John Morrissey
Where we left off last year
2024 season: 46 points, 6th in the Western Conference
At their best, the 2024 version of Orange County SC had genuine title upside. At their worst - and "worst" is probably an overly cruel descriptor - Orange County was wracked by injuries and unsettled as they transitioned from Morten Karlsen to Paul Hardyman to Danny Stone on the sideline. OCSC was deeply unlucky, yet they finished strong and even won a playoff game.
During the home stretch of the season, Stone adopted a 4-4-2 (or thereabouts) look that could hurt defenses in multiple ways. Bryce Jamison and Cameron Dunbar were lethal on the counter from the wingers, but Orange County could also break opponents down thanks to the addition of loanee No. 10 Chris Hegardt. The defense got healthy, too, giving OCSC a much-needed backstop.
The upturn earned Stone the managerial job full-time, and it gives this club a real base to build upon for the year to come.
