Portland Hearts Of Pine Announce First Head Coach In Soccer Club’s History

Portland Hearts of Pine on Thursday announced its first head coach ahead of its debut in USL League One.

Bobby Murphy will serve as the soccer club’s first head coach, and he’ll also serve as Hearts’ sporting director.

“I am honored to be Hearts of Pine’s first head coach. My mission is to build an expansion club and culture that values winning equally on and off the field,” Murphy said in a press release. “We have an incredible opportunity to not only build a competitive team right here in Portland, but also create something meaningful that reflects the diverse communities of Maine.”

Murphy joins Portland after a two-year stint with St. Louis CITY2, the MLS NEXT Pro team for St. Louis City SC. He guided it to the semifinals in the 2024 season after achieving the second-best record out of 29 teams.

The former Maine resident coached at multiple levels of the United States soccer system. He was an assistant at Orlando City and served as interim head coach with 2007 Ballon d’Or and 2002 FIFA World Cup winner Kaká. He served as an assistant coach for USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC, and Murphy has experience in USL League One as an assistant coach for Union Omaha, which won the title in 2021.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bobby Murphy to the club,” Hearts of Pine founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson said in a press release. “Bobby’s passion for developing and mentoring players, paired with his strong desire to win and exceptional leadership style, make him the perfect head coach to build our team from the ground up. We are building something special here in Maine, and Bobby will help us create a team that not only competes at a high level but also embodies leading with your heart.”

Portland begins full practice in January ahead of its debut in the 2025 USL League One season. Hearts of Pine will play at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The inaugural jersey reveal will be held next week at the State Theatre in Portland, Maine.