate Lilley, it might be best for everyone to start fresh.  In that scenario, the ideal situation would suggest an amicable break, but that may be easier said than done.

More on USSF Coaching License

* When named assistant to the First Team in 2024, Vincent’s highest coaching license obtained was USSF ‘B’ coaching license.  Visser, who served as an assistant with the Riverhounds’ from 2016-2024, does hold an “A” Coaching License from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

There are now two licenses above ‘B’ that would be the target group for any USL Head Coaching hire: ‘A’ License or ‘Pro’ License.

According to U.S. Soccer, an ‘A’ License focuses on coaching a team at a high level, “in a high-performance senior team environment in a US based competition or coaching in a college environment.” It’s a 10-month course with three in-person meetings (4 days/3 nights), an average of two virtual meetings per week, one virtual meeting week (4 days @ 4-5 hours), independent learning and research, individual/small group workshops with coach educators, expert seminars on domain-specific topics, and a final assessment meeting. The differences are access to a college soccer or minor league club and an application submitted through US Soccer’s coaching portal. For what it’s worth, the A-Senior License costs $3,500.

The U.S. Soccer Federation, following the lead of UEFA, US Soccer adopted a Pro License. It’s now a requirement for MLS head coaches who don’t qualify for a waiver. US Soccer requires holders of the UEFA Pro License to take the USSF Pro License as well. To qualify to take the course, a coach must hold a US Soccer A License for at least one year and be actively coaching in MLS, NWSL, USL, MLS Next Pro, NISA, or on a US National Team staff for at least one year.

The course takes 12 months with three in-person meetings of 5 days each, two virtual meetings per month, two six-day onsite visits to the coach’s club by a USSF instructor, an international visit where possible, two developmental periods, and a final presentation and interview. For what it’s worth, the Pro License costs $10,000.

Riverhounds 2025 Roster by contract status and thoughts on each player

The team has to officially act by Sunday in making decisions on the players who they hold 2026 contract year options.

These decisions will likely have to be made by the current leadership group, led by Sporting Director Dan Visser and, if he’s still involved, Lilley.

In addition, many key players on the roster will have contracts expiring and will be free agents as of December 1, 2025.

According to Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s calculations at the end of preseason and from club’s in-season signing announcements and backed up by TransferMarkt.com, we have outlined the entire list of players from the team’s 2025 roster by contract status as of the end of this season along with some observations and relevant background on each player.

Players Under Contract for 2026

1. Junior Etou — MF — (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
2. Illal Osumanu — D –(re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
3. Charles Ahl –MF — (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
4. Brigham Larsen — F — (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)

While this is not exactly the core of the team, each of the four players who will be under contract in 2026 were key role players this season, including two starters during the playoff run (Etou and Ahl), while Osumanu and Larsen each were in the 18 throughout the postseason, both getting valuable playing time off the bench in playoff matches. Etou and Ahl were the team’s polar opposites in age, as Etou is the team’s oldest player (31), while Ahl was one of the youngest (23). In fact, the team included 10 different players who were 23 or younger this season. Larsen was the youngest (still 22) and is a very interesting case study to see how he progresses, as he made 16 appearances, more on the back half of the season, playing the lowest number of minutes (105) — yet was by far the team leader in shots on target per 90 minutes (2.9) and shots per 90 minutes (4.8). Osumanu got a late start in the preseason regarding getting into camp, then dealing with injuries/fitness, and never really found his way into a regular starting position on the backline he had in 2024. A big reason for this was how well Beto Ydrach, Guillaume Vacter and Sean Suber played this season.

Players Riverhounds hold contract options for 2026

If the Riverhounds bring back the majority of the nine players whom they hold contract options for 2026, they should be in pretty good shape.  This will provide the club with a decent nucleus of personnel who carried out the principles that made the team successful in 2025 to land a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and were well-equipped for the postseason.

1. Bertin Jacquesson — F — For most of 2025, Jacquesson, former Pitt standout, could never find the same form he had when he came to the Hounds at the end of 2024 on loan from Real Salt Lake, in part due to an early season injury, then battling to find a spot that could maximize his talents with the majority of his minutes as either Augi Williams’ replacement at target forward or as a winger with Robbie Mertz and Charles Ahl being the primary workhorses in that role. The question is, if the Hounds bring back Bertin, what will his role be with the club and can he flourish as an attacking threat we know he’s capable of being?
2. Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams — F — One of the USL Championship’s all-time leading goal scorers (85 goals), Williams’ work-rate in his first season in Pittsburgh was excellent, while he under-produced as far as scoring goals. The Sierra Leone native still provided a solid, reliable veteran presence on a team that focused mostly on playing with one high-line, target forward who took on multiple defenders and drew a lot of physical attention most of the season. With the Hounds holding his contract option, although it’s likely one of the most expensive contracts on the roster, it would likely be a wise investment to let the 27-year-old grow with this club in his second season.
3. Max Broughton — D — the former West Virginia All-American didn’t get a chance to crack into any regular time in 2026 — as the young backline proved to be a very competitive and talented group featuring an All-USL center back and two other rookies. That being said, Broughton was in the 18 for the last three postseason matches as the next man up when Guillaume Vacter was injured.  Bringing Broughton back could provide added continuity to the backline, especially if Sean Suber signs elsewhere.
4. Jorge Garcia — MF — Spent most of 2025 campaign making spot appearances off the bench. Showed some promise with a few highlight goals from distance.
5. Jason Bouregy — MF — like his fellow former Villanova teammate, spent much of the season coming off bench and in and out of the 18, though had a few starts at the beginning of the season.
6. Ben Martino — GK — for the sake of continuity, Martino, who has local roots, part of Hounds Academy and attending Allderdice High School before latching on with MLS Academies, can take a step forward to battle for more playing time if one or both keepers ahead of him on the depth chart this season, who have expiring contracts, are not brought back.
7. Chase Boone — F — a good, mid-to-late season addition to the attacking line. Have to wonder if he was brought in as temporary measure? The Hounds may opt to look to add younger depth on the attacking line.  However, if the Hounds feel that Boone, who converted one of the penalty kicks in the Final, is a reliable attacker off the bench and potentially a solid spot starter, they could bring him back.
8. Guillaume Vacter — D — looking at defensive metrics, Vacter a fantastic stopper, landing in the top percentile of some very important categories among center backs in the league (98th percentile in Aerial Duels / 92nd percentile in Chances Created) and landed highest on the team in FotMob player ratings (7.20), and landed USL Team of the Week honors three different times. This is no brainer to bring Gui back.
9. Beto Ydrach — D — a versatile player, one who immediately fit the mold of player that has thrived on Bob Lilley teams in recent years being very adept with ball at his feet, having exceptional vision who could play in the midfield but more than held his own as a defender, first in college (2024 Big East Defender of the Year at Akron) and now at the USL Championship level.  Same as Vacter — don’t waste a second in bringing Beto back.

Players With Expiring Contracts on November 30

If the majority of the nine players return to join the four players already under contract, that could put the Hounds with a group of anywhere from 10-13 players on the roster as of December 1.

The midfield is the positional area that hangs by the balance heading into the offseason.

Danny Griffin and Robbie Mertz are two organizational pillars, and it would be very difficult to imagine this team moving forward even without one of them.  In 2021, Mertz went separate ways (to Atlanta United FC 2) in 2021 but came back halfway through 2022.  Griffin tested the MLS Next Pro waters in 2023 but came back two months into that season.

In each postseason during the Bob Lilley era, players who have completed All-USL level play or comparable, who have expired contracts have always signed elsewhere.

If the Hounds bring back Sean Suber and Eric Dick, the two players who earned All-USL First Team status in the past two season, they will show that they are willing to step into a new zone as far as roster retention.

This hasn’t been their business model.  Even without Lilley in the picture, Visser will likely stick to the same plan.

Therefore, it should not be a surprise that Sean Suber and Eric Dick could very well sign elsewhere. However there are a few wild cards in all of this.

First, the Hounds just won the league title. They could look to make a stronger push to bring back two of the team’s most valuable players from the Championship squad.

Second, the USL Championship’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the USL Players Association expires on December 31.  Both side do not appear to be anywhere close in terms of negotiations. Mertz has been an active member of the USLPA — so it will be interesting to see if Mertz and some of the veteran players hold out until a new CBA is in place before signing any new contracts.  In an exclusive interview with Pittsburgh Soccer Now, Players Association Executive Director Connor Tobin shared that this may not be a factor and teams will still go about their business in signing players.  Still, it will be interesting to see how that affects free agent signings in December — particularly USL veterans like Mertz, Griffin and Dick.

Lilley and Visser have done wonders building around a young core and letting higher priced players go when their contracts are expired, while working around what — according to Transfermrkt.com rates as the roster with the lowest market value in the USL Championship.

1. Danny Griffin — MF / Captain — one of the club’s cornerstones of the past five years. Griffin, a New England native, has been equal parts leader, ironman and a player who helped carry torch passed along from Kenardo Forbes in terms of executing principles of Lilleyball and provided exceptional leadership during could have been calamitous situation with Lilley being put on administrative leave.
2. Robbie Mertz — MF — even before this season and the recent remarkable postseason run which Mertz scored what may be difficult to find a bigger goal in the history of the club, the Upper Saint Clair native’s place in club history has already well-established. The question is, how much longer will the 28-year-old want to keep playing? He certainly performed at a very high level in 2025, at the top of the league in chances created.
3. Eric Dick — GK — In the Bob Lilley-era, have never re-signed a goalkeeper beyond picking up an option year on a contract. As postseason MVP and the League’s Gold Glove winner, even at age 31, Dick may draw interest from various suitors as it may be very difficult for the Riverhounds to resign him.
4. Jackson Walti — MF — up until an injury in August, the former Pitt captain was having an outstanding season in his second year with the club and his third season as a professional. Usually thriving as a deep, holding midfielder, Walti grew into his role in the Riverhounds’ system. If the Hounds re-sign Walti and bring back Jacquesson, they’ll keep its Pitt pipeline intact, and who knows, maybe pick up another former talented Panther or two?
5. Luke Biasi — MF / D — has spent all four pro seasons in Pittsburgh, becoming a valuable part of the team’s core group while being an extremely versatile contributor, who can be a strong presence on the wing but also stepped into center back line when needed (and he was needed there in the final two matches of the postseason).
6. Sean Suber — D — the team’s lone All-USL selection in 2025 (All-USL First Team), who much like Dick, will generate a lot of attention on the market as a free agent — so the Hounds may have a difficult time re-signing to a contract within their means.
7. Bradley Sample — MF — much like Walti, emerged as a solid contributor in the central midfield.  May also look to explore other options, as he blossomed in the central midfield pairing with Griffin, especially becoming better with his two-way play.
8. Aidan O’Toole — MF — came into the season expecting to have a bigger role, then succumbed to knee injury.  May have to work his way back into a USL roster next season.
9. Jacob Randolph — GK — two seasons as the primary back-up behind Dick and under the tutelage of Jon Busch certainly provided the young keeper with an excellent opportunity as an understudy.

Academy Contract 

1. Pablo Linzoain — M, F — (USL Academy Contract) — After starting with the first-team in 2024 under Academy Contract, the former Fox Chapel High School product transitioned to playing in College where he played 11 matches (four starts) at Davidson University.  It will be interesting to see if any current or prospective Academy players will be added to next year’s roster.

And there you have it.

Sometime early next week, we will learn what direction the club will be heading in 2026.

Even after winning a championship, there’s still a lot of work that remains for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as they’ll head into a new season with a target on its back and a whole lot to prove all over again.