Farewell, Coach Cruz

Photo Credit: Connor Cunningham

Two matches into the 2026 season, it has been announced that Coach Danny Cruz is departing the club to pursue a new opportunity in professional soccer. While there has yet to be any official announcement, he is rumored to be joining the Minnesota United staff in the MLS (where he played in 2016 during their NASL days).

Danny Cruz joined Louisville City in 2018 as an assistant to then–head coach John Hackworth. When Hackworth abruptly parted ways with the club in early 2021, Cruz filled the void as an interim before earning the full-time position later that season.

Given his success, it seemed likely that he would find an opportunity at the next level. Cruz, the back-to-back USL Championship Coach of the Year, leaves Louisville as LouCity’s longest-tenured and highest-winning manager, raising an Eastern Conference trophy in 2022 and the Players’ Shield in 2024 and 2025. His 2025 squad earned the most points per game in USL history (with the 2024 and 2022 squads not far behind). His tenure with LouCity ends with him having secured the highest regular-season win percentage and points per game of any coach since he took the reins in 2021.

Danny Cruz began his head coaching career in a unique fashion. He suddenly found himself inheriting the role after the unexpected departure of his mentor. This role also happened to be one of the more prestigious jobs, with the club being just a few years removed from back-to-back titles, a brand-new stadium, and a competitive roster. While 2021 largely involved working with the team he inherited, he began to make it his own in 2022.  It would have been easy to maintain the status quo; however, he took risks and began to build the team according to his vision. This clearly paid dividends, as his roster turnover and shift in playstyle took Louisville to the Finals. 2023 didn’t reach the same heights, but in the following seasons Cruz’s Louisville was a juggernaut. His work ethic and mentality were just as crucial to his success as the players and tactics. He helped maintain—and even raise—the already high standards at Louisville City.

Personally, I found him to be genuine and a terrific representative of our club and city. Early on, I felt he was easy to root for, and his actions over the years only made me more invested. He exuded passion and determination. Not once did I find myself questioning his effort. Coach Danny Cruz has certainly cemented his legacy as not only one of Louisville’s best, but one of the best in the USL. I’m excited to watch his career unfold, and I’m glad LouCity was part of his story. Thanks for everything, Danny.

As a lower-level club, the best talent will eventually get poached. This applies to the staff as well as the players. As they take their talents to the next level, it reflects positively on the club. When you have the reputation, determination, and resources of Louisville City, the gaps left by departures tend to take care of themselves. We don;t rebuild, we reload. Simon Bird and Paolo DelPiccolo will take over coaching duties and are more than capable of keeping the team performing at a high standard. Whoever ends up with the permanent head coaching position will have enormous shoes to fill.