Brendan Burke’s journey to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head coach

Brendan Burke spent almost all of the 2010s with the Philadelphia Union in various roles. (Philadelphia Union)

Brendan Burke (Hopedale, Mass.) has spent the better part of the last dozen years in Pennsylvania, first building Reading United AC into a USL League Two national powerhouse and then helping the Philadelphia Union become 2020 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners.

Now, Burke has become head coach of the USL Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at age 38, resulting in Union head coach Jim Curtin calling him one of the “top young coaches in the United States.”

Burke’s move also increases New England’s USL Championship leadership presence – Mike Jeffries (Lynn, Mass.) is the Charlotte Independence’s head coach, while Jay Heaps (Longmeadow, Mass.) is president and general manager of Birmingham Legion FC – as America’s second division continues to grow.