LOUISVILLE, Ky. – New Louisville City FC Head Coach John Hackworth spoke with local media for the first time on Tuesday after taking the reins officially at the club on Monday following the conclusion of a trip to Costa Rica with the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team.

The defending USL Cup champion is getting set for one of its biggest games of the season this Saturday with Nashville SC set to visit Slugger Field for the third and final regular-season meeting between the clubs this season. As he took on his new position, the former Philadelphia Union Head Coach laid out the reasons as to why Louisville was the next step in his professional coaching career.

“A couple of major factors,” said Hackworth. “Number one was that they had a tradition of winning already. Obviously, they had won this trophy the year before, and that’s what I wanted to go into. I wanted to go into an ownership group that absolutely had aspirations to win more trophies, win multiple trophies. I’m not going to lie, the fact that the stadium was getting built and shovels were already in the ground, that was number two, because that means there’s so much to build on here, there’s so much to grow, not only from a club standpoint but from a community standpoint, and that is really unique.

“Finally, the opportunity to come and grow something. I was looking for something where I felt like my family and I could come and settle down and put some roots. As long as we win some trophies I think the ownership group will let me stay, and that was really what I wanted to look for. I’ve only been here for a day, but I really feel welcomed, and I want to thank all the fans and the ownership group and supporters, and the players. The players were fantastic in our first training session this morning, so, so far, so good.”

Hackworth was also introduced to local fans on Tuesday evening as a guest at Fall City Brewing Co. where he also participated in a special edition of the Barrel Proof podcast.