Report: Jim Curtin returning in 2019

Head coach Jim Curtin is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union in 2019.

Sam Stejskal reported Monday that Curtin and the Union have agreed to a new deal. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of this year.

The 39-year-old Oreland native has been the head coach now for four full seasons after initially seeing out the 2014 season as an interim when John Hackworth was fired. His regular season coaching record is 54-64-36 and he’s coached the Union to the playoffs twice, losing in the knockout round in 2016 and 2018, and to losses in the U.S. Open Cup final in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

The former Villanova standout and MLS defender initially joined the club as a youth coach in 2010 and guided a team of area youth all-stars to the 2012 Generation adidas Cup title before being hired as a first-team assistant in 2013.

Curtin and Sporting Director Ernst Tanner are scheduled to speak today at a press conference at Talen Energy Stadium today at noon.