Phoenix Rising FC extends contract of head coach Rick Schantz through 2022
Jan 24, 2020, 2:41 PM
(Michael Rincon/Phoenix Rising FC)
On the same night that it revealed its new uniforms for the 2020 season, Phoenix Rising FC announced on Thursday night that head coach Rick Schantz had received a contract extension.
The new contract takes him through the 2022 season.
“I could not be more excited about extending my contract with Phoenix Rising FC,” Schantz said in a press release. “Being from Arizona and having the opportunity to help grow the game and make an impact in our state is truly important to me. I know that I will give everything for the club and I thank our ownership for their trust in me and the staff.”
Schantz has led Rising FC since June of 2018, when the last head coach, Patrice Carteron, left for a club in Egypt. Schantz was the interim head coach for the rest of that season, but was officially named the head coach that November. He was an assistant coach for Rising FC before becoming the head coach.
He’s since gone on to lead Phoenix all the way to the USL Final in 2018 and to the playoffs in 2019. Rising FC was the league champion in 2019, going 24-6-4 and rattling off 20 consecutive wins as the winningest team in league history. Their 24 wins on the season were the most in league history.
In 2019, Schantz was named USL Championship Coach of the Year.
“We are very pleased to extend Rick’s contract,” Phoenix Rising GM Bobby Dulle said in the release. “Rick has been an essential part of our success over the last three years, including our record-breaking 2019 season. His commitment to high standards has helped develop a strong culture throughout the entire club.”