Former Colorado Rapids interim head coach Conor Casey will get another shot as a coach.
Casey, a Denver native, was named head coach of USL Championship side Charleston Battery on Monday.
Casey will replace longtime coach Mike Anhaeuser, who had served as the Battery’s head coach since 2004. In a statement, the Battery said they hope Casey can change the club “in to a perennial contender” in the USL Championship, the second-highest level of American soccer.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been exposed to some of the best coaches and leaders in the European and American game over the last 20 years,” Casey said in a statement. “I’m excited to take those valuable experiences with me to lead this team forward.”
Casey joined the Rapids ahead of the 2017 season as an assistant coach under Pablo Mastroeni, and was promoted to the interim head coach position after then-head coach Anthony Hudson was fired in May 2019. Casey led the Rapids out of the cellar of the MLS standings and into a period of stability, going 7-7-4 during that time, until current coach Robin Fraser was hired in August 2019.
As a player, Casey helped the Rapids to their lone MLS Cup in 2010 and scored 13 goals that season. He has his number retired by the club.
The Battery finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with 37 points in 2021, which was 10th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference.
