PAPILLION, Neb. (December 16, 2022) – Union Omaha today announced the resignation of Head Coach Jay Mims. Mims closes out his successful tenure after helping establish and solidify Union Omaha as one of the prominent powers in USL League One, taking the Owls to three straight playoff appearances and back-to-back League One Finals in his first two seasons.
A prominent figure in the local Omaha soccer community for more than 20 years, Jay Mims was announced as the first head coach in Union Omaha history on May 7, 2019. In his three years with the club, Mims amassed a 38-17-27 (W-L-D) record across all competitions, including a 62 percent win percentage in league play. In the Owls’ inaugural season, Mims led a newly-assembled squad to immediate success, finishing as the USL League One Runner-Up. The following year in 2021, he earned USL League One Coach of the Year honors after a dominant season in which Omaha claimed its first regular season title and League One Championship, defeating Greenville Triumph SC 3-0 in the final.
Mims brought the Owls further into the national spotlight with a historic U.S. Open Cup run in 2022, which saw Union Omaha become the first USL League One team to beat two MLS sides and the first third-division team since 2013 to make the quarterfinals. He has coached his players to numerous League One accolades, including 11 All-League selections, back-to-back Golden Glove awards and one Assists Champion, as well as the 2021 Defender of the Year (Damià Viader) and 2022 Goalkeeper of the Year (Rashid Nuhu). In addition, Mims has been an expert in player development, sending multiple players on to USL Championship teams.
“Jay and I committed ourselves from day one to growing professional soccer and the Union Omaha brand in the metro, and that’s exactly what we did,” Union Omaha Owner Gary Green said.
“I am very grateful of the opportunity Gary Green and Larry Botel gave me four years ago,” Mims said. “I was hired here with no brand, no crest, no name and no team. I am proud to say I have helped build something special here from the ground up with Union Omaha. I am thankful for all of the great people I have worked with along the way, especially all of the players and staff members. I will always remember the historic first season, the XCancer jersey partnership reveal, the amazing championship year, the unprecedented Open Cup run and the numerous league records accomplished. But most of all, I will remember all of the incredible, loyal and amazing fans and supporters. Thank you all as I look forward to a new challenge.”
An exhaustive search for the next head coach is underway.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office.
