Jimmy Coenraets died on an operating table in Belgium in November 2023. He was 28. Three days after waking up, he signed a contract with the Utah Royals, though a serious internal bleed would delay his arrival in Sandy by months.

Now 31, the Belgian head coach has turned the club at America First Field into one of the NWSL's best teams. The Royals set a franchise record with their 11th win of the season Friday, Aug. 14, beating Bay FC 3-2 in front of 7,020 fans in Sandy. Their 11-3-6 record puts them second in the league standings.

"They actually told me that they lost me during the surgery," Coenraets said in a profile published in the Salt Lake Tribune on Friday, written by The Athletic's Asli Pelit. His longtime surgeon, who had known him since childhood, told him to go live and do something amazing with his life.

Coenraets has undergone six heart surgeries, including three open-heart procedures. His heart condition ended his playing career as a center back in Belgium. He pivoted to academics, earning degrees in marketing and strategy, then built his coaching career in women's soccer after watching his sister endure poor conditions as a professional player there.

At OH Leuven, Coenraets made the club the first in Belgium to offer every women's player a semi-professional contract and move training into daytime hours. A master class he taught for women's soccer directors in Norway caught the attention of someone connected to the Royals, and the club recruited him.

He finally arrived in Sandy in June 2024 as an assistant coach. When head coach Amy Rodriguez was dismissed that same month, Coenraets was elevated to interim head coach. His first game on the bench: a 6-0 loss at Orlando.

Fans booed when his name was announced inside America First Field for the first eight or nine games. Some sent messages telling him to go back to Belgium.

Defender Kate Del Fava recalled the rocky start in the profile: "The first week that Jimmy was here, we went to Orlando and we lost 6-0, his first game on the bench. So we were kind of like, 'Jimmy, I don't think you're very good for us.'"

The turnaround has been dramatic. After finishing 7-4-15 in 2024 and 6-7-13 in 2025, the Royals lead the NWSL in goals scored this season with 32 from 11 different scorers. No single player has more than six goals. Coenraets was formally named permanent head coach at a news conference in Sandy on Oct. 24, 2024.

Friday's comeback featured all three goals from Japanese internationals: Miyabi Moriya, Narumi Miura and Mina Tanaka on a penalty kick. It was the most goals scored by players from one country in a single NWSL match. Sandy native Courtney Brown marked her 50th career NWSL appearance, coming off the bench in the 79th minute.

After the win, Coenraets told KSL Sports the team's resilience comes from experience. He said the Royals of a year ago probably would not have won that game, but the club is growing through its mistakes.

The coach still runs before every match at America First Field, draining nervous energy until he's tired enough to walk the sideline calmly. On off days, he cycles through Utah's canyons. He completed a 33-mile ride near the University of Utah the day of his profile interview.

The Royals travel to San Diego Wave FC on Friday, Aug. 21, then visit Orlando Pride on Saturday, Aug. 29. Their next home match at America First Field is Friday, Sept. 4, against Boston Legacy FC.