Hervé Diese’s time with Tacoma Defiance has come to an end. Diese joined the club as head coach ahead of the 2024 season and was seen as an infusion of new ideas and perspectives, with a particular strength in relating to young players after serving as an assistant coach for CF Montreal, coaching in Orlando City SC’s academy, and working with Angel City FC of the NWSL and the University of Chicago.
His first season in charge was largely seen as a success. The team finished 4th in the West with a 13-10-5 (WLD) record, with a +6 goal difference (59 GF, 53 GA), while helping to promote Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Georgi Minoungou up to the first team. Unfortunately, after a 4-0 win over Ventura County FC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Defiance got pummeled 5-1 by North Texas SC in the following round. The 2025 season started off well – following a 3-2 loss against Ventura County to start the season, Defiance went on a 8-1-0 run across all competitions in which they outscored opponents 27-13, which ended with the 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup.
Since that Open Cup loss Defiance have one regulation win, going 1-5-3 with 2 penalty shootout wins while being outscored 27-18, leaving them 11th in the West with a 6-7-3 record. Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Colorado Rapids 2, in which Defiance took a 3-0 first-half lead and held a 4-2 lead in the 70th minute before giving up 4 unanswered goals between the 74th minute and the 4th minute of second half stoppage time, was likely the final straw leading to his departure. In total, having been in charge for a total of 44 league games, Diese was 19-17-8 during regular season play.
Michael Morris will step into an interim head coach role while the team decides on their next steps and long-term solution for that position. Morris has served as an assistant coach with Defiance since 2021, but has been a part of the Seattle Sounders organization since 2009 and has been involved with the Sounders Academy since 2014.
