Marko Mitrovic Finalizes Coaching Staff for 2026 MLS Season
“I had the opportunity to work closely with Sean and Michael during my time with the U-20s at U.S. Soccer, where I learned how great they are as both people and professionals."
Marko Mitrovic has finalized his 2026 coaching staff and it is a mix of new names and familiar faces for New England Revolution fans.
Kevin Hitchcock is now the longest tenured coach on the MLS staff having joined New England in 2019 as a goalkeeper coach. Additionally, Blair Gavin will remain as an assistant coach, and Marc Orti Esteban will remain as New England’s set-piece specialist.
Two new faces who have worked with Mitrovic in prior stops will be joining the staff. As first reported by Sounder at Heart, Michael Morris will be joining the staff, but the announcement from the club also noted that Sean Hughes will be serving as an assistant coach.
“I had the opportunity to work closely with Sean and Michael during my time with the U-20s at U.S. Soccer, where I learned how great they are as both people and professionals,” Mitrovic said in a statement. “They are both experienced coaches with strong knowledge of the game and tremendous abilities to lead processes,” Mitrović said. “I’m excited they made the decision to join our staff here in New England, where they will complement the many talented people already with the club. After spending the last two weeks sharing many productive conversations with the current team, I’m very confident in the staff we have assembled, and I look forward to working with everyone as we prepare for the 2026 season.”
Both Hughes and Morris served as assistants with the United States U-20 Men’s National Team in 2024 and 2025, including at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was led by Mitrovic. Hughes arrives in New England following two seasons as associate head coach with the University of Michigan men’s soccer program. Michigan earn back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2024 and 2025. The Wolverines also advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Final in 2024 and 2025, ending a five-year drought and notching a win in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years during the 2024 campaign.
Hughes previously spent eight seasons with Marquette University, the last four as assistant head coach, where he played a part in the program’s recruiting efforts. He helped the Golden Eagles reach three Big East Tournaments, an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, and win the Big East Midwest Championship in 2021.
Before his 10 seasons in Division I, Hughes was the head coach at Maryville University in 2015, where his team set a single-season Division II record for wins and recorded the most shutouts in program history. Hughes also spent time as an assistant coach with Quincy University, where he won two Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships and reached the NCAA semifinals as the No. 3-ranked team nationally in 2014.
Hughes holds a USSF A License. The Blackburn, England native was a youth player in his home country with Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Preston North End, and Bury FC. He moved to the United States to play collegiate soccer at Northeastern State in Oklahoma, where he led the team in goals and points over two seasons before moving to Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee.