The Portland Timbers have named Jack Cassidy as the new head coach of the clubs MLS Next Pro affiliate, Timbers2.
Before his arrival in the Rose City the 35 year old Englishman was the assistant manager at Danish top flight club, Aalborg BK. Much of Cassidy’s coaching career has been spent in the youth development world, with experience in England, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Cassidy currently is a holder of the UEFA A and UEFA Elite Youth A coaching licenses, and is currently a candidate for the UEFA Pro license, which is considered to be the most respected coaching license in world football.
“We are excited to announce the hiring of Jack Cassidy as our new Head Coach of Timbers2. Jack brings a wealth of experience from different levels across multiple continents,” Timbers General Manager Ned Grabavoy shared via a press release. “He is passionate about working with players in the development space and has demonstrated an extreme dedication and commitment to his continued growth as a young coach. We look forward to his efforts and collaboration in leading our MLS Next Pro program onward.”
“I’m delighted to be joining the club as Head Coach of Timbers2. Throughout the process and my interactions with the staff, it was evident that this is a football club that puts people first,” said Head Coach Cassidy. "Having worked across both the senior and development levels of the game, I’m passionate about helping players navigate the transition into senior football — a step that can be both exciting and challenging,"
"My focus will be on creating an environment where players are pushed, supported, and given real clarity around the daily demands and expectations of senior football, enabling them to maximize their potential."
To me, this hiring is another commitment by the club to further the youth development pipeline that has come into the spotlight over the last several years. I for one am excited to see how Cassidy will integrate into the developmental system that is in place in Portland.
Timbers2 Signs Trio of Players
T2 has wasted no time in continuing to build Cassidy's roster. Today the club announced that they have signed a trio of young players for the 2026 season. Goalkeeper Sam Joseph, midfielder Justin McLean, and forward Colin Griffith were all inked for the 2026 MLS Next Pro season with T2.
All three players are currently with the Timbers first team as part of preseason preparations. McLean and Griffith were drafted by Portland in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, and Joseph went undrafted. All three appear to have shown enough to earn contracts with Portland's developmental side, and will continue their development throughout the year there.
One of Portland's draft picks as of yet remains unsigned. Lucas Fernandez-Kim out of Oregon State University was also part of Portland's 2026 SuperDraft class, but he was not identified as being part of the T2 roster thus far. Notably, Fernandez-Kim was the only one out of the draft picks to see the field in Portland's first preseason match, a closed-door scrimmage against the LA Galaxy.
Could that mean that Fernandez-Kim is in line for a first team contract? Or that he is lower on the depth chart, or has more eligibility remaining? Only time will tell.
