INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Monday the club had appointed Sean McAuley as the fifth Head Coach in club history. McAuley comes to the Circle City having previously served as the interim Head Coach, as well as an assistant, at Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer.

McAuley has more than 30 years of experience as a player and coach at the professional and youth development levels on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. Over the past four seasons, he served as an assistant coach for the Loons before stepping in as the club’s interim Head Coach this past October. A native of Sheffield, England, McAuley also served as an assistant coach with the Portland Timbers (2012-18) and Orlando City (2018-20), helping the Timbers claim the 2015 MLS Cup.

“I am delighted to take on the position of Head Coach at Indy Eleven,” said McAuley. “The organization has a great reputation and I believe we can achieve success together. I would like to thank Ersal [Ozdemir] and Greg [Stremlaw] for the opportunity, as well as everyone who has given me such a warm welcome.

“It’s clear that Indy Eleven has a loyal and passionate fan base and I am committed to giving our supporters a team to be proud of. I look forward to the new season and being part of a new era at Indy Eleven.”

Prior to his return to the United States – where he had played for the Timbers in the USL A League as part of an on-field career that also saw him compete for St. Johnstone in Scotland – he had twice served as interim Head Coach for Sheffield Wednesday. In Minnesota, he helped the Loons reach three consecutive postseasons between 2020 and 2022, and a place in the 2020 Western Conference Final.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Sean and his family to Indy Eleven and the Circle City,” said Greg Stremlaw, President & CEO of Indy Eleven. “After an extensive search that produced an unparalleled number of talented candidates from around the world, including a pool from more than 25 countries, we believed Sean’s experience as both a coach and player at the highest levels of soccer in the United States and Europe made him the top choice to lead our club starting in 2024 and beyond.

“Sean’s proven ability to help lead championship-caliber teams, produce a culture of excellence and develop top players at the professional level will help us achieve our objectives on the field and make Indy Eleven a consistent force in the USL Championship.”