The Red Bulls have signed head coach Mike Petke to a new contract.
The length and terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“I’m pleased to reach a new deal with my hometown club,” Petke said in a statement. “We’ve enjoyed success during my short time as head coach, and all of the credit goes to our players, staff and most importantly, our supporters.
“While winning the Supporters’ Shield was a major achievement for our club last year, my overall goal of building a team with a long-term identity that our fans can be proud of remains unchanged. I look forward to continuing this mission in the 2014 season and beyond.”
After parting ways with Hans Backe after the 2012 season, the Red Bulls went through a protracted and awkward coaching search before finally promoting Petke, who had been an assistant. It turned out to be one of the better decisions the club has ever made.
In his first year, Petke was named an MLS Coach of the Year finalist and guided the team to a league-best 59 points off a 17-9-8 record, clinching the franchise’s first meaningful trophy: the Supporters’ Shield.
“Mike is a passionate coach with great potential and this improved contract is the club’s way of recognizing last season’s Supporters’ Shield success,” sporting director Andy Roxburgh said. “In the highly competitive MLS, winning the regular-season title last year was a great achievement and provides Mike and the club with a good platform to build on.”
Before getting the head coaching gig, Petke had spent two seasons as Backe’s assistant after a 13-year playing career. The 38-year-old Long Island native played for New York from 1998-2002 and 2009-10, holding team records for games played with 169 (196 in all competitions), games started (158 in the regular season) and minutes played (14,060 in the regular season).