PORTLAND, Maine – Portland Hearts of Pine have named Bobby Murphy as the first head coach in club history. Murphy – who will also serve as Hearts' sporting director – has an extensive background in coaching and player development. He will lead Hearts in their inaugural season in USL League One. 

As head coach and sporting director, Murphy will be responsible for evaluating local and national talent, building the first roster, and creating a club that embodies the community-first culture of Hearts on and off the field.

For Murphy, the opportunity to lead Hearts of Pine is an exciting new challenge. "I am honored to be Hearts of Pine's first head coach. My mission is to build an expansion club and culture that values winning equally on and off the field," said Bobby Murphy. "We have an incredible opportunity to not only build a competitive team right here in Portland but also create something meaningful that reflects the diverse communities of Maine."

Bobby Murphy joins Hearts of Pine after guiding St. Louis CITY2, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of St. Louis CITY SC, to the semifinals of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoffs. He led CITY2 to the second-best record out of 29 teams in MLS NEXT Pro. Throughout his career, Murphy has experience coaching all levels of talent, from all over the world, with roles ranging from a youth academy director to interim head coach of Orlando City SC in MLS, where he coached the 2007 Ballon d’Or winner, Kaká. 

Murphy served as an assistant coach for former USL Championship club, Rio Grande Valley FC, in 2020 before spending time as an assistant with League One side Union Omaha in 2021, helping lead the Owls to their first league title in 2021.

Murphy played and coached in New England early on in his career. He received his bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University and was a member of the men's soccer team. He also has a master's degree in education from Plymouth State University and was an assistant coach of the men's soccer team. Murphy has briefly lived in Maine before, as the men's soccer coach at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. He has fond memories of bringing his children to the beautiful beaches of Maine and the Children's Museum.

"We're thrilled to welcome Bobby Murphy to the club," said Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, founder of Portland Hearts of Pine. "Bobby's passion for developing and mentoring players, paired with his strong desire to win and exceptional leadership style, make him the perfect head coach to build our team from the ground up. We are building something special here in Maine, and Bobby will help us create a team that not only competes at a high level but also embodies leading with your heart."

Kevin Schohl, president of Hearts of Pine, said, "From day one, Portland Hearts of Pine has set out to be the best club in the league. From our record-breaking success with tickets and merchandise sales to the incredible momentum we are building in the community, we know that Maine is ready for professional soccer, and Bobby is the right coach to lead us."

In preparation for the upcoming season, Hearts of Pine will host a Mainer Day of tryouts for local players to showcase their talent on December 7th, and open tryouts for all eligible players will take place the following weekend, December 13-15. For more national tryout information, please visit here to learn more. 

The team will begin full practices in January, ahead of their debut in the 2025 USL League One season. As Hearts of Pine prepares for its debut at Fitzpatrick Stadium, the club remains committed to creating a lasting legacy in Maine's soccer community. 

The next major milestone for Hearts of Pine is Nov. 21, when the club will unveil its inaugural season jersey with a reveal party at the State Theatre in Portland, Maine. Attendees will enjoy an unforgettable celebration of soccer in Maine and be among the first to see, touch, and wear the jersey. Visit the team's website and follow Hearts on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook.