Experienced USL Championship Coach joins Legion FC Head Coach Tommy Soehn’s Staff
BIRMINGHAM, AL (Feb. 2, 2024) – Legion FC announced today the appointment of Braeden Cloutier as First Team Assistant Coach and USL 2 Development Director.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity to be back in the Championship and working for the Legion,” said Cloutier. “I’m grateful to Jay and Tommy for their trust and confidence in bringing me to Birmingham. I’m looking forward to helping this organization reach its goals and taking this team to the highest level within the USL Championship & beyond.”
Cloutier’s coaching experience dates to 2017 when he became the assistant coach at Orange County Blues FC, now known as Orange County SC under Head Coach Oliver Wyss. He continued as an assistant coach when Logan Pause was head coach in 2017. In 2018, Cloutier was announced as head coach.
Cloutier led OCSC to the playoffs in his first two seasons as head coach and to a first-place finish in the Western Conference in the 2018 USL Championship regular season. OCSC made it to the Western Conference Final but fell to Phoenix Rising FC for the Western Conference title. Cloutier registered a record of 49-31-23 across 103 regular games. He parted ways with OCSC in 2021.
“Braeden is an excellent addition to the coaching staff,” said President and GM Jay Heaps. “He has experience as a head coach in this league and a track record for winning at this level while also developing young talent.”
A native of Wichita, KS., Cloutier began his professional career with Hamburger SV II in the Regionalliga Nord League. He later played with the San Diego Sockers of the NASL and Wichita Wings of the NPSL.
In 1997 the MetroStars, now known as New York Redbulls, selected Cloutier in the second-round 15th overall pick of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft. The MetroStars loaned Cloutier to the Wichita Wings for the 1997-1998 NPSL season. In 1998 the MetroStars traded Cloutier to the San Jose Earthquakes, and he spent two seasons with the Earthquakes. San Jose released him at the end of the 1999 season. In October 1999, Cloutier signed a three-year contract with the Wichita Wings and spent two seasons with the club. Cloutier joined the New England Revolution in 2001 and became a vital piece for the Revolution in the run to the 2002 MLS Cup. Cloutier spent two seasons with the Revs before he retired in 2003.
Cloutier has already begun working with the team ahead of the preseason friendly against MLS side Nashville SC on February 7 at GEODIS Park.
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