CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Wednesday the club had agreed a multi-year contract extension with Head Coach Ben Pirmann, who is set to enter his fourth season at the club in the 2026 USL Championship campaign.

The Battery have accumulated a record of 64-26-27 in 117 matches across all competitions since Coach Pirmann took the helm in 2023, including a 54-21-23 record in the USL Championship regular season and back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Final.

“I am equally honored, as I am excited, to continue to represent our club and community,” said Pirmann. “Through our executive leadership, technical staff, player performances on and off the field, and tremendous fervor from our supporters, the Charleston Battery have proven to be a top club in this country.

“Over the past three seasons, we have continued to improve and compete at the highest stages. Despite some personnel transitions, we will be an aggressive team fighting every day to represent the Black and Yellow to the fullest in 2026. We can’t wait to get back on the pitch to get even better next year and push for our ultimate objectives.”

“As a club, we are extremely excited to retain not only an outstanding coach, but an even more exceptional person to continue leading us on the field,” said Battery President Lee Cohen. “Over the past three years, Ben has demonstrated tremendous growth, adaptability and dedication.

“We have transformed our club during this time into one that both succeeds on the field and consistently develops players and coaches each year. Ben has played a pivotal role in driving that evolution throughout the organization, and we are proud to have him continue this journey with us.”

The Battery have set numerous club and league records, player and team, and garnered several awards in Coach Pirmann’s three seasons at the helm.

Charleston’s squads have earned eight All-League Team selections, and seen players claim the USL Championship’s Player of the Year (Nick Markanich, 2024), Defender of the Year (Graham Smith, 2024), Young Player of the Year (Fidel Barajas, 2023), and Golden Boot (Nick Markanich, 2024, with Pirmann earning Coach of the Year nomination in 2023.

In his first season, the Battery set a new Championship record for best points turnaround in league history with a gain of +34 points (25 in 2022 to 59 in 2023). That year, Charleston won the Eastern Conference title and reached the USL Championship Final for the first time since 2012. This past season, the Battery were the league’s highest-scoring team.

Charleston has reset their own club record for single-season regular season wins in their Championship era three years in a row, with the mark of 19 victories set in 2025 accomplished with four fewer matches played. Additionally, the Battery are the only team in the past three seasons to finish top-three in their conference standings each year and have the second-most points won per game in the Championship since 2023.

Among the other trends during Coach Pirmann’s tenure has been player development to higher levels. This list includes Nick Markanich (CD Castellón), Fidel Barajas (Real Salt Lake then Chivas de Guadalajara), Trey Muse (Portland Timbers), Dante Polvara (Aberdeen FC) and Derek Dodson (Minnesota United FC then D.C. United).

The trend of career advancement has also extended to his technical staff. Two of Coach Pirmann’s former assistants have gone on to take head coaching positions: Leigh Veidman at Spokane Velocity FC in USL League One and Devin Rensing at Las Vegas Lights FC in the USL Championship.

A native of Detroit, Pirmann’s coaching journey began after his collegiate playing career at Michigan State University. He held assistant roles at Western Michigan University and Michigan State before making the switch to the pre-professional ranks by leading Detroit City FC prior to its progression to the professional level.

Pirmann’s breakout came when he was promoted to become Head Coach of Memphis 901 FC late in 2020, having previously served as an assistant at the club upon its formation in 2019. Pirmann was voted the 2022 USL Championship Coach of the Year in Memphis, and led the side to consecutive postseason appearances prior to his move to Charleston.

With sustained success in Charleston achieved, Coach Pirmann is looking forward to the club pushing for more victories, records and silverware.

“Personally, I would like to thank all the Battery faithful for the unrelenting support of our team,” said Pirmann. “We would not be able to achieve what we have over the last three years without them. We are going to push ourselves to a new level in 2026 for you all, and we can’t wait to get back to Patriots Point in March.”