The Union on Thursday unexpectedly parted ways with head coach Jim Curtin after the club’s streak of seven playoff appearances in eight seasons came to an end. Curtin had been the longest tenured coach in MLS, taking over on an interim basis in 2014. He had signed a contract extension through 2026, but his departure is the first sign of significant change for a club that finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, a long fall from the 2020 Supporters’ Shield and reaching MLS Cup final in 2022. “Jim has been a remarkable leader and an integral part of our team’s success during his tenure,” owner Jay Sugarman said in a press release. “I have had the privilege to watch him grow into one of the top coaches in the league and deliver strong results and memorable moments that will be ingrained in our club’s history. This has been a difficult decision due in part to the immense gratitude and respect we have for him. We have no doubt he’ll find great success in his future coaching endeavors.” No interim coach was named. The Union have not yet announced postseason roster moves after crashing out of the playoff race on Decision Day. Sugarman and sporting director Ernst Tanner will address the media next Monday. Curtin was only the third coach in franchise history. A two-time MLS Coach of the Year, he is eighth in MLS history in games coached and ninth in points. The Union led MLS in points from the start of the 2019 season through 2023. “We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Jim for his passion and dedication to this club over the last ten seasons. He greatly contributed to the success the club has achieved in recent years and for that we are extremely grateful,” Tanner said. “We thank Jim for the significant impact he made both on the field and in the community. Following the 2024 season we recognize the need for change. We’ll continue to evaluate our sporting strategy and make necessary changes this offseason to best set the team up for success.” Curtin played nine seasons in MLS, as a central defender with Chicago and Chivas USA. A Bishop McDevitt and Villanova grad, he began as an assistant with the Union in 2013 before taking over as the interim for John Hackworth in June 2014. He led the Union to the U.S. Open Cup final in both 2014 and 2015, then the first of seven playoff berths in 2016. The club had had just one playoff berth in its first six seasons.