Nashville SC Part Ways With Manager Gary Smith
“Gary Ball” is out with Nashville SC. Nashville SC have parted ways with manager Gary Smith after he began with the organization in April of 2017. Smith initially began with Nashville SC in the USL Championship where he managed the organization through 77 games at the 2nd division level. Smith led the USL side to a record of 37 wins, 20 draws, and 20 losses and instilled enough faith in his leadership that the club decided to keep him as manager in their transition to MLS. Smith officially took over the MLS side in the inaugural season in 2020. Through an odd beginning of a covid impacted season, Smith would prove to bring a consistent and mentally tough side to Nashville. In his 162 games in charge of Nashville SC’s MLS tenure, Smith would finish with a record of 63 wins, 53 draws, and 46 losses.
It was never a case in thinking that Gary Smith was a bad manager or that he led a bad MLS side. I personally think the demise of his time with Nashville came from his game model. Smith played an extremely defensive style of soccer, maybe the most defensive that we’ve seen in a very long time in MLS history. A model that did see Nashville SC produce some of the best defensive teams in MLS history. But, the ceiling to this style of soccer does fall back upon the poor offensive moments that we’ve seen from his club over the years. The real saving grace to Smith has been the signing and success of Hany Mukhtar. Mukhtar was the Golden Boot and MVP in 2022, as well as adding a few Best XI and All Star appearances to his resume. But outside of individual moments of brilliance from Mukhtar, Smith’s system led to poor showings on the offensive end.
Where is Nashville SC now? Well, they are a team that still has some major talent on its roster. A former MLS MVP still under the age of 30 in Hany Mukhtar. A two time MLS Defensive Player of the Year and five time MLS Best XI centerback in Walker Zimmerman. MLS experienced midfielders in Sean Davis, Anibal Godoy, Tah Anunga, Amar Sejdic, and Dru Yearwood. And some up and coming younger talent in Elliot Panicco, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, and Jacob Shaffleburg. There are pieces here for success, even though I do think some roster spots could be upgraded. It will be interesting to see how this Nashville front office and General Manager Mike Jacobs handle the next hire.
