TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Wednesday that Sacramento Republic FC’s Mark Briggs had been voted as the league’s Coach of the Month for April. Briggs claimed the award after leading Republic FC to a second consecutive undefeated month in which the side posted impressive victories and conceded only once in five outings.

“Truly honored and humbled to be named Coach of the Month, but all the credit and praise should go to my staff and players for the performances they have produced against top teams,” said Briggs. “I’d also like to thank the fans and supporters of this club. They’ve been an incredible motivating force, and we’ll need them more than ever to continue making progress this season.”

A former USL Championship Coach of the Year at Real Monarchs SLC, Briggs claimed his second Coach of the Month award since taking the helm in Sacramento after finishing second in March’s poll. Under his leadership, Republic FC opened the month with a resounding 5-0 victory against defending Eastern Conference title holder Louisville City FC and then posted a 4-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, the side which currently sits in two points back of Sacramento in a tight race at the top of the Western Conference standings.

During that spell, the side continued to build a remarkable shutout streak that ended at 594 minutes in the final game of the month, a 1-1 draw with FC Tulsa on April 29. The mark was the seventh-longest shutout streak in the Championship’s regular season history, while the side has conceded only twice in eight games in league play so far this campaign.

“Mark has worked tirelessly to build a winning culture in Sacramento, and the team's performance in April is a testament to that,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “This is a well-deserved honor for Mark that also extends to the entire technical staff, as we continue our quest for silverware.”

Briggs earned 62 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Head Coach Stephen Hogan finished second on 23 percent as his side won four games out of five in April, including handing current Eastern Conference leader the Charleston Battery their first loss of the regular season to round out the month.

The USL Championship’s Coach of the Month award is voted upon by the USL Championship National Media Panel and the USL Championship Technical Committee, with each group responsible for 50 percent of the overall vote.