LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Thursday the club had signed Head Coach Danny Cruz to a contract extension running through the 2025 USL Championship season.

The 33-year-old Cruz is entering his third season in charge of LouCity, which won the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference title in 2022 after a record-breaking campaign. The Boys in Purple set new single-season club marks for points (72) and wins (22) and advanced to the USL Championship Final for the fourth time in their history.

“I am extremely grateful to John Neace, Chris Harding and our entire ownership group along with our president, James O’Connor, for the opportunity to extend my time here,” said Cruz. “I have said this numerous times in the past, but I don’t ever take for granted the opportunity that has been given to me. I take so much pride in managing this group of men and thank my wife, Brittany, and son, Santi, for supporting me on this journey.

“Louisville City FC is a club constantly looking to support us. I have a president that provides guidance to be the best I can be. I have a staff that is committed to pushing ourselves for greatness. I have players that fight for one another and share the values that we want this club to reflect. We also have a fan base that, when down two goals with 10 minutes left in a playoff game, does everything it can to propel our players forward. This is what our club is all about.

“I am the manager of a club that is synonymous with winning, and I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. I look forward to doing everything that I can to make 2023 a year to remember for this club and for this community.”

Cruz joined LouCity’s staff in 2018 as the top assistant to former Head Coach John Hackworth and took over interim head coaching duties one game into the 2021 season. Cruz became the club’s Head Coach on a full-time basis later that year.

LouCity has posted a record of 39-13-13 under Cruz’s direction, averaging a stellar two points-per-game. To close last season, Cruz became the youngest head coach to oversee a squad in the USL Championship Final.

“Danny is a proven winner, and we are thrilled by this extension and his commitment to LouCity,” said LouCity Chairman and CEO John Neace. “We look forward to adding to the trophy case in coming years with Danny at the helm. Both Danny and we believe records are made to be broken, and we’re excited to see him continue to raise the bar.”

From Petersburg, Va., Cruz attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before launching a nine-year professional career played mostly at the Major League Soccer level. Cruz retired from playing while with the USL Championship’s Real Monarchs SLC in 2017 and in 2018 shifted to that club’s coaching staff before his LouCity tenure.