TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Super League announced on Wednesday that Carolina Ascent FC’s Philip Poole had been voted the USL Super League Coach of the Year as the manager led his side to a remarkable regular season, claiming the league’s inaugural Players’ Shield.
The 2024/25 USL Super League Awards were voted on by each club’s technical staff following the conclusion of the 2024/25 USL Super League regular season.
“There’s a lot of good coaches within our league,” Poole said. “I think you’re only as good as your players, your support staff, your organization. Coach of the Year is nice, but you don’t get that without a great team of people.”
Appointed as one of the first head coaches in Super League history, Poole guided Carolina to multiple records in the team’s dominant first season. Carolina hosted the league’s inaugural match and recorded the first win in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,553 fans at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Ascent also clinched the inaugural Players Shield, finishing at the top of the standings with 48 points and a 13-6-9 record.
Carolina started the season unbeaten through the first 11 matches, allowing the team to finish the regular season without ever dropping below the playoff line. The Ascent tied the record for most consecutive wins with six and set a league record for most consecutive clean sheets with five. Carolina’s 45 goals scored and 24 goals conceded were also both league bests.
Poole earned the award with 56 percent of the votes. Spokane Zephyr FC’s Jo Johnson finished second on 18 percent after leading Spokane to a remarkable spring campaign, finishing just shy of a postseason berth. Tampa Bay’s Denise Schilte-Brown and Dallas Trinity’s Pauline MacDonald tied for third on 13 percent as the teams finished second and third in the league, respectively.