USL’s Phoenix Rising is undergoing significant changes in its coaching staff.
Just as the team is gearing up for the defense of the title it secured in 2023, a historic achievement in the USL Championship. Two impactful pieces of news have stirred the local scene, involving the departure of a veteran player and the exit of Head Coach Juan Guerra.
Darnell King, Veteran of the Team, Transitions to Rising’s Coaching Staff
Darnell King, the team’s defender and captain, an iconic figure of the Phoenix Rising FC, announced his transition to a coaching role for the 2024 season. At 33, King reflected on his 12 years of playing and the memorable moments he shared with his teammates. Despite starting with only two appearances in the first 16 games of 2023, his last season saw a remarkable turnaround.
King found his form throughout the season, leading the team in the final 17 matches and contributing to the impressive record of 9W-5D-4L that culminated in winning the USL Championship. His statistics were noteworthy, with 33 goals scored and only 21 conceded in his last 17 matches, including four clean sheets. Phoenix Rising FC President, Bobby Dulle, highlighted King’s dedication on the field and identified him as the ideal candidate to assume an assistant coach role within the team.
Phoenix Rising’s Head Coach Position Open for Applications
SOURCES: Phoenix Rising head coach Juan Guerra is being linked to a vacant assistant coach role at Houston Dynamo.
Brendan Burke left that role with Dynamo this offseason to become head coach and GM of Hartford Athletic.
— Owain Evans (@ojevans18) January 5, 2024
In another significant change, Head Coach Juan Guerra has accepted a position with the Houston Dynamo from Major League Soccer (MLS). Guerra, who took charge in August 2022, played a vital role in rebuilding the team, leading to the 2023 trophy.
Guerra, like others, viewed the opportunity as part of the necessary growth and development in his career and will now be part of Ben Olson’s coaching staff at the Houston Dynamo. President Dulle acknowledged Guerra’s contribution to achieving the coveted title, respecting his decision to pursue a new opportunity in the MLS franchise.
Juan Guerra, initially an assistant coach in 2021, assumed the head coaching role in 2022 and crafted a winning team. He guided Phoenix Rising FC to the top of the Pacific Division in his first season, leading the USL Championship in goals scored. After a brief stint as head coach with the Oakland Roots SC, Guerra returned to Rising and reached the pinnacle with the 2023 title.
With these changes in the coaching staff, Phoenix Rising FC faces a title-defense season with a renewed perspective but many questions. Darnell King brings his on-field experience to the coaching staff, while Juan Guerra ventures into new challenges in the country’s main league as an assistant. Rising fans now eagerly await to discover who will lead Phoenix Rising FC in 2024 and continue etching their name in the history of Arizona soccer.
