RENO, Nev.– Reno 1868 FC head coach Ian Russell has been announced as one of three finalists for the USL’s Coach of the Year award. Russell led Reno to club records in wins and points this season, finishing the season second in the USL Western Conference standings.

“It’s nice to be recognized by my fellow coaches for the work we’ve done here in Reno, this season and over the last three years,” said Russell.

Over the course of Russell’s three seasons at the helm of 1868 FC, the club has won 51 regular season matches to tie FC Cincinnati’s USL record for the most wins in their first three seasons. Including playoffs, Russell owns a 52-27-25 record with the club.

This season, Reno won 18 games to earn 60 points. The totals are improvements from last season’s 16 wins and 59 points. Reno earned a third consecutive playoff berth and finished third in the league in goals with 72.

One of the most impressive numbers of the 2019 season was Reno’s dominant road record. The club went 10-5-2 away from home, moving Russell’s all-time road record to 26-13-13.

Russell was a finalist for the award in 2017, when he earned 28 percent of the vote to finish third behind Real Monarchs’ Mark Briggs and Louisville City’s James O’Connor. This year’s finalists are Phoenix Rising’s Rick Schantz and Pittsburgh's Bob Lilley.