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Jay Heaps has been the New England Revolution's head coach since 2012, starting a rebuilding process with the team that peaked with a trip to the MLS Cup last year.
According to a report from Frank Dell'Apa, the Revs signed Heaps to an extension in December of 2014 for reaching the playoff final. By his account, Dell'Apa really had to work for this scoop.
.@NERevolution give Jay Heaps contract extension (took some prying, etc., to get this story): http://t.co/nlZgV3QNIg
— Frank Dell'Apa (@frankdellapa) August 13, 2015
When contacted the team did not confirm the accuracy of Dell'Apa's story, but sources have confirmed to The Bent Musket that Heaps is no longer on his initial contract. Team policy prevents the Revolution from announcing coaching contracts.
Also buried in the details of Dell'Apa's story are extensions for assistants Tom Soehn and Remi Roy as well, possibly keeping the coaching staff together through the end of the 2017 season. Former midfielder Shalrie Joseph also officially retired at the end of last season, Joseph passed Heaps for the all-time Revs appearance record (305-294) before retiring.
The Revolution have made just two coaching changes since 1999, with Steve Nicol replacing Fernando Clavijo early in the 2002 season. Nicol coached the team until the end of the 2011 season when he was replaced by Heaps, details of Heaps' first contract were not disclosed either.
Perhaps the Revolution will announce Heaps' extension during his bobblehead night this weekend against the Houston Dynamo. It's a deserved extension for a head coach that turned around a struggling team in just a few short years thanks to solid draft picks and the DP signing of Jermaine Jones.