I Have a Bad Feeling About This

BREAKING: Sean Nahas out as head coach of the North Carolina Courage

Victoria Klum
August 6th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Moments ago I heard the familiar ping indicating an incoming email. I was intrigued by the subject line and preview in the notification badge.

NC COURAGE ANNOUNCE COACHING CHANGE

Well, that could mean a number of things, really. But my Spidey Sense started tingling, so I hopped on my Mail app and saw this:

❝

The North Carolina Courage have terminated the contract of Head Coach Sean Nahas, effective immediately.

The North Carolina Courage remain focused on the continued development of the team and maintaining a professional, competitive environment for players, staff, and supporters.

The content of this announcement is certainly eye-opening. It’s no secret that there has been much discontent in Courage Country about the team’s struggle to score goals (their first game back from the international break was last Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the San Diego Wave). And it beggars belief that players like Ashley Sanchez and Jaedyn Shaw were so underutilized on this team that they’re almost unrecognizable when they do get on the field.

What Wasn’t Said Actually Says a Lot

Even with the scoring woes, the timing of the firing is interesting, to say the least. And the second half of the statement is rather concerning. That the club chooses to emphasize that they remain committed to “maintaining a professional, competitive environment for players, staff, and supporters,” leaves the door (and several windows) open for speculation.

And it’s what is missing from the statement that really raises my eyebrows. Usually, when there’s an amicable coaching change, the team will add a sentence or two thanking the (former) coach for their service and wish them well in their new endeavors. What you see above? Dassit.

Nasty Flashback

As I finished reading the announcement I had a sudden flashback to 2021, when I was preparing to log into the weekly Courage press conference with then head coach Paul Riley. Minutes before the presser was scheduled to start, the comms team sent an email abruptly canceling the call. Shortly after that came the blockbuster report from Meg Linehan at The Athletic and an announcement from the Courage that Riley had been fired.

The wording of both of these announcement has some chilling similarities. From the Riley firing:

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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.

I dearly hope that there isn’t another report forthcoming and that this is just some weird Mercury Retrograde coincidence around communication.

But I don’t really believe in coincidences and there’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

(edited to re-re-correct the spelling of Jaedyn Shaw’s name…damn autocorrect!)