The North Carolina Courage dismissed head coach Sean Nahas, announcing the news in a tersely worded statement posted to social media.
"The North Carolina Courage have terminated the contract of Head Coach Sean Nahas, effective immediately," read the statement, issued late Wednesday.
"The North Carolina Courage remain focused on the continued development of the team and maintaining a professional, competitive environment for players, staff, and supporters."
Ceri Bowley, the Courage's chief soccer officer,
held media availability on Thursday but didn't add much to the story and didn't get into specifics.
"There's multiple factors that go into such a decision," Bowley said, per WRAL News in Raleigh. "And clearly we're looking forward to finishing the season strong, we're on the cusp of the playoffs, so our primary focus is to finish the season strong and hopefully at the end of it achieve our goals."
Assistant coach Nathan Thackeray will lead the National Women's Soccer League team Friday against the Houston Dash.
Nahas, 47, was named interim coach in October 2021 after Paul Riley was fired following allegations of sexual misconduct with players. Riley later was banned from the league.
The Courage named Nahas the permanent coach two months later, and the team qualified for the playoffs in 2023 and 2024. They also won two NWSL Challenge Cup titles during his tenure.
This season, the club is 5-5-4 (19 points) and in ninth place in the NWSL, one spot below the playoff line.
Damon Nahas, Sean's brother, is the head coach of the powerhouse women's soccer team at North Carolina. The Tar Heels won the NCAA title in 2024.
--Field Level Media
