Jim Curtin

Jim Curtin (born June 23, 1979) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. He spent most of his playing career with the Chicago Fire.

Early life and education

Curtin grew up in Oreland, Pennsylvania and played high school soccer at Bishop McDevitt. He excelled in college soccer at Villanova University,<ref name=NovaProfile>Template:Cite web</ref> where he was named the Big East Rookie of the Year his freshman year and was named a first-team All-Big East selection in both his junior and senior seasons.Template:Citation needed

Playing career

Chicago Fire

File:Jim Curtin cropped.jpg

Curtin playing in the 2004 MLS All-Star Game, representing Chicago Fire

Following graduation, Curtin became the first Wildcat to be drafted by the MLS when he was selected by the Chicago Fire.<ref name=draft>Template:Cite web</ref> Perceptions that Curtin was not athletic enough to play professionally, and the relative obscurity of Villanova, led to Curtin not being drafted until the third round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Curtin made his professional debut against D.C. United at Soldier Field during the second week of the 2001 MLS season. Curtin was named to the starting line-up after starting tandem Diego Gutierrez and Andrew Lewis received straight red cards in the opening match against Columbus Crew.<ref name=FireRetire>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same season, the Fire sent Curtin on loan to the Milwaukee Rampage in three early-season games and for the USL A-League playoffs. His rookie year saw 12 starts and registering 1,194 minutes.<ref name=MLSstats>Template:Cite web</ref>

From his second season onward, Curtin would anchor a starting spot in the Fire's centerback tandem, started 22 games and played 2,121 minutes. Curtin started every game for the Fire in 2003, playing alongside Carlos Bocanegra and helped the team's defense compensate for Bocanegra's loss in 2004. He would go on to play in more than 200 games for the Fire, which included U.S. Open Cup championships in 2003 and 2006. He was also named 2004 MLS All-Star and the March of Dimes/Comcast Athlete of the Year in 2005.<ref name=NovaProfile/>

In 2014, while serving as head coach of the Philadelphia Union, Curtin was ceremonially retired as a Chicago Fire player.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Chivas USA

On February 7, 2008, one day after his daughter Ryan was born he was traded to Chivas USA for a conditional pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After two seasons in southern California, Curtin was waived by Chivas USA on January 26, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coaching career

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Curtin in 2013

Philadelphia Union

After departing Chivas, Curtin returned to the Philadelphia region and began working with the newly formed Philadelphia Union as a coach in the academy system in June 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2012, Curtin was named assistant coach for his hometown Philadelphia Union, under John Hackworth and alongside Brendan Burke and Rob Vartughian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 2014 season, Hackworth was fired after a run of poor results with Curtin being named interim coach during the team's search for a permanent replacement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Union saw a turnaround of form under Curtin, losing only 5 of the remaining 16 matches in the season and advanced to the U.S. Open Cup final, ultimately finishing runners-up to Seattle Sounders FC in extra time. This success was rewarded on November 7, 2014, the Philadelphia Union announced that Curtin would take the reins as the head coach; removing the "interim" title he had held previously.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The 2015 season still saw the Union struggle during the regular season but made a second consecutive appearance in the U.S. Open Cup final, losing this one to penalty kicks at home to Sporting Kansas City.

Near the end of the 2015 season, the Union fired Nick Sakiewicz as CEO and appoint Earnie Stewart as "Sporting Director" to work with Curtin and address the team's struggles. Initial improvements saw the Union returning to the post-season in 2016 for the first time since the 2011 season. During this season, with a win over rivals New York City FC on April 23, 2016, Curtin set a record five consecutive home wins as well as becoming the highest wins coach in Union history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Union were unable to build on their 2016 success, finishing with the same record but still missing the playoffs in 2017. Curtin was announced to retain his head coach position for the 2018 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ahead of the 2019 season, Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner, announced that Curtin would be retained for the upcoming season on a one-year extension.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By July of that season, the Union reach first place in the Eastern Conference and hitting the club's best start to a season. This success lead to the club announcing Curtin signed a two-year contract extension, to remain head coach through the 2021 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The 2020 season was the most successful to date for the Union and Curtin's coaching career. Despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union reached the semi-final of the MLS is Back Tournament and went on to won their first trophy finishing top of the league standings and earning the 2020 Supporters' Shield.<ref name=SS2020>Template:Cite news</ref> The team's performance over the season earned Curtin his first Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award.<ref name=CoTY2020>Template:Cite web</ref> Winning the Supporter's Shield earned the Union their debut in the CONCACAF Champions League, where the Union earned their first international win against Deportivo Saprissa; a victory that marked Curtin's 100th win as head coach of the club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 7, 2024, after a season in which the Union failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2017, it was announced that the club had parted ways with Curtin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coaching statistics

Coaching record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Philadelphia Union	Template:Flagicon	June 10, 2014	November 7, 2024
Total

Honors

Player

Chicago Fire

• Supporters' Shield: 2003
• U.S. Open Cup: 2003, 2006

Coach

Philadelphia Union

• Supporters' Shield: 2020<ref name="SS2020" />
• MLS Cup runner-up: 2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• U.S. Open Cup runner-up: 2014, 2015, 2018

Individual

• Big East Rookie of the Year: 1997<ref name=NovaProfile/>
• All-Big East Selection: 1999, 2000<ref name=NovaProfile/>
• Philadelphia Soccer Seven Player of the Year: 2000<ref name=NovaProfile/>
• MLS All-Star: 2004
• Chicago Fire Defender of the Year: 2004<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Villanova University Hall of Fame: Class of 2017<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• MLS Coach of the Year: 2020,<ref name=CoTY2020/> 2022

External links

• MLS player profile