Nashville SC parts with head and assistant coaches after 2-0 win

Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC announced it had parted ways with head coach Gary Smith and assistant coach Steve Guppy.

Nashville announced former player and current player development coach, Rumba Munthali, will serve as the team’s interim lead during the search for a new head coach.

Smith was the club’s first-ever and only head coach. During his tenure, Nashville reached four-consecutive MLS playoffs. As well, Smith got his team to the Leagues Cup 2023 Final falling just short on penalties to Inter Miami. The final appearance earned Nashville a spot in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Smith also won the 2010 MLS Cup with Colorado Rapids.

This season hasn’t started well for Nashville winning just three of its first 12 games in MLS. The club’s third win of the season came yesterday against Toronto, but Nashville had won just one of its seven prior including a 5-0 hammering against LAFC.

“Nashville SC extends its gratitude to Smith and Guppy for their dedication and contributions to our team and wishes them and their families all the best in their future endeavors,” the club said in a statement.

A firing after a win might come across as a shock to many, but fans of the team felt there has been regression this season. Munthali now takes charge of the team for the foreseeable future as a head coach search begins.

Munthali, a former professional player, coached the Sporting Kansas City youth team for seven years before joining Nashville SC in 2023. The club faces Atlanta United on short rest this weekend and closes out the month against CF Montreal and FC Cincinnati.