With Lowry departure - Indy Eleven take two steps back

With Lowry departure - Indy Eleven take two steps back



 It was coming depending on who you talked to. Something about the Lowry tenure always felt slightly uncomfortable. Like Radio Head's Creep, his arrival felt like while he fit in, he didn't belong there. After a less-than-stellar year, 2023 was a rebirth of sorts. A load of talent and names brought in, a run of form seemingly hit at the perfect time and despite a performance drastically under the fabric of acceptable, Indy Eleven soccer was "back" after Lowry had cast an aura of having rebuilt a club who has been despite for identity since it's inception, now going on eleven years this coming season. 

And then, this news broke



In a way, it wasn't shocking. His seemingly farewell tweets felt less like a celebration of the rebirth of  club and less about excitement for the next season. It was like he was saying "Thanks for letting me do this..." rather than saying "Here is our next steps."

You can read those tweets here

https://twitter.com/CoachMarkLowry?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


As for the reason, look no further than the genius mind of USL Tactics to enlighten us with possible context to Lowry's departure. In his most recent post, John talks about Lowry's Indy Eleven teams, but also mentions that his sources have stated that Lowry didn't get along with ownership.

You can read the rest of his piece here https://www.usltactics.com/p/reflections-on-mark-lowry-in-indy


My reaction: 

As I said, my general reaction when the news first broke was less shock and more of understanding. Mark was someone that I clamored for since his rise at Jacksonville. I badly wanted him before Rennie arrived. His mind works in such a beautiful way tactically but also his work with youth players previously at El Paso made him a perfect man at the top. 

Would I say I'm surprised by his departure? No. Not all really. More so after the context of the report from USL Tactics  - this has, sadly become an all to common theme with the rise and downfall of many of the Indy Eleven head coaches. 

Before I go any further, that isn't a statement on any part of the ownership of Indy Eleven. These are choices being made, and whether they are right or wrong, I'm not one to say. That being said, after a season that saw massive growth on the field and seemingly massive growth off the field in the context of rebuilding the culture of the club and establishing a true club philosophy, if the ownership did in fact push one of the most successful and notable names in lower division American soccer out the door.

Well damn. That's not good.

Indy Eleven are headed toward a mountain right now. 

They are headed towards a mountain and whether they want to do it or not, they are going to have to climb. You put a target on your back with the bill and funding for the stadium, Eleven Park. Many people in this state (and even the country with those that pay attention to state-funded stadiums) followed this story. You basically said that you were going to be on that same level as the Colts, Pacers, and Indians but unlike them, you haven't had the success to back it up. 

The effort towards getting a stadium built, that energy, has to be put into rebuilding this club. This club that was the pillar of the rebirth of the North American Soccer League has been lost without a leader who can lead them past 2-3 seasons. What image do you send supporters when you are constantly changing or losing coaches? Players? There are expectations of success that this supporter base has and let's be honest, 2016 was a long time ago. Many supporters remember it fondly, but they are ready for new levels of success, trophies, and the other benefits having a successful club earns. 

The next manager, whomever it may be, has a task and a half. You have roster of returning players that likely agreed to return either on the second year of a two year deal OR believing Mark Lowry was their coach. 

The next manager arrives knowing the club just returned to the playoffs for the first tie in as many years and has that expectation and you have to have a manager who can represent the club, bleed red and blue, and begin the new era. 

Most of all, the entire club, the new manager and ownership, have some work to do earning the trust of their supporters back because this goes past tactics. This is a move that hurts many layers of the sport in this state and greatly disappointing to hear

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