PHOENIX – Luke Biasi spent three years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, making 120 appearances and winning the USL Championship in 2025 when Pittsburgh defeated Tulsa on penalties in the final.
Despite that resume, Biasi, a 26-year-old defender, joined Phoenix Rising as the club’s first offseason signing. That required an explanation.
“I think the club speaks for itself in terms of market and location, as it is as a city as well,” Biasi said at a news conference. “I’ve heard from past players that I’m acquainted with and good friends, that this is a club that is very professionally run. Their mindset towards winning is there.”
Biasi made it clear that another key factor in the move west was his own ambition.
“Phoenix was the next step to keep progressing my career,” he said. “I know that the atmosphere on Saturday night is amazing. I know that they are always shooting to keep raising the level.”
Biasi said joining a new team can be nerve-racking, but after the first practice, he knew Phoenix was his new home.
“You just never know what locker rooms can be like,” Biasi said. “They can be toxic, they can have egos, but first day, I felt like I was at home already. I called my parents, I called my girlfriend and I was like ‘I love it.’ I think this place is a home for me. I think I told Pa first day in the locker room, ‘I love it here.’”
Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah shares that love. He loves Biasi’s experience and personality.
“You’re talking about a champion that chose to come here,” Kah said. “He wants to do great things with the club and he’s a team guy, a great personality, never shies away from saying what he thinks for the betterment of the team. Those are the type of characters you want in your locker room.”
Rising sporting director Brandon McCarthy appreciates Biasi’s versatility.
“You don’t have a 30-person club depth. This isn’t a massive club,” McCarthy said during a news conference in late January. “You’ve got to be creative with where players can go, and if they get pigeonholed quickly, and they can only play in one place, and if someone beats him to that space, you kind of have a dead roster spot. A player like Luke, you can use him in three different spots comfortably without a drop in quality.”
Despite Biasi being a new signing, he is one of the most experienced players in the league, having joined in 2022. That experience made him an instant leader for Rising.
“I’ve seen myself grow a lot,” Biasi said. “Just see things differently, whether that’s on the field or off the field, communicating with people. As for here, I try to have that leadership role of knowing what it’s like to be in those shoes. If someone makes a mistake, showing them what they should’ve done rather than just getting frustrated and yelling at them.”
The change in scenery allowed Biasi to escape some trouble in Pittsburgh that he saw firsthand.
On Oct. 10. 2025, just a month before the USL Playoffs, coach Bob Lilley was put on administrative leave. Lilley had been the coach of the Riverhounds since 2017. Rob Vincent took over and led the team to the first championship in their 26-year history.
Lilley had cleaned out his office a week after the victory, and Matt Grubba, a club spokesman, said the club would provide further information soon, but did not currently have anything else to share about Lilley’s departure, Pittsburgh Soccer Now reported.
When asked about his time with Lilley, Biasi provided limited information.
“I think Bob did a good job with us,” Biasi said. “He set us up to play tactically and be organized and work together and make teams feel our presence. I think when Rob stepped in, there was a little more of fluidity and composure and creativity. That’s all I’ll say there.”
Rising begins their 34-match schedule on March 7 when they host San Antonio. Biasi can’t wait to get started.
“You can see everyone’s bought in and dedicated — coaches here early in the morning, players asking questions, watching film. We have meetings every day, whether it’s the littlest thing or the longest thing,” he said. “Everyone’s invested in that goal. It’s cool to see, and I can’t wait to see where it progresses.”
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Rising’s Luke Biasi enjoys Phoenix’s embrace after winning USL championship in Pittsburgh
Thomas Bonvehi, Cronkite News
February 12, 2026
PHOENIX – Luke Biasi spent three years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, making 120 appearances and winning the USL Championship in 2025 when Pittsburgh defeated Tulsa on penalties in the final.
Despite that resume, Biasi, a 26-year-old defender, joined Phoenix Rising as the club’s first offseason signing. That required an explanation.
“I think the club speaks for itself in terms of market and location, as it is as a city as well,” Biasi said at a news conference. “I’ve heard from past players that I’m acquainted with and good friends, that this is a club that is very professionally run. Their mindset towards winning is there.”
Biasi made it clear that another key factor in the move west was his own ambition.
“Phoenix was the next step to keep progressing my career,” he said. “I know that the atmosphere on Saturday night is amazing. I know that they are always shooting to keep raising the level.”
Biasi said joining a new team can be nerve-racking, but after the first practice, he knew Phoenix was his new home.
“You just never know what locker rooms can be like,” Biasi said. “They can be toxic, they can have egos, but first day, I felt like I was at home already. I called my parents, I called my girlfriend and I was like ‘I love it.’ I think this place is a home for me. I think I told Pa first day in the locker room, ‘I love it here.’”
Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah shares that love. He loves Biasi’s experience and personality.
“You’re talking about a champion that chose to come here,” Kah said. “He wants to do great things with the club and he’s a team guy, a great personality, never shies away from saying what he thinks for the betterment of the team. Those are the type of characters you want in your locker room.”
Rising sporting director Brandon McCarthy appreciates Biasi’s versatility.
“You don’t have a 30-person club depth. This isn’t a massive club,” McCarthy said during a news conference in late January. “You’ve got to be creative with where players can go, and if they get pigeonholed quickly, and they can only play in one place, and if someone beats him to that space, you kind of have a dead roster spot. A player like Luke, you can use him in three different spots comfortably without a drop in quality.”
Despite Biasi being a new signing, he is one of the most experienced players in the league, having joined in 2022. That experience made him an instant leader for Rising.
“I’ve seen myself grow a lot,” Biasi said. “Just see things differently, whether that’s on the field or off the field, communicating with people. As for here, I try to have that leadership role of knowing what it’s like to be in those shoes. If someone makes a mistake, showing them what they should’ve done rather than just getting frustrated and yelling at them.”
The change in scenery allowed Biasi to escape some trouble in Pittsburgh that he saw firsthand.
On Oct. 10. 2025, just a month before the USL Playoffs, coach Bob Lilley was put on administrative leave. Lilley had been the coach of the Riverhounds since 2017. Rob Vincent took over and led the team to the first championship in their 26-year history.
Lilley had cleaned out his office a week after the victory, and Matt Grubba, a club spokesman, said the club would provide further information soon, but did not currently have anything else to share about Lilley’s departure, Pittsburgh Soccer Now reported.
When asked about his time with Lilley, Biasi provided limited information.
“I think Bob did a good job with us,” Biasi said. “He set us up to play tactically and be organized and work together and make teams feel our presence. I think when Rob stepped in, there was a little more of fluidity and composure and creativity. That’s all I’ll say there.”
Rising begins their 34-match schedule on March 7 when they host San Antonio. Biasi can’t wait to get started.
“You can see everyone’s bought in and dedicated — coaches here early in the morning, players asking questions, watching film. We have meetings every day, whether it’s the littlest thing or the longest thing,” he said. “Everyone’s invested in that goal. It’s cool to see, and I can’t wait to see where it progresses.”
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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