Legion FC’s Briggs Era Begins at Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Upon accepting the job, one of the first things Mark Briggs implemented as the new head coach of Birmingham Legion FC is the introduction of music out on the fields during training sessions. Now, whether the players could actually hear the tunes is another question entirely, because things with The Three Sparks have been moving faster than the speed of sound over the last few days.

Just two days after Birmingham opened its USL Jagermeister Cup with a dominant win over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Briggs was announced as the club’s new coach and, now, the focus is already onto a pivotal road USL Championship matchup with the Tampa Bay Rowdies this Saturday.

“It’s awesome to be back at it,” said Briggs who gets set to return to the technical area for the first time since last November as the coach of Sacramento Republic FC.

Legion FC is the fourth stop of Briggs’ coaching resume, but the first in which he has taken over with the season already in motion. So jumping right into the fray, the new gaffer finds himself simplifying his approach, as well as relying on those the veterans in the building to get through the first week on the job before beginning a “mini-preseason” with the squad not having another game for eleven days after Saturday.

“Preseason is usually when you lay down the foundation for the playing style and the culture,” Briggs explained. “But I am fortunate that after this weekend, we can really establish the standards and the accountability. We all want results, and it’s important give credit to (interim head coach Eric Avila) for what’s been done these last three weeks in keeping the team positive, and it’s made my job easier coming in.

“It’s important to not throw loads of information at the players right away. It’s about keeping things simple, giving them some clarity, but lift the level in everything we do.”

Three days into training, the buy-in from the Legion FC players has already been evident.

For veterans like Enzo Martinez, the coaching carousel is nothing new in the realm of a professional athlete. While the midfielder admits that the adjusting and readjusting has been tough over the course of a turbulent April, he sees the addition of Briggs as a motivating factor that he hopes brings out the best in himself and his teammates.

“Obviously there have been a lot of changes, but it also gives you the opportunity to refresh and start with a clean slate,” said Martinez. “It’s really important for a new coach to come in and not treat anyone any differently, creating a competitive environment. We all benefit from that. We have to prove to the coach that we deserve to be on the field.”

With Briggs watching from the press box during last Sunday’s victory of Chattanooga, Martinez gave his new coach a glimpse of how dangerous Legion FC can be on the attack, providing a perfect pass in the box for a Preston Tabort Etaka goal to notch his first assist of the season.

Martinez now looks to build on that momentum at Tampa’s Al Lang Stadium, where he silenced the crowd in his previous appearance there with the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Rowdies.

“Whether we have a new coach or someone that has been here for ten years, our mindset is to get out there and get the points,” he explained. “Once you step out on that field, Tampa and its fans do not care about our situation and they can make you pay.”

And Tampa Bay has a situation of its own with Steve Coleman serving as the interim coach following the dismissal of head coach Robbie Nielson on April 11.

2025 has been a tough go thus far for the Rowdies with just one victory in USL-C play to their name, but none yet on its home field.

The squad currently ranks second-to-last in the league with an 8-percent conversion rate, having found the back of the net just five times despite ranking in the top five in total shots with 84.

That lack of goal luck could be turning around with star forward Manuel Arteaga finally getting his first goal of the year in last weekend’s Jagermeister Cup opener against Miami FC. Birmingham will be extra wary of the 30-year-old striker after he notched a brace when the two teams met in a trilling 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match where Tampa advanced to the Round of 16 via a 6-4 win in extra time.

“Despite what the record may show, we know what they are capable of,” Briggs said. “When we cross the white line, we’ve got to represent Birmingham and we’ve got to die for the crest that’s on our chest. That’s the attitude that has got to be instilled.”

Follow Along 
For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow the Legion FC Match Center and @bhmlegion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.