FC Naples Coach Zak Gordon Steps Down
Interim head coach Zak Gordon is leaving FC Naples after leading the club through a playoff push and six straight wins.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Soccer
FC Naples interim head coach Zak Gordon stepped down, and the club has begun its search for a new head coach. Gordon took over in July 2026 and led the team to a second straight playoff appearance.
Why it matters
Gordon's departure leaves FC Naples without a permanent coach following a season in which the club returned to the playoffs. The search for a successor will determine the direction of the program heading into the next season.
The club's six straight wins to close the regular season and its second consecutive playoff appearance are reported as club results. No successor has been named, and a timeline for the hire has not been given.
The players
FC Naples
FC Naples is a USL League One soccer club based in Naples that competes in the league's playoff picture.
Zak Gordon
Zak Gordon is a soccer coach who served as FC Naples' interim head coach after taking over in July 2026.
The details
Gordon took over as interim head coach in July 2026, succeeding former head coach Matt Poland, and led FC Naples through six straight wins to close the regular season. He was named USL League One Coach of the Month for October, and his departure was announced in a club statement alongside a statement from Gordon, who is relocating to New Jersey to be closer to family.
Timeline
July 2026: Zak Gordon takes over as interim head coach of FC Naples.
October 2026: Gordon is named USL League One Coach of the Month.
November 6, 2026: Gordon's departure is announced and the coaching search begins.
Season Trajectory
Gordon's exit follows FC Naples' second straight playoff appearance, a sign of a sustained competitive stretch for the club. The change in leadership arrives as the team looks to maintain its place in the USL League One playoff picture.
Fans of FC Naples will want to watch for the new coach announcement, which will determine the roster and tactical direction heading into the next season. The club's six-game winning run to close the regular season is the most recent measure of its form under Gordon.
The takeaway
A coaching search after a playoff season is a moment where continuity and direction are both on the line for FC Naples. Readers following the club should watch for the successor announcement to see how the program plans to build on its recent results.
What happens next
FC Naples has not announced a timeline for naming its next head coach, and a successor will be announced at a later date.
Further reading
For more on the club's season, see Soccer coverage of Naples teams.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBBH.
