Most MLS teams have played eight matches, which means we're at roughly the quarter-pole of the 2025 regular season. And while there's still time for the complexion of teams to change substantially, we're beginning to get a true feel of who each club is under their current managers.
That makes it a good time to begin handicapping the 2025 MLS Coach of the Year race. And while it might seem like there's one obvious front-runner, a broader review shows that there are quite a few managers exceeding expectations out there.
5) Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew)
It's extremely difficult to contend for coach of the year two seasons in a row because that first season winning the honor raises expectations substantially. But somehow the 2024 winner Nancy is managing to do just that.
The Crew parted with last year's attacking star Cucho Hernandez just weeks before the season began, and again competed in the Concacaf Champions Cup. And while LAFC saw off the Crew in continental play, in the league Nancy has guided the overhauled Crew to an eight-match unbeaten run to start the season.
Now Columbus has at least part of their Cucho replacement equation complete with the acquisition last week of Daniel Gazdag. Don't be surprised if Nancy keeps his team in the Supporters' Shield race throughout the year.
4) B.J. Callaghan (Nashville SC)
The former U.S. men's national team assistant and interim manager inherited what appeared to be a long-term rebuild in Nashville and instead seems to have advanced the timetable significantly.
Edvard Tegseth and Ahmed Qasem appear to be slick additions to the core of Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge. And the Coyotes responded to an injury to captain and defender Walker Zimmerman with one of their best performances of the year in a 2-1 home win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday.
In a loaded Eastern Conference, Nashville's current fifth-place standing is a strong accomplishment, and there's reason to believe it could last.