Birmingham Legion FC today confirmed the appointment of Mark Briggs as the team’s new head coach.

Briggs was most recently head coach at fellow USL Championship side Sacramento Republic. He joins the Three Sparks following the dismissal of Tom Soehn earlier this month.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark as the next head coach of Birmingham Legion FC,” said CEO and Chief Soccer Officer Jay Heaps. “He is a proven winner with extensive USL experience and is known for building strong team culture, developing players and driving success on the pitch. We are excited about the future of Legion FC under Mark’s direction.”

Briggs, 43, has been without a job since parting ways with Sacramento at the end of the 2024 season. He was in attendance at Birmingham’s last two home games, 3-1 wins over El Paso Locomotive and Chattanooga Red Wolves, respectively.

Originally from Wolverhampton, England, Briggs began his professional playing career with English outfit West Bromwich Albion. After a career that spanned over a decade and four different countries, he eventually retired in the United States. His last club was the Wilmington Hammerheads, in North Carolina.

Briggs rejoined the Wilmington club one year after his retirement as an assistant. He was promoted to the top job a few months later. Almost as a presage of his future, the since-defunct soccer team played homed games at the aptly-named Legion Stadium.

“I’m so grateful to Legion FC for giving me this opportunity,” Briggs said. “In meeting with staff and ownership, I love the direction and I love the vision. It’s a fantastic club that has top facilities. And then you look at the roster and you understand that there is a lot that can be achieved here. I look forward to building something here in Birmingham.”

After just over a year as head coach for the North Carolina side, Briggs moved to Utah to become assistant for the Real Monarchs, a USL Championship team at the time. As in Wilmington, he was promoted to head coach within the year. Mike Petke, the previous holder of the role, moved up to the team’s MLS affiliate, Real Salt Lake.

The Monarchs went on to win the 2017 Players’ Shield, and Briggs won USL Championship Coach of the Year as a result.

“I think it’s critical to know the league and have experience in it,” Briggs said. “It helps you understand how the players think and what they need. Having had previous success in the league, it helps me better understand what it takes to be successful and compete with top teams.”

Briggs moved to Sacramento ahead of the 2020 season, starting a five-year tenure with the California club. The Englishman led Sacramento to the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the helm, including a run to the semifinals in 2023 after topping the Western Conference. His most notable achievement came the previous year, when he led the USL Championship team to the final of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, defeating three MLS sides on the way.

Briggs and Sacramento parted ways by mutual consent at the end of the 2024 season. After 169 matches in the Golden State, Briggs left with a 74-48-47 record.

Briggs will begin his Birmingham Legion reign when the Three Sparks travel to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He will make his home debut Wednesday May 14 against Rhode Island FC.

Eric Avila led the Legion in the last three games while the team looked for a new head coach. After getting two wins and a loss, Avila will reassume his role as an assistant coach on the first-team staff.

Featured photo courtesy of Birmingham Legion FC

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