Bev Yanez, head coach of Racing Louisville FC, has been named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Coach of the Year. The announcement was made during the 2025 NWSL Awards ceremony, presented by AT&T in San Jose, California.
Yanez, 37, is recognized as both the first American and the first former NWSL player to receive this honor. Her playing career included time at Miami from 2007 to 2009, where she appeared in 53 matches and served as team captain during her senior year.
“I’m shocked. I’m so grateful,” Yanez said in her acceptance speech broadcast on ESPN2. “I’m so grateful for the team — for the team believing in me, trusting in me. I couldn’t be up here without them. I couldn’t be up here with the staff that’s invested so much time and belief in the vision that we had this season.
“And my family,” Yanez added. “They’ve always believed in me and always told me to follow my dreams no matter what they were.”
In her second season as head coach, Yanez led Racing Louisville FC to its best performance yet. The club finished seventh in league standings—the highest position it has achieved—and secured its first-ever playoff berth. Under her leadership, Racing Louisville set new club records for wins (10), points (37), goals scored (36), and road victories (5).
Yanez also became the first person to reach the NWSL Playoffs both as a player and a coach. She is additionally noted as being the first American female coach to guide a team into the postseason since 2013.
The selection process for Coach of the Year involved multiple rounds of voting by players, owners, general managers, coaches, media members, and fans using weighted scales at each stage.
Yanez was chosen over two other finalists: Vlatko Andonovski of Kansas City Current and Adrián González of Washington Spirit.
