TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Wednesday that Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Bob Lilley had been voted as the league’s Coach of the Month for May. Lilley earned the award after leading the Hounds to an undefeated month that saw the side move into the top four in the Championship’s Eastern Conference while also recording two victories against clubs from Major League Soccer in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Currently the longest-tenured Head Coach in the Championship after joining the Hounds prior to the 2018 season, Lilley has become a legendary figure in the lower divisions for his consistent success over more than two decades. This past May his side closed the month on a three-game winning streak, including a notable victory against fellow playoff contender Birmingham Legion FC.
The Hounds also achieved their best run in the Open Cup in club history, defeating both the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium and Columbus Crew SC at a sold-out Highmark Stadium, marking the second time the side had reached the Quarterfinals in club history and the first time it had defeated multiple clubs from Major League Soccer in the same tournament.
The 2015 USL Championship Coach of the Year also recently reached another notable milestone in his career, recording his 150th regular season victory in the USL Championship this past Saturday when the side defeated Phoenix Rising FC at Highmark Stadium.
Lilley earned 47 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins finished second on 40 percent after leading the Rowdies to a perfect month in league play with four victories as the side recorded 12 goals and posted a +10-goal differential over 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.