FC Cincinnati's Pat Noonan was named Major League Soccer's Coach of the Year on Tuesday after guiding his squad to the league's best regular-season record.
The 43-year-old American oversaw Cincinnati's rise from a last-place club to the 2022 MLS playoffs and this year's top mark at 20-5 with nine drawn for 69 points.
The Eastern Conference champions are set to host Philadelphia on Saturday in an MLS quarter-final playoff match.
Cincinnati's first Supporters' Shield win for best record included a 13-2-2 home record and a league-best 14 wins in one-goal matches.
Noonan, a former Philadelphia assistant coach, won with 45% of the total votes from players, team technical staff and a media panel.
He set the pace among players and staff but was edged in media voting by South African Bradley Carnell of St. Louis, who was second overall on 27.78%.
Cincinnati's lineup featured a trio of MLS All-Stars in Argentine midfielders Luciano Acosta and Álvaro Barreal and US defender Matt Miazga.
Noonan scored 42 goals in 183 MLS matches over a 10-year career with New England, Columbus, Colorado, Seattle and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
