B. J. Callaghan

Brian Joseph Callaghan II (born July 1, 1981) is an American soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Nashville SC. He was previously the interim head coach of the United States national team.

Playing career Callaghan was a collegiate soccer player at Ursinus College. A goalkeeper, he made 250 career saves. By the end of his final season he had the fourth highest amount of saves in the history of the college's soccer program. He was the captain of the team in the 2002 season.

Coaching career After graduation, Callaghan was an assistant coach at his alma mater for one year and had been the coach of the FC Delco before joining the staff at Saint Joseph's University, where he was the assistant coach of the women's soccer program for two seasons. In 2006, he became the top assistant coach of the women's soccer program of Villanova University, where his grandfather, Jack Kraft, had been the men's basketball head coach for over a decade and led the Wildcats to the 1971 national championship game. and was later promoted to associate head coach of the Wildcats in 2010.

While at Villanova, Callaghan met Jim Curtin, a Wildcats standout from 1997 to 2000 who was a volunteer assistant. Following Curtin's eventual hiring by the Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union as a member of the club's academy staff, Callaghan was also hired in 2012 as an academy coach while he was continuing to be an associate head coach at Villanova. Curtin alongside Callaghan guided the Union U-17's to the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup trophy. After Berhalter's contract expired at the end of 2022, Callaghan stayed with the program following Anthony Hudson's promotion from assistant coach to interim head coach.

On May 30, 2023, U.S. Soccer announced that Callaghan would succeed Hudson as interim head coach of the men's national team. In June 2023, U.S. Soccer re-appointed Berhalter as head coach and announced that Callaghan's stint as interim head coach will conclude after the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He made his debut as head coach on June 15 against rivals Mexico in the semi-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. The United States won 3–0 and Callaghan became the first coach of the men's national soccer team to win on their debut against Mexico since David Gould in the final round of 1934 FIFA World Cup qualification. The team went on to defeat Canada in the tournament final three days later.

On July 3, 2024, Callaghan was hired by Major League Soccer club Nashville SC as their head coach. He is the club's second head coach in its history after Gary Smith, who was fired on May 16 and replaced by an interim coach. Callaghan officially joined Nashville SC on July 22, 2024, in preparation of the 2024 Leagues Cup.

Coaching statistics + Coaching record by team and tenure

United States (interim) May 30, 2023 July 12, 2023 Nashville SC July 22, 2024 present Nashville SC U.S. Open Cup: 2025

Personal life Raised in Ventnor City, New Jersey, Callaghan played prep soccer at Holy Spirit High School.

Callaghan graduated from Ursinus College in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in economics and business administration.