North Texas SC head coach Eric Quill was today named Coach of the Year in USL League One. Quill’s side won the USL League One regular season crown, finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Lansing Ignite, as well as defeating Greenville Triumph 1-0 in the USL League One championship game earlier in October at Toyota Stadium.

“I’m flattered,” Quill said. “I always look at it as a staff award rather than a coach award. Our staff was amazing, everybody from medical to equipment manager to assistant coaches, everybody played their part in how successful we are. I share this award with everybody because it’s truly a team effort from our staff and organization. It’s a great honor.”

The former Houston Texans coach led a young team largely made up of FC Dallas academy players and graduates. The average age of the starting outfield players in the USL-1 final was only 19.6 years. With the additional obstacle of how FC Dallas’ needs can impact Quill’s line-up. After the championship win, the NTX coach revealed that he received confirmation on the Thursday prior that he would be without Johnny Nelson and Edwin Cerrillo as they would be needed for FC Dallas’ playoff game in Seattle.

“We’re at the point now where we do a lot of guessing beforehand," said Quill after the team’s 1-0 win over Greenville on October 19. "A lot of prearranged line-ups, so there’s not a line-up that we don’t have. On a Monday there’s probably 15 or 16 different ones out there. We plan for all of them, so we’re pretty well versed now by this point of the season.”

The former Dallas Burn winger received 53% of the vote from management teams within USL League One. His opposite number for the final - John Harkes - picked up 29%, and Lansing’s Nate Miller rounded out the top three with 12%.

“This award emphasizes what a great fit Eric is for this team and organization,” North Texas SC General Manager Matt Denny said. “He has managed so many variables while maintaining a positive locker room and high-level training environment. It’s a credit to his coaching ability and leadership skills and thoroughly deserved.”