Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC added to the City of Champions legacy in 2025.
For the first time in the club’s 26-year history, the Riverhounds were crowned league champions.
Their shootout victory over Tulsa in front of 10,000 fans and a national television audience Nov. 22 sealed the USL Championship title.
The teams played to a scoreless tie through 120 minutes of regulation and overtime before the Hounds won 5-3 in penalty kicks. Keeper Eric Dick, the USL Championship finals MVP, made the key save in the shootout to secure the win.
A victory celebration was held Dec. 4 in front of the City-County Building, capping off a news-filled 2025 for the Hounds.
• Longtime head coach Bob Lilley was put on administrative leave Oct. 10. Hounds officials declined to provide any additional information during the remainder of the season. Assistant coach Rob Vincent was named interim head coach and promoted to head coach after the season.
Lilley coached eight seasons with the Hounds. With a career record of 415-205-196 over 25 seasons with six teams, he is the winningest active coach in American pro soccer.
• In August, owner Tuffy Shallenberger announced an expansion plan for Highmark Stadium, which will grow to a capacity of 15,000. The venue will be able to host concerts and larger events and help prepare the Hounds for a planned move to USL Division One in 2028.
• After the season, the Riverhounds announced several of the team’s top players would return, including captain and midfielder Danny Griffin and defender Robbie Mertz, an Upper St. Clair grad.
• On May 7, the Hounds defeated MLS team New York City FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Beto Ydrach had the lone goal in the 1-0 win. The Hounds later lost to Philadelphia Union in the Round of 16.
• In addition, longtime Hounds midfielder Kenardo Forbes announced his retirement March 13 as he moved into a coaching role. He was a seven-time All USL selection and the league MVP in 2019.