James O’Connor is leaving. Paul Tenorio reported, and Louisville City later confirmed, that Louisville City’s first and only coach would be the next coach at Orlando City SC in MLS. O’Connor ended his playing career in Orlando when they were still in USL Pro before signing on to be Louisville City’s head coach. The Irishman went 56W-27D-21L in his three and a half year stint with Morados. He’ll be joining an Orlando City SC team that has never qualified for the MLS playoffs and currently sits two spots out of the playoff picture with a 6-1-9 record on the season. His last game with Louisville City will be tomorrow’s match against New York Red Bulls II.

This was not the first MLS flirtation with James O’Connor for his coaching services. He interviewed for the Portland Timbers position last offseason, and declined at least one previous offer from Orlando within the last two weeks. Presumably, Orlando’s owner finally made him an offer so good, he couldn’t refuse it.

O’Connor was a loyal servant to the Louisville City, who gave him his first ever head coaching job. I have no doubt that his decision to coach in MLS was a difficult one. I’ll never begrudge a professional for making a decision that is in his best interests and those of his family, even if it’s to the (likely) detriment of our club. He demanded and received the best from everyone involved with Louisville City, and is largely responsible for the club’s overall success. If there aren’t plans to put a statue of the guy somewhere on the grounds of the new stadium site, I’ll be surprised. He’s earned it and he deserves it. James has been nothing but professional and honorable in his role as Louisville City head coach.

The coaching staff is going to Orlando, too. Daniel Byrd also got an assistant position as part of O’Connor’s deal with Orlando. The press release didn’t comment about goalkeeper coach Thabane Sutu. Danielle Lerner has reported that he has not yet decided whether to stay in Louisville or follow O’Connor to Orlando. He apparently found out about the move at about the same time we did, however. In their place, George Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo, and Luke Spencer will serve as interim head coaches.

If that situation lasts for a game, then I can live with that. If the club expects to operate without an actual head coach for an extended period of time, I am DEFCON 4 level panicked. Club ownership and management has been aware of Orlando’s overtures to O’Connor for at least three or four weeks; that’s how long Paul Tenorio’s been reporting on their coaching search and including O’Connor as a candidate. They were certainly aware his profile merited the attention. I have to believe there’s a contingency plan in place for this kind of scenario, but I have no idea what it is. My first thought was Ken Lolla, but the club just got back on good footing with UofL. To take away their most successful coach would scuttle that in a heartbeat. I think Daniel Byrd would have been a good interim and possibly permanent replacement, but since he’s going to Orlando, too, that option is gone. I am now out of potential, realistic Louisville City head coaching candidates.

With respect to the rest of the season, yikes. This team was running on the margins of their energy and emotions before this news broke today. I can’t imagine they’ll be able to sustain it over the second half. I have a lot of faith in the guys, but the loss of a leader like O’Connor can’t be anything but a negative here. Adding in to that the potential locker-room drama that might accompany player coaches for more than a couple weeks and things start looking dire. My outlook isn’t great. Then again, it rarely is, so take that with a grain of salt.

Longer term is much grayer, could be trying weeks and months, and even years for LCFC. A plurality of the club’s success was due to the team’s success on the field, and a lot of that was down to JOC. It’s certainly arguable that he was the third leg on the three-legged stool that held Louisville City upright. I feel buoyed by the prospects of the club’s prospects in light of the fact that the stadium is a for-sure reality now. However, it’s vital to this club that the team is competitive on the field. James was probably the primary cog in the team’s on-field success. Given all the off-field turmoil we’ve dealt with between communications personnel and operating officers, James was what kept the ship steady with incredible performances in the USL. What happens when he’s removed from the equation is anyone’s guess.

Or we’ll find another great up-and-coming coach and we’ll be okay. For right now, though, it’s unreasonable to expect the same level of success going forward until proven otherwise.

This is a gut-punch, make no mistake. It is just about any time you lose a successful player or coach, double when it’s in the middle of a season that includes a thus far successful run in the U.S. Open Cup. I mean it when I say I don’t begrudge James for making the decision he did; anyone else in the same position would do likewise. He deserves our love and respect. But these are probably going to be trying times for Louisville City. Buckle up, Purple People. This is going to be the first true test of your mettle. We love you, City, we do.