The following news release is via USL Communications.
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced that Louisville City FC’s Simon Bird has been voted the USL Championship Coach of the Month for October.
Bird earned the award after leading LouCity to an undefeated final month of the regular season that saw the club win the Prinx Tires USL Cup early in the month with a 1-0 victory against Hartford Athletic and surge into fourth place in the final Eastern Conference standings with three wins in the club’s final four outings.
LouCity became the first club in league history to have earned the USL Championship title, Players’ Shield and Prinx Tires USL Cup as Aiden McFadden’s goal secured victory in Hartford to open the month. Louisville conceded only once across its five outings across all competitions, posting a +8-goal differential.
“I’m really proud to have achieved the award because it means we are winning games at a really pivotal moment of the season,” said Bird. “It’s a reflection of the hard work and commitment to excellence that all the employees, the fans, the technical staff, and of course the players put into the organization.”
Bird was appointed interim Head Coach at LouCity early in the regular season following the departure of former manager Danny Cruz to join the coaching staff at Minnesota United FC. Weathering some ups and downs during the middle of the campaign, Bird’s squad is currently on an eight-game undefeated streak across all competitions as it heads into Saturday’s Eastern Conference Semifinal in the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs against Miami FC.
Bird earned the award with 48% of the ballot. Sacramento Republic FC’s Neill Collins finished second on 29% after leading his side to an undefeated month, with the side’s 13-game undefeated streak to conclude the regular season sending the side into second in the Western Conference.
The USL Championship’s Coach of the Month award is voted upon by the USL Championship National Media Panel and the USL Championship Technical Committee, with each group responsible for 50% of the overall vote.
