Austin FC coach Josh Wolff in the hot seat
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Josh Wolff of Austin FC on the sidelines during a match at Q2 Stadium in March. Photo: Brien Aho/Getty Images
Austin FC is wrapping up another lackluster season, and head coach Josh Wolff's future is hanging in the balance.
Why it matters: Austin's only major league team was an instant success, building a dedicated fan base.
- Now at the end of the team's fourth season, that fan base is calling for Wolff's ouster.
Driving the news: Saturday's tie to Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium essentially put the playoffs out of reach for the Verde and Black for the second straight season.
Catch up quick: The team's last league home win was on July 6 against New York City FC.
- Perhaps the most exciting stretch of the year came in back-to-back wins against two highly regarded Mexican sides in the Leagues Cup, also in July. The team lost in the tournament's first knockout round to LAFC.
The big picture: Onetime league MVP contender Sebastián Driussi has scored just five goals this season. New additions to the team haven't picked up the slack.
- The Oaks have scored 34 goals this season, the third-lowest in the league.
- Part-owner Matthew McConaughey typically outshines the players on the team's Instagram page. His barefoot upper corner shot grabbed 135,000 likes last week.
Between the lines: The secondary ticket market has cratered as more fans are staying at home.
By the numbers: Two years ago, as the team stormed to the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs, two Austin FC players ranked among the top 15 players across the MLS in jersey sales.
- But this year, no Austin FC player placed in the top 25 of jersey sales, illuminating how a drop-off on the field can puncture merchandise and concession revenue.
Flashback: Majority owner Anthony Precourt brought Wolff to Austin as the team's first coach. He had been an assistant coach on the U.S. national team under Gregg Berhalter and previously worked under Precourt when both were in Columbus, Ohio.
The latest: After Saturday's tie, supporters group Los Verdes called for a coaching change.
- "Josh Wolff has overstayed his welcome and it's time for a new beginning for the Verde and Black," said a statement on the group's Instagram.
What they're saying: Asked in the post-game press conference Saturday if he deserved another opportunity, Wolff answered with one word: "Yes."
- He said he hadn't had any recent conversations with Precourt or sporting director Rodolfo Borrell.
The intrigue: Wolff's son, Owen, is arguably Austin FC's best young player, and the club could risk alienating the midfielder if his father is canned.
What we're watching: Whether Precourt sticks with Wolff for the last three games of the season or has seen enough.