The Oakland Roots announced the firing of head coach Gavin Glinton and his assistant coach Jesse Cormier after an anemic start to the season.
Oakland began the season with four losses and a draw, then rebounded with three wins and three losses in the league. However, during the same time span, the Roots also lost three games to lower division USL League One sides in the Jeigermeister Cup and the US Open Cup.
The club has also had issues on both sides of the field, having only scored thirteen times in eleven games while conceding twenty-two goals in the league, the most in the USL Championship. The uneven performances contrast with the excitement of the fans who packed the Oakland Coliseum on several occasions this season, wanting to support the team in their new home.
“The start to the season on the field has not matched the momentum we’ve built off the field,” said Oakland Roots President Lindsay Barenz, announcing the dismissal. “Our expectations for on-field performance are much higher than where we currently stand.”
Glinton’s dismissal continues an unfortunate streak of Roots coaches being dismissed during the middle of the season.
In August 2022, head coach Juan Guerra was fired and replaced by Noah Delgado on an interim basis. Delgado led the team to the playoffs that season and earned the permanent head coach role.
In 2023, the Roots were among the top teams in the league for most of the year before a disastrous run of form at the end of the season caused them to miss out on the playoffs.
Early in 2024, Delgado was fired after another poor start for the Roots. Assistant Coach Gavin Glinton became the interim head coach and led the team up the standings. However, Oakland struggled down the stretch, barely making the playoffs and exiting in the first round.
Despite the team’s poor form at the end of the 2025 campaign, Glinton was brought back and retooled much of the roster. The team started the 2025 season with a string of losses and draws, including a 3-0 loss to Rhode Island FC, when Glinton announced he “was pissed” with his team’s performance.
The club played .500 ball in the league after the Rhode Island defeat, but currently sits in 11th place in the 12th-place Western Conference. Oakland is only three points out of a playoff spot, so there is plenty of time for a successful season.
“We strongly believe in the group of players we’ve assembled, and we’re confident in their ability to compete in the USL Championship,” Barenz said. “We remain committed to working tirelessly to deliver a sporting product that our fans and community can be proud of.”
The Roots announced that they will name a new head coach shortly.
