What Does the Hiring of Nick Cushing Mean for the Denver Summit FC?
Nick Cushing, the previous head coach for the New York City FC, has now been announced as Denver Summit FC’s first head coach. The Summit is a new expansion team to the NWSL, and they hope to take to the pitch during the 2026 season. The public has been hearing a lot about this expansion. Their official name was announced this past Tuesday, and now they have hired a coach who will hopefully lead their team to greatness.
Previously, Cushing worked alongside New York City FC as an assistant coach and later as their head coach. Between 2022 and 2024, Cushing helped deliver NYCFC an MLS Cup and a Campeones Cup; this does not even include Cushing’s experience with the Manchester City W.F.C., where he coached from 2012 until 2020, where he delivered six winning titles and trophies. Cushing has stated that he was inspired by “Denver Summit FC’s commitment to building a world-class soccer organization.” He has also explained how he hopes to play more of an attacking formation and that he, and the team, can create a game that is entertaining and exciting for all to watch. So far, the only player that has been assigned to play with Summit in next year’s season is Ally Watt. Watt, a Colorado local, is the first player to be announced, and formerly played as a forward with Orlando Pride.
Cushing told ESPN that he has a real obsession with winning and that he “wants to create a winning team.” He also said that he looks at this as a way to show how good a coach he is. "I appreciate and accept that expansion comes with challenges, but to have the opportunity to show my value and give my value to an organization from the ground up is, to me, really, really exciting,” Cushing said. The first head coach in Denver Summit history looks to build a championship contender, but knows that it will come with time. "The reality is that building something from scratch is complex. For me, I still think the same way as I did in 2014: We have to be competitive, and to be competitive in the league, the decisions that we make over the next six months -- that myself and Curt and David Vaught, assistant GM, and Jen Millet, team president, and the wider leadership team -- the decisions that we make will be critical for how competitive we are."
Many fans have expressed their excitement on social media, welcoming Cushing to the team. Denver’s fans feel confident about next year’s season. This is largely attributed to Cushing’s credentials. With a brand new season and a brand new team, Cushing will have the ability to mold this team from the beginning and will hopefully deliver Denver a winning title.
