Jay Heaps will return as head coach of the Revolution in 2017

Jay Heaps will continue to patrol the sidelines as head coach of the New England Revolution in 2017, according to Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe.

This upcoming season will by Heaps' sixth in charge of the Revolution as he was selected to replace long-time gaffer Stevie Nicol in 2011. During his tenure as head coach, the Revs have made the playoffs three times, which includes an appearance in the MLS Cup Final in 2014. The Revs didn't qualify for the post-season this year, but they did make it to the US Open Cup Final.

When reflecting on the 2016 season after defeating the Montreal Impact 3-0 in the regular season finale, Heaps expressed disappointment about missing the playoffs before vowing to get better.

"I think we have to solidify some spots on the field," Heaps said. "We want to be better and we can’t concede as much as we’ve conceded. We have to stop giving away goals."

General manager Michael Burns expressed similar sentiments, saying that the team "underachieved."

"We felt, on paper, we were a stronger team this year than last year," Burns told the Boston Globe. "Clearly that wasn’t the case, so we need to reassess everything to get better because this year wasn’t good enough."

With an important off-season ahead of them, Heaps, Burns, and the rest of the front office have their sights set on improvement in hopes of capturing the team's first-ever MLS Cup.

"We’re going to continue do everything we can to get back to (an MLS Cup Final) and, hopefully, win one, for everyone in this community, all the fans that supported us, all the players who have gotten there and not won one," Burns said. "That’s our job, that’s what we’re trying to do, put ourselves in a position to compete for one every year."