Meet Mak Lind: The New Head Coach of the North Carolina Courage
The North Carolina Courage have appointed Mak Lind as their new head coach, making him the third head coach in the team's history. Lind, a 37-year-old Swedish coach, joins the NWSL club after a successful stint with BK Häcken, where he led the team to a Damallsvenskan league title in 2025. Lind's coaching philosophy is centered around possession-based soccer and a focus on scoring goals.
Lind's proudest moment with Häcken was the team's response after a challenging start to the 2025 season. Despite setbacks, Lind believes in the importance of handling adversity and continuing to believe in the team's vision. The Courage had been without a head coach since Sean Nahas was dismissed in August 2025, and assistant coach Nathan Thackeray served as the interim manager for the remainder of the season.
Lind was approached by the Courage in September 2025 and went through an extensive application process before being selected as the new head coach. He was drawn to the team's intimate size and structure, as well as the connection he felt with the people at the club. Lind will be tasked with maintaining the Courage's possession-based style of play while also evolving the team's principles to achieve success in the upcoming season.
The 2025-2026 offseason saw significant changes for the Courage, including the departure of key players like Kaleigh Kurtz and Denise O'Sullivan. Lind's success in 2026 will depend on his ability to maximize the potential of players like Manaka Matsukubo, who was a finalist for the 2025 NWSL MVP award. Lind has already begun working with the team in preseason and will lead the Courage in their season opener against Racing Louisville on March 14.