Minnesota United cuts ties with manager Adrian Heath

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota United has let go of manager Adrian Heath, as well as technical director Mark Watson, the team announced Friday.

The Loons have lost seven straight games and are 12th in the Western Conference standings. There are just two games remaining in the 2023 season.

Heath signed a two-year contract extension before the 2023 season. He'd been with the club since its inaugural season in 2017. Assistant coach Sean McCauley will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

"We are grateful to Adrian for his dedication to our club and for all that we have accomplished over the last seven seasons. This was a difficult decision, but we believe that the time is right to move in a new direction," said MNUFC CEO, Shari Ballard. "Whenever a club decides to make a coaching change, there is a tendency to focus only on the end of that coach’s tenure; however, the conclusion of Adrian’s time with MNUFC should not diminish his significant contributions to our club. His passion and hard work have been enormously impactful, and we thank him for all that he has done for MNUFC and for our community."

Heath in 2019 led the Loons to their first MLS Cup Playoff and the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cub. In 2020, he led the team to a semi-final appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament and a run to the Western Conference Finals. During his seven seasons with the club, Heath's record was 91-101-56, including four MLS Cup Playoffs appearances.

Watson joined MNUFC as an assistant coach in 2017 and was named technical director after the 2019 season.