Former MLS Cup Champions Steve Guppy, Brett Jacobs and Matt Pickens rejoin Head Coach Gary Smith
NASHVILLE – Nashville Soccer Club announced today the appointment of Steve Guppy, Brett Jacobs and Matt Pickens to its coaching staff ahead of its inaugural Major League Soccer season. Guppy and Jacobs will join Head Coach Gary Smith as assistants while Pickens will come onboard as goalkeeper coach.
The foursome reunites after a long history together in which they went on to conquer the 2010 MLS Cup with the Colorado Rapids. Guppy and Jacobs both joined Smith in Colorado at the start of the 2009 campaign, with Pickens playing in net. In their first season together, the Rapids reached the 10-win plateau that included a .700 winning percentage at home.
While together in Colorado, the four generated great success in the Mile-High City. From 2009 through 2011 the Rapids saw double-digit wins in every season, a stretch that also included 34 regular season wins, two MLS Cup Playoff appearances and an MLS Cup in the three-year span. In 2010 the Rapids allowed just 32 goals during the season, tied for the fewest allowed in a season in franchise history.
Under the coaching of Smith, Guppy and Jacobs, Pickens posted career-high numbers as the starter in net. In the two-year stretch, Pickens recorded 23 wins, 15 shutouts and 164 saves. Pickens’ numbers during their regime proved instrumental in holding all-time Rapids goalkeeping records.
Most recently Smith joined Nashville SC in 2018, with Pickens as his starting goalkeeper and Jacobs joining his staff in 2019. The group saw success with back-to-back postseason appearances in the club’s two USL Championship seasons, with Pickens receiving the 2019 Golden Glove Award and racking up 28 clean sheets in two seasons.
Tickets to Nashville SC’s inaugural MLS match against Atlanta United, presented by Renasant Bank, are available through Season Ticket Memberships starting at just $425 ($25 per game). Be sure to secure your place in history with the best seats for Feb. 29 and throughout the inaugural season by visiting NashvilleSC.com/Tickets or calling 615-750-8800.
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