Minnesota United announced today that interim head coach Sean McAuley has departed the club to pursue other opportunities. Cameron Knowles, formerly the MNUFC2 head coach, has been named the Loons’ first-team interim head coach following McAuley’s departure.

Knowles, a native of New Zealand, was the head coach of Minnesota United’s MLS NEXT Pro team from 2022-2023. Prior to his head coaching role with MNUFC2, he was the video analyst for the Loons first team in 2021. Before arriving in Minnesota, Knowles spent nine years as a coach with the Portland Timbers, beginning with the 2012 MLS season. In those nine years, six were spent as an assistant coach, winning an MLS Cup in 2015 and three years as head coach for the Portland Timbers 2 team that competed in the USL Championship.

MNUFC wishes Sean all the best in the future, and would like to thank him for his contributions to the club on the pitch and in the community over the past five years.

Minnesota United’s search for a permanent head coach is underway.