RIFC’s Khano Smith Named USL Championship Coach of the Week
Rhode Island FC announced today that Head Coach and General Manager Khano Smith has been named to the USL Championship Week 11 Team of the Week after leading his team to a pair of shutout wins in a four-day span. The honor is Smith’s fourth league recognition in the last two seasons with Rhode Island FC.
In a busy gameweek on the road, Smith led the Ocean State club to a pair of back-to-back shutout wins vs. Eastern Conference opposition to extend the club’s season-long unbeaten run to four games. He first bested his former club in a 1-0 win at Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday before dismantling the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a dominant 3-0 win at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday.
The feat not only marked the first stretch of back-to-back wins all season, but was also the first time the club has ever collected back-to-back shutout road wins. The six-point swing, which marked the tail end of a marathon stretch of five games in 14 days for Smith’s squad, saw the Ocean State club shoot from 10th to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
After making a season-high five saves in the win vs. Tampa Bay, RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas was also named to the Team of the Week’s bench. Smith and Vegas are the fifth and sixth Rhode Island FC honorees named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week in 2025:
WEEK
DATE
NAME
HONOR
3
3/25/25
JJ Williams
Team of the Week
5
4/8/25
Clay Holstad
Team of the Week
5
4/8/25
Albert Dikwa “Chico”
Team of the Week
5
4/8/25
Jojea Kwizera
Team of the Week
11
5/20/25
Koke Vegas
Team of the Week (Bench)
11
5/20/25
Khano Smith
Coach of the Week
Up next, Smith, Vegas and the rest of the Rhode Island FC squad will return to Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m. against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Tickets are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
###
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND FOOTBALL CLUB
Rhode Island FC, A Club for All Rhode Island, is independently owned and operated, and is the only homegrown men’s professional team in the state. It is led by co-founders Brett M. Johnson and former MLS and USMNT player Michael Parkhurst, a Rhode Island native. The club began play in 2024, advancing to the USL Championship Final in its inaugural season. RIFC will open the 2025 season at home in its permanent stadium in downtown Pawtucket, Centreville Bank Stadium. For more information visit rhodeislandfc.com.
RHODE ISLAND FOOTBALL CLUB BRAND GUIDELINES
For use of the primary RIFC crest, Rhode Island FC brand guidelines must be followed. The primary crest and brand guidelines are available for download here.
ABOUT CENTREVILLE BANK STADIUM
Located in downtown Pawtucket on the banks of the Seekonk River, Centreville Bank Stadium is a state-of-the-art, 100 percent electric, soccer-specific stadium with a 10,500+ capacity. Centreville Bank Stadium is a gamechanger for the state of Rhode Island and will support hundreds of jobs. Centreville Bank Stadium is the official home of the Rhode Island FC and the multi-use venue is the flagship destination for sports and entertainment in the Ocean State, hosting other sporting and community events and concerts year-round. For more information visit rhodeislandfc.com/centreville-bank-stadium.
CENTREVILLE BANK STADIUM BRAND GUIDELINES
For use of the Centreville Bank Stadium logo, brand guidelines must be followed. The Centreville Bank Stadium logo and brand guidelines are available for download here.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-Game Tickets, Group Tickets, Prorated Season Ticket Memberships, 5-Game Plans and 8-Game Plans are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 401-955-RIFC (7432) or by visiting rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS
To request a media credential for the next Rhode Island FC home game on Wednesday, May 24 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the following form must be completed by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025: https://forms.gle/zvM4TxaqusoA2dSb7
