Minnesota United is making another coaching change, but it’s not a permanent hire.

The Loons said Friday interim head coach Sean McAuley is leaving the club and Cameron Knowles will now serve in an interim role. McAuley will now pursue other opportunities, the club said.

On Dec. 5, MNUFC said McAuley, who inherited the interim tag last season, would continue in that role going into the MLS season. But that plan has been altered with Loons players set to report to preseason camp next weekend.

In October, CEO Shari Ballard fired manager Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson. She appointed McAuley to coach the final two games of the 2023 season.

Then in November, Ballard hired Khaled El-Ahmad to be the club’s new Chief Soccer Officer. With El-Ahmad finishing up his duties with Barnsley in England and the club wanting to give him time to make a head coaching hire, they kept McAuley onboard.

The plan had been for El-Ahmad to receive his U.S. visa and start his new job early in 2024. El-Ahmad is still awaiting his visa and the goal is for him to be in Minnesota for the start of preseason training in Blaine on Jan. 13.

“Minnesota United’s search for a permanent head coach is underway,” the club said in its news release.

Knowles has been the Loons’ developmental team (MNUFC2) coach for the past two seasons. He joined the first team staff after Heath’s exit, and until this promotion, he was expected to remain an MLS assistant under McAuley to start the 2024 season.

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