Charlotte FC Extends Contract with Head Coach Dean Smith

Source: Grant Halverson / Getty

Charlotte FC has agreed to a new contract for Head Coach Dean Smith, extending its pact with him through the 2027 MLS season.

Following a record-setting 51-point campaign and the club’s first trip to the First Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Smith has brought an unmatched ambition to the club, along with a desire to elevate the standards of the organization.

Charlotte FC has started Smith’s second campaign with its best start in its four-year club history (2-1-1), taking seven points from 12 available against four playoff teams from a season ago.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being the head coach of Charlotte FC and I’m honored to sign a new contract with the Club,” said Smith in a statement provided by the club. “Everyone at the Club is aligned in our vision to be a leader in Major League Soccer. To our supporters, you have made our family feel welcome in this city and for that we’re grateful to each one of you. We will work together with the aim of consistently challenging for major trophies every season.”

Charlotte FC also has boasted a sparkling defensive prowess, anchored by reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Kristijan Kahlina. The Crown has yet to concede a goal at home, and has earned a league-best 11 home clean sheets since the start of the 2024 season. Only Seattle (35) conceded less goals than Charlotte’s 37 goals against in 34 regular season games last season.

Smith’s impact on the club is easy to quantify according to Charlotte FC midfielder and captain Ashley Westwood.

“He’s experienced, he brings a calmness to everything, he knows how to manage a football club,” Westwood said in an interview with WFNZ’s Will Palaszczuk. “He’s been a breath of fresh air, he’s come in and knew what we needed to do which was make ourselves more solid and he did that last year and now he wants us to improve going forward. So hopefully he can work his magic with the defense, do it with the attackers, and we’ve got a complete team.”

“[Dean Smith] has come in here from Day One and said he wants to win trophies & I think we have the boys in there who now believe that. Now we want to go one further.” – Charlotte FC Captain Ashley Westwood

Charlotte FC owner David Tepper called Smith “an exceptional leader”, and called the club’s success “a reflection of his dedication and commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch,” in a statement provided by the club.

In addition to making the Carolinas a more permanent home, Smith now has his son Jamie in the Charlotte FC pipeline as an overage player for Crown Legacy. Dean Smith has said Jamie is working on obtaining his soccer coaching licenses to try and “become part of the family business”.

The first contest for Smith under his new contract is Saturday night against San Jose Earthquakes at Bank of America Stadium. Pregame starts at 7 PM with first kick just after 7:30 on Sports Radio 92.7 WFNZ & the Charlotte FC Radio Network.