As they sit in 11th place in the Western Conference and smart from their third loss of the season against third-division competition, the Oakland Roots have relieved Gavin Glinton of his coaching duties.
Glinton joined the club’s staff in 2022 as an assistant to Noah Delgado, helping to solidify the situation after Juan Guerra left for Phoenix Rising. When Delgado was dismissed last May, Glinton took over the head coaching position and led the Roots to a summer revival and a playoff appearance.
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Still, the Roots managed to concede five goals in four separate matches down the stretch and were bounced in the first round of the postseason. Entering 2025, expectations were high, but Glinton couldn’t build momentum in the new year.
Lindsay Barenz, the club’s president, explained the decision in a statement: “The start to the season on the field has not matched the momentum we’ve built off the field. Our expectations for on-field performance are much higher than where we currently stand. We strongly believe in the group of players we’ve assembled and we’re confident in their ability to compete in the USL Championship. We remain committed to working tirelessly to deliver a sporting product that our fans and community can be proud of.”
Oakland also relieved assistant coach Jesse Cormier, who brought decades of NCAA experience to the table (including at Bradley, Glinton’s alma mater), from his job on the staff. No interim manager was named, but the organization said it “will announce its new head coach soon.”
John’s view
Barenz’s statement makes it clear: Oakland expected more in 2025. With the club taking over the Coliseum and attempting to stake their claim on hearts and minds across the East Bay, the goal was to pair all-out marketing with on-field results. Gavin Glinton didn’t hold up his side of the bargain.
