I didn't see this anywhere yet, so here's the team's announcement: http://redbull.newyork.mlsnet.com/M...ntent_id=56894&vkey=pr_rbn&fext=.jsp&team=rbn De Grandpre named managing director of Red Bulls Organizational restructuring plans unveiled; Johnston to remain as head coach Red Bull New York Media Relations SECAUCUS, N.J. - Red Bull New York announced today that Marc De Grandpre will assume the role of Managing Director of Red Bull New York effective immediately. De Grandpre replaces Alexi Lalas who recently resigned from his position with the club for the President and General Manager post with the L.A. Galaxy. De Grandpre has been with Red Bull North America for more than seven years as the Director of Field Marketing where he oversaw all marketing activities for the company's East region. He played an instrumental role in the successful acquisition and re-branding of the New York Red Bulls after the team was purchased in March and will work closely with FC Red Bull Salzburg on collaborative activities planned for the future. "Over the past two months, I've had an opportunity to really get to know this club and am thrilled to help take it to the next level," said De Grandpre. The new structure for the organization is two-pronged: De Grandpre will run all of the business and commercial aspects of the team, and a soon-to-be-announced Director of Soccer Operations will be responsible for all coaches, players, travel, and training related aspects. Mo Johnston will stay in place as the head coach and will report to De Grandpre, until the Director of Soccer Operations is named, at which point Johnston will report to the Director of Soccer Operations.
So is this a repreve from what I was reading earlier today? And who will be taking the Soccer Operations job?
Overall, considering the alternatives that've been mentioned, this must be considered good news. George
This is really good news. It shows level heads prevail in Red Bull in my opinion. Marc De Grandpre sounds like a good marketing / branding guy, and that is very important for the team right now. Keeping Mo around can only help ease some of the unrest the players must be feeling. The team needs as much stability as possible right now. Hopefully, this will let the team concentrate on Saturday's game now.
No complaints about a marketing maven heading the team; hell, it's a good idea. If they now get someone in who knows the game, between De Grandpre and Mo, this could really work.
what I found about Grandpre from July 27, 2001 USA Today article: Academics fueled athletics for SNHU grad By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Jean-Marc deGrandpre expended a lot of energy as a two-sport athlete at Southern New Hampshire University (formerly New Hampshire College). Fittingly, he is now a marketing manager for a high-energy sports drink. After earning a business degree and a master's from SNHU, deGrandpre signed on with Red Bull, a product developed in Austria and introduced in the USA in 1997. "It's in 50 countries now," says deGrandpre from his Boston office. "We launched on the East Coast two years ago, and it's growing at a rapid pace in the U.S. I oversee the marketing for the Northeast region." Nicknamed Marco, deGrandpre, a Montreal native, played baseball for four years for the Penmen while earning a business degree. In his sophomore and junior years, he joined the ice hockey team as well. "I didn't want to do two sports my first year. I wanted to be sure I could adapt," he says. "The second year I knew I could be a successful addition to the team, and I knew I could manage the time." DeGrandpre didn't let his studies slip even when the seasons overlapped. "Hockey went into late March, and we were starting indoor baseball in February," he says. "Most days if I wasn't in class, I was studying at the library." He served as a captain of the baseball team his senior year in 1996, posting a career-best .294 batting average and .988 fielding percentage at first base. He took his senior year off from hockey but returned to the ice in 1998 while completing his master's, earning Division II All-America honors despite missing the last nine games of the season with a concussion. DeGrandpre is quick to credit the close relationship between sports and academics at the school with his success. "I think what makes a student athlete successful there is it's a tight-knit community between the athletic department and the faculty," he says. "If athletes try to skip class or miss practice, it always got back to the dean or the (athletic director). Without the discipline instilled by the coaches and the professors, I wouldn't be sitting where I am today."
So MetroSuccess, where are you now? You wanted Mo gone so badly and guess what Mr. Crybaby he is staying. Staying to be givin a fair chance to earn a win for the club after the first three matches were draws. At the moment Mo Johnston in the Regular Season is an undefeated coach. He stays or untill fortunes turn sour. Let's hear it for the RBNY Tartan Army.
