Vancouver Rise Sack Heiner-Moller As Reigning NSL Champs Slide To Fifth

The Vancouver Rise may be the reigning Northern Super League champions, but the side is on a different trajectory for 2026.

Now resting in fifth of sixth teams and having dropped a 1-0 loss to the Halifax Tides, the club has parted ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Moller.

Julia Benati wins it with a shot from HALF 😱 @hfxtidesfc pic.twitter.com/H9Q7LsAAcQ

— Northern Super League (@NorthernSuperLg) September 6, 2026

No permanent replacement for Heiner-Moller is expected for the remainder of the season, which is another big choice made by club brass beyond the decision itself. The Northern Super League side states that the club will be helmed by assistant coach Iain Derbyshire in an interim role for the remainder of the season, with Katie Collar and Erin McNulty assisting.

That’s a big showing of faith in Derbyshire, with the club essentially believing it is better off with him taking the reigns versus giving Heiner-Moller a full season to turn things around after having won the league’s inaugural championship.

“We are grateful to Anja for her many contributions to the club, making history as an important part of Rise FC winning the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup,” says Rise FC Chief Soccer Officer Robyn Gayle, who states the decision to part ways with Heiner-Moller was a difficult one for the club to make.

The Danish head coach had joined Vancouver ahead of the league’s debut season, steering them to a third-place finish before storming to a playoff championship win in a final against AFC Toronto.

She departs the Rise with an 18W-8D-18L record, with the club’s 2026 campaign seeing them land 7W-2D-10L. Sliding out of a playoff position this weekend appeared to be the final straw.

Her interim replacement Iain Derbyshire had joined the club following the club’s title-winning season, joining ahead of the current ‘26 campaign. He previously served as the head of Cardiff City FC women’s and girls football, where he helped the Cardiff City Women rack up eight trophies in a six-year span.

“We have built high expectations, and it’s on all of us, staff and players, to continue raising the standards to meet them,” adds Gayle. “We are focused on moving forward and making a strong push to finish the season successfully.”

The second Northern Super League season has now seen head coach changes in half of its clubs this year, with Leah Blayney taking over the Calgary Wild and Robert Rositoui being replaced at the Montreal Roses.

Assistant coach Katie Collar remains with Vancouver and has been parts of the inaugural coaching staff, having previously coached the Rise FC Academy in the days it was known as the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite, helping the side to three straight League1 BC (now BCPL) titles and two League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championships.

She is joined by goalkeeper coach Erin McNulty, who also progressed alongside Collar as a coach at the Rise FC Academy and holds a UEFA A licence.

The Vancouver Rise will play its first-ever game without Heiner-Moller at the helm next Sunday, September 13 against the Ottawa Rapid at Swangard Stadium.