Revolution replace interim coach Richie Williams, announce departure of two assistants

Days after backing Williams "to close out the 2023 season," the Revolution made a change.

Richie Williams was Revolution interim head coach until Tuesday, when the team named Clint Peay as a replacement. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

By Hayden Bird

September 12, 2023

Less than three days after asserting that former assistant coach Richie Williams would “continue to serve as interim Head Coach as the team prepares to close out the 2023 season” following Bruce Arena’s resignation, the Revolution announced late on Tuesday that Williams had been replaced.

Clint Peay, formerly the head coach of Revolution II, will serve as Interim Head Coach “effective immediately,” according to a team statement. Marcelo Santos, Peay’s assistant coach with Revolution II, will join his new staff in the same role.

The team also announced that it has let go of assistant coaches Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie Joseph. Williams remains at the club for the time being, though his role is unknown.

The abrupt shakeup is the latest in a series of major changes to the team’s coaching staff. It began with Arena being placed on administrative leave on Aug. 1 as the league investigated allegations that he had made “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”

Williams led the team as interim head coach during that time as days stretched into weeks without a resolution of the investigation. On Sept. 9, minutes after the Revolution finished in a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United, the club announced that Arena had resigned. An MLS statement, published shortly afterward, said that its investigation “confirmed” allegations.

Coaches and players didn’t find out about Arena’s decision until after the game, according to Williams.

On Tuesday, the team met with Revolution president Brian Bilello to address what had happened with Arena. According to a report from Tom Bogert and Pablo Maurer of The Athletic, players demanded more information from Bilello and the coaching staff about Arena’s removal, but were unsatisfied with the responses.

Bogert and Maurer also reported that both van den Bergh and Joseph have “walked out of training on multiple occasions since Williams took over as interim head coach.” The two had publicly expressed support for Arena prior to the announcement of his resignation on Saturday.

Peay, 49, has coached Revolution II since its formation in 2019. Playing in MLS Next Pro (the third tier of U.S. men’s professional soccer) Revolution II under Peay has helped develop several of the first team’s current group of young players (most notably midfielder Noel Buck).

The team also announced that Bilello and technical director Curt Onalfo will hold a virtual press conference with the media on Wednesday to offer more information.