Joe Spears

IndyStar

A little more than a year after being named the head coach of the Indy Eleven, Tim Hankinson will reprise his role for the 2017 season.

The NASL 2016 Coach of the Year quickly turned things around for the club after the Eleven finished ninth in 2015. In his first season under the helm, Hankinson led the Eleven to a 15-10-7 record, including an undefeated 13-game streak in the spring season. Between the two season the Eleven finished with 55 points, the Spring Season championship and a berth in the NASL championship.

“A year ago we brought Tim Hankinson aboard to provide leadership on the team side of the club and improve results on the field, and he certainly checked both of those boxes,” Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir said. “The Indy Eleven family is excited to continue working with Coach Hankinson as he helps the team towards more success in 2017.”

The 2017 season for NASL is uncertain at the moment because of financial problems. U.S. soccer on Tuesday said it would have discussions over the next seven to 10 days about whether to sanction/recertify the NAST and USL. Teams have left the league, raising concerns it could move to a lower tier of competition or even cease operations.

Hankinson has 37 years of experience under his belt. He began his career in 1979 at Ogelthorpe University and worked nine years in MLS with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Colorado Rapids. His other stint in the NASL came in 2012, when he coached the San Antonio Scorpions for two seasons.

“A fire was lit with how the 2016 season ended in The Championship Final, and that will serve as a burning motivation for what will come in 2017,” said Hankinson. “Continuity is important, so I am looking forward to keeping the core of last year’s squad and building on the foundation of success it achieved. At the same time, we do need to grow tactically and add new faces that will bolster our play on the field and the tremendous relationship we’ve built with our fans.”