OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Roots SC announced on Monday the club had appointed Benny Feilhaber as its new Head Coach as the club seeks to turn around its current USL Championship campaign.

The former United States international takes the helm in Oakland having previously served as the Head Coach of Sporting Kansas City II in MLS NEXT Pro over the past three seasons. During his tenure, SKC II went 32-33-15, reaching the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs in the 2023 season, when the side finished third in the Western Conference.

Feilhaber was voted the MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Month on three occasions, including consecutive honors in June and July, 2023.

“We are excited to have Benny Feilhaber take over through the end of the season,” said Oakland Roots President Lindsay Barenz. “We believe there is still a lot to fight for this season and we believe we have the players to make a strong run into the playoffs.”  

Prior to his coaching career, Feilhaber made 262 regular-season appearances in Major League Soccer, recording 31 goals and 30 assists while also competing in the Bundesliga (Hamburg SV), Premier League (Derby County) and the Danish Superliga (AGF). He also made 44 appearances for the United States Men’s National Team, helping the side win the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2007.

Roots had previously announced the dismissal of Head Coach Gavin Glinton earlier on Monday. The former Turks and Caicos international and Roots assistant coach had led the side for just over a year, being appointed on April 28, 2024.

During Glinton’s tenure, Roots went 14-19-5 with a -24 goal differential in the Championship’s regular season. This season, Roots had conceded the most goals in the Championship (22) on the way to a 3-7-1 record, placing the side in 11th place in the Western Conference.