FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (November 6, 2024) – The New England Revolution II have appointed Brad Knighton, currently head coach of the Revolution Academy Under-15 team, as goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. Knighton, a distinguished former MLS goalkeeper who spent 12 of his 16 seasons with the Revolution, will ascend to his first coaching role in the professional ranks after two years with the Revolution Academy, where he won the 2022-23 MLS NEXT Cup championship as head coach of the Under-19s.
Knighton will finish the 2024-25 MLS NEXT Fall season with the Under-15s before transitioning into his new role on Jan. 1, 2025. The Revolution will confirm the new head coach of the Under-15s prior to the start of the winter season.
Knighton, 39, makes the transition to Revolution II after a successful two-year stint as a head coach in the Revolution Academy. Since kicking off the 2024-25 MLS NEXT season in September, Knighton has led the Under-15s to a 7-1-3 record. In his first year with the program, Knighton led the Under-19s to their second consecutive national title at the MLS NEXT Cup postseason tournament in the spring of 2023. In doing so, the Revolution became the first academy to win back-to-back MLS NEXT Cup titles.
The Hickory, N.C. native began his playing career with New England in 2007 as an undrafted free agent. He went on to set a club record for the most MLS seasons in a Revolution uniform (12), a mark now shared with Andrew Farrell. Knighton registered a 33-29-20 mark in his career, including 21 wins for the Revolution. During his tenure, Knighton helped New England win the 2021 Supporters' Shield, and started four games en route to the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
Knighton, who announced his retirement after the 2022 MLS season, ranks fourth in Revolution history in goals against average (1.70), save percentage (66.9), and winning percentage (.509) among qualifying goalkeepers. In U.S. Open Cup play, he holds the club’s all-time record in games played in goal (13), games started in goal (13), and minutes played in goal (1,260). Outside of New England, Knighton played for the Philadelphia Union during their inaugural season in 2010, and helped lead Vancouver Whitecaps FC to its first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2012.
Beyond his on-field achievements, the 2022 Revolution Humanitarian of the Year continues to dedicate his time to serving the New England community alongside his family. This past weekend on November 3, the Knighton family marked the one-year anniversary of the Olivia Knighton Foundation. Brad, his wife, Britney, and their sons Owen and Brooks launched the foundation last year on the birthday of their late daughter, Olivia. Inspired by Olivia’s passion for education and helping others, the Olivia Knighton Foundation is committed to spreading Liv's light and love, particularly in Massachusetts near their Attleboro home.
In its first year, the OKF has donated over $50,000 to scholarships, soccer programs, animal protection and research, summer camps, and more. They founded a scholarship fund in Olivia's honor at Attleboro High School, awarding five local seniors with $5,000 each to pursue their goals of higher education. This winter, the OKF is set to hold its second annual Christmas Toy Drive at Rodman Arena, which collected thousands of toys for local charities in 2023. CLICK HERE to donate or learn more about the Olivia Knighton Foundation.
