Dom Casciato is the most decorated manager in the history of USL League One. Now, in a deal announced on Tuesday, he’s the manager for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
It’s a bold, groundbreaking hire – Casciato has become the first head coach to be hired by a USL Championship team directly from League One. The move serves as a statement of intent from the Rowdies and a testament to the tightening links between League One and the Championship.
A former assistant in El Paso known for his attacking nous, Casciato took the Union Omaha job ahead of the 2023 season and earned consecutive Players’ Shields. In 2024, Omaha did the double by claiming the USL League One playoff title.
During his time in Nebraska, Los Búhos collected a +37 goal difference on a +33.5 expected margin. No club outside of Eamon Zayed’s Northern Colorado came close to matching that level. Even while maintaining those stellar underlying numbers in 2025, Omaha has faltered in the table. At the time of Casciato’s exit, the club sits 12th in the League One table with just 11 points earned.
Still, Casciato has long been seen as a candidate for USL Championship managerial jobs. When the 34-year-old re-signed in Omaha last winter, his extension was very clearly framed as a one-year deal for a reason – his jump up the pyramid was a “when” rather than an “if,” and Tampa Bay clearly agreed.
Rowdies Vice Chairman Brian Auld said the following regarding his new manager: “Dom has established an impeccable reputation in the USL and U.S. Soccer, and his recent successes with Omaha demonstrate he is a focused leader with an innovative mind who is capable of building a winning culture. His emphasis on supporting his players and helping them reach their full potential is exactly the kind of leadership we value, and we’re confident he will make a lasting impact on the club.”
Tampa Bay moved on from then-manager Robbie Neilson on April 11th and gave interim coach Steve Coleman an extended run to try and right the ship. Though the Rowdies’ form has picked up in recent weeks, they’ve earned just 0.8 points per game in league action since Coleman took over. With his interim complete, Coleman will continue to serve as an assistant under Casciato.
John’s view
The Rowdies couldn’t have hired a better manager. It’s that simple. Not only does Dom Casciato bring a wealth of success and intra-USL knowledge to the table, but he offers up a tactical vision that’s in alignment with Tampa Bay’s roster construction.
To address the elephant in the room, you shouldn’t worry about Omaha’s nosedive to start 2025. They’ve underperformed their expected goals by a margin of 13.7 – already the third-biggest gulf in the history of League One. Casciato has been uniquely unfortunate, a victim of his own success.
