Sacramento, CA – On Wednesday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs has been named the league’s Coach of the Month for April. The USL Championship’s Coach of the Month award is voted upon by the USL Championship National Media Panel and the USL Championship Technical Committee, with each group responsible for 50 percent of the overall vote. Briggs took 62 percent of the April poll to earn his second career Coach of the Month honor. Briggs finished second in March’s Coach of the Month poll.
With Briggs at the helm, Republic FC continued its undefeated campaign through April. The Indomitable Club finished the month 3-0-2, adding to the club’s hot start to the season. April’s fixtures featured matchups against three of the league’s top teams from 2022, and with results against each Republic currently sits at the top of the Western Conference with 18 points. His club started off the month by defeating defending Eastern Conference Champion Louisville City FC 5-0 – the Kentucky team’s largest defeat in club history. The team’s strong performance earned Briggs his 41st win with the Indomitable Club, the most wins by a head coach in club history.
“Truly honored and humbled to be named Coach of the Month, but all the credit and praise should go to my staff and players for the performances they have produced against top teams,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “I’d also like to thank the fans and supporters of this club. They’ve been an incredible motivating force, and we’ll need them more than ever to continue making progress this season.”
“Mark has worked tirelessly to build a winning culture in Sacramento, and the team’s performance in April is a testament to that,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “This is a well-deserved honor for Mark that also extends to the entire technical staff, as we continue our quest for silverware.”
Republic FC continued the month with three more shutouts – a 0-0 draw against defending USL Championship title winner San Antonio FC, a 4-0 win over last year’s Western Conference finalist Colorado Springs Switchbacks, and a 1-0 win over Detroit City FC. Dating back to March 25, the club recorded five consecutive clean sheets in league play, playing 594 minutes without conceding a goal. The team closed out the month with a 1-1 draw against FC Tulsa on April 29.
In April, Republic FC outscored its opponents 11-1, while defending its spot atop the Western Conference table and the USL Power Rankings the entire month. Through nine weeks of the 2023 season, Briggs’ squad is the only undefeated team in league play and leads the USL in goal differential (+12), expected goals (14.04), and clean sheets (6), while also allowing the fewest goals (2).
This is Briggs’ second career Coach of the Month honor. He first earned the distinction in June 2022 after leading Republic FC to a perfect 5-0-0 month, including a win over MLS side LA Galaxy in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals. He was also named the USL Coach of the Year in 2017 after Real Monarchs SLC won the Regular Season Championship title.
Republic FC looks to defend its unbeaten USL Championship season on Saturday when the Capital City club hosts Eastern Conference side Indy Eleven on Women’s Empowerment Night, presented by UC Davis Health. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets and the match will be broadcast in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com, and the FOX40 News mobile app, as well as streaming on ESPN+.
