Portland Thorns hire head coach

Paul Riley has been hired as the head coach of the defending NWSL champion Portland Thorns.

Riley most recently coached the Philadelphia Independence of the now-defunct Women's Professional Soccer league. The Independence reached the WPS championship in each of its two seasons and he was the coach of the year in 2010 and 2011.

Before that, he was head coach of the Long Island Fury of the Women's Premier Soccer League, leading the team to the league's inaugural championship in 2006 and a second title in 2009.

A native of Liverpool, England, Riley played at Adelphi University before a 10-year professional career with the Albany Capitals, the New Jersey Eagles and the Long Island Rough Riders. He served as head coach of the Rough Riders from 1998-2003.