Four months to the day when Loudoun United FC named former D.C. United player and United States U-17 coach Richie Williams its first head coach, now comes word from Steven Goff (which Black and Red United can independently confirm) that Ryan Martin will take the helm as Head Coach.
Martin has been with the organization since assuming the Academy Director role for D.C. in early 2017. Whether Martin will carry both positions or not remains to be seen, though this is not Martin’s first time in a coaching role. Before assuming his current position and that of U-16/U-17 Head Coach, he served as an assistant coach to John Harkes with FC Cincinnati in 2016 and before that, served as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 2007-2015. Loudoun has seen three D.C. United homegrown players signed in 2019 grace its roster thus far (Donovan Pines, Griffin Yow, Antonio Bustamante), with Academy players Jack Villatoro, Alexxon Saravia, Bryang Kayo and Kyle Davis all making their professional debuts in Loudoun’s first 9 games (2-4-3).
The move is expected to be made official when D.C. and the New England Revolution (where Williams is headed to join Bruce Arena’s staff) can decide on compensation for breaking Williams’ contract with D.C./Loudoun. Compensation is expected to be minimal (for reference, the Colorado Rapids received a first-round SuperDraft pick and allocation money when Oscar Pareja left to rejoin FC Dallas), and the announcement should come later this week, at latest ahead of Loudoun’s game Wednesday June 5, at Swope Park Rangers. Loudoun hosts Indy Eleven on June 15 at Audi Field.