CARY, NC—The North Carolina Courage have fired former head coach Paul Riley following harrowing accusations of sexual coercion made by two players who played for the Portland Thorns during his coaching tenure in the Rose City.
Assistant coach Sean Nahas will assume head coaching duties for the Courage for the remainder of the 2021 NWSL season.
The allegations from former players Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim appeared in a blockbuster article in The Athletic on September 30, 2021.
The Portland Thorns fired Riley at the end of the 2015 season. In a statement posted to social media, the club stated they investigated the allegations against Riley and terminated him based on the findings. The Thorns said they turned over the findings of the investigation to the NWSL.
Despite the serious accusations against him, Riley was later hired by the Western New York Flash. The club was later purchased by Steve Malik and relocated to North Carolina.
Riley’s termination was announced by the Courage more than 24 hours after a scheduled pre-match press conference with the coach and players Carson Pickett and Meredith Speck was abruptly called off moments before it was scheduled to begin.
The North Carolina Courage have terminated Head Coach Paul Riley, effective immediately, in light of today’s reports of very serious allegations of misconduct. Sean Nahas has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season, effective today at training.
A further statement made on behalf of principal owner Steve Malik, players, and staff of the club read:
The NC Courage support the players who have come forward and we commend them for bravely sharing their stories. The North Carolina Football Club is united together in our commitment to creating a safe, positive, and respectful environment, not only within our club but across the league and our great sport. As previously stated, players and staff are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior in accordance with NWSL policy as we prioritize efforts to maintain the highest professional standards of conduct throughout our organization.
The Courage have made no further comment.
In a text message sent to Raleigh station WRAL TV reporter Chris Lovingood on Thursday, Riley said “I have to speak to the legal team but I def (sp) want to share my side. It needs to be heard. Right now I have no voice.”
The NWSL also issued a statement announcing Riley’s termination and US Soccer has suspended his coaching license.
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 30, 2021
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) September 30, 2021
The news was met with outrage from around the NWSL and women’s soccer. The NWSL Players Association released a blistering statement condemning the “systemic abuse plaguing the NWSL,”
SYSTEMIC ABUSE PLAGUING THE NWSL MUST NOT BE IGNORED pic.twitter.com/WlhcWW7R8m
— NWSLPA (@nwsl_players) September 30, 2021
The Uproar, the supporters’ group for the Courage, called on Riley to step down before news of his termination was made public.
We are shocked, heartbroken, disgusted and angry. The NWSL and our club leadership have broken the trust of fans. We stand with survivors. We stand with the @nwsl_players.
— The Uproar (@UproarNC) September 30, 2021
The news came as a shock to current Courage players, who have largely remained silent on the matter. Later Thursday afternoon, forward and USWNT players Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis issued statements on social media
— Lynn Williams (@lynnraenie) September 30, 2021
— Samantha Mewis (@sammymewy) September 30, 2021
North Carolina is taking on the Washington Spirit Friday evening in Cary, NC.
NWSL
North Carolina Courage
