Jeffries becomes the first coach in Independence history to win the award
CHARLOTTE, NC (November 11, 2026) – USL League One announced today that Charlotte Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries has been named the 2026 Coach of the Year.
In his 12th season at the helm of the Independence, Jeffries becomes the first coach in club history to earn Coach of the Year honors. He won the award over fellow finalists Vincenzo Candela of Union Omaha and Nate Miller of AC Boise.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Jeffries. “I want to thank my staff. Dave Carton and Gabriel Obertan are indispensable and challenge me every day to find ways to make us better. In addition, props to our trainer, Lindsay Jones, for her tireless efforts in keeping guys on the field, and to our equipment managers, Zavier Desrosiers and Nick Jones, for ensuring the day-to-day operations run without any hitches.”
“Most importantly, thanks to the players. Their energy, competitiveness, and positivity have made the season a joy and are the reasons for our success.”
Jeffries guided the Jacks to a historic 2026 campaign, securing the first Players’ Shield in club history while rewriting the USL League One record books. Charlotte finished the regular season with a 20-6-6 record, setting league records for both points (66) and wins (20) in a single season. The Independence were nearly unbeatable at home, posting a remarkable 14-1-1 record, the best home mark in league history.
Under Jeffries’ leadership, the Independence boasted one of the most balanced and prolific attacks in USL League One history. Charlotte saw 15 different players find the back of the net during the regular season, combining for a league-record 74 goals and shattering the previous mark by 13.
The team’s historic success was accompanied by several individual milestones for Jeffries. In addition to earning Coach of the Year honors, Jeffries was named USL League One Coach of the Month in both June and August. On the same night the Jacks clinched the Players’ Shield, Jeffries became the winningest coach in USL League One history with 65 victories. He also became the first coach in USL history to reach 150 wins with a single club across all USL competitions.
“Coach Mike winning Coach of the Year is incredibly well-deserved,” shared captain Clay Dimick. “The amount of time, passion, and dedication he puts into this team day-in and day-out goes far beyond what people see on the field. He’s built something special here, not just through the results we’ve achieved this year, but through the culture and belief he’s instilled in this group. As players, we are very fortunate to have someone who cares about us as individuals and pushes us to be better every single day.”
Jeffries will now look to lead the Independence to the club’s first USL League One Final victory against AC Boise on Saturday at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews. Get your tickets here!
ABOUT CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE:
The Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men’s soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club, founded in 2014, currently competes in USL League One and plays home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex of Matthews. As part of the Queen City Soccer Club, our mission is to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports. For information on club news, season tickets and more, visit CharlotteIndependence.com.
