Less than a week before the Ocean City Nor'easters play their first exhibition game of the 2019 summer season, the club will have a change in leadership.

Tim Oswald, the Nor'easters' all-time wins leader at the USL League Two level, has informed the club that a medical concern has forced him to step down from his role as head coach. Oswald, who won 47 league games between 2012-16, was expected to make a return to the sidelines after spending two seasons as Ocean City's sporting director.

"I wanted nothing more than to come back as the head coach fo the Ocean City Nor'easters this season, but a medical concern has led me to step down," said Oswald. "This decision will have no impact on my role as the head coach at Rutgers-Camden, as I will remain coaching there indefinitely, but it was in the best interest of my family and myself to make this choice at this time. I have the utmost respect for the club and the Granese family and I am very thankful for all the opportunities that the club has provided me over the years. I wish this year's edition the very best as I know it's in great hands with the current staff in place."

Replacing Oswald on the sidelines will be a familiar face to the Nor'easters family: Kevin Nuss.

Nuss, the current Sporting Director for the Nor'easters, and head coach for the Camden County College men's soccer program, will take over effective immediately.

"Oz has left big shoes to fill but nothing changes for me and the players, said Nuss. "Our focus and efforts are to take advantage of the opportunities that this season provides us."

According to Granese, this was the best and most efficient choice for the head coach, and should be a seamless transition.

"It's a shame to hear the news of Tim having to step down as head coach, but we must move on as a club as the season is right around the corner," said Nor'easters general manager Giancarlo Granese Jr. "We are one week out from our first friendly, and our first league game is two weeks away. The team will be in no better hands than with Kevin Nuss as he built the roster and will lead them forward."

This will be a smooth transition because Nuss and Oswald have very similar styles of play. In fact, Nuss is the architect of the Nor'easters 2019 roster, and recruited players to fit that very system. Nuss will maintain his role as sporting director, a role where he recruits and manages players, communicates with professional clubs and creates the club’s training and match schedule.

Nuss originally joined the Nor’easters in 2011, starting out as an assistant coach before being named associate head coach in January of 2014 under Tim Oswald. In addition to his role as associate head coach, Nuss was named general manager a few months later.

In his time with the club from 2011-16, Nuss recruited a number of talented players who moved on to play the game at the next level. Some of the players include 2016 PDL MVP Chevaughn "Chevy" Walsh, who later signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) and now plays professionally in Vietnam, current Nashville SC (USL Championship) defender Ken Tribbett, and one of the top goalkeepers in MLS, Tyler Miller of LAFC. 

Nuss left the Nor’easters after the 2016 season to take a job as the general manager of the Cedar Stars Academy where he was able to work with U.S. National Team legend, and current U.S. Under-20 National Team head coach Tab Ramos.

After working with the Cedar Stars Academy, Nuss returned home to Camden County College, the school where he was a standout goalkeeper during his playing days. He accepted the head coaching job with the Cougars men's soccer program prior to the 2018 season. In his first season last fall, he had Camden College in the national rankings, won the Region XIX and Garden State Athletic Conference championship, and earned a spot in the national tournament. The Cougars would advance to the national quarterfinals before falling in a penalty kick shootout to Cayuga Community College. His team featured Lautaro Berisso, the Region XIX Player of the Year and First Team All-American, and Lucas Pecegueiro, who was also a First Team All-American. The Cougars also had five players named to the All-Region team.

Ocean City will kick off its 23rd season Ocean City's first USL League Two game will be on May 18 when the Nor'easters will travel north to take on FA Euro New York. This will begin the club's 23rd season, and the 17th as a member of USL League Two (formerly the Premier Development League). Click here for the full schedule.