Who are the candidates for Asst. Coach?

[Hedbal]

Mark Simpson is staying and apparently will have more responsibility, and Tommy says he will add to the staff. So who is out there who could help? Does Mark's new duties mean that we need a replacement goalkeepers' coach? (GMU's Tenney would have been a good choice.) Or does Tommy want/need someone with an offensive flair? Who is available?

The only coach I know that is familiar with the team and is not presently working as a coach is former Georgetown head man Keith Tabatznik, but I don't think he would be a viable candidate. I presume ABMOD and Harkes want to hang on to Arena's coattails, so they are probably out. Henderson? MAE?

[Diceson]

Mark Simpson is staying and apparently will have more responsibility, and Tommy says he will add to the staff. So who is out there who could help? Does Mark's new duties mean that we need a replacement goalkeepers' coach? (GMU's Tenney would have been a good choice.) Or does Tommy want/need someone with an offensive flair? Who is available?

The only coach I know that is familiar with the team and is not presently working as a coach is former Georgetown head man Keith Tabatznik, but I don't think he would be a viable candidate. I presume ABMOD and Harkes want to hang on to Arena's coattails, so they are probably out. Henderson? MAE?

I said it in another thread, but the "who" will be important in the sense of what type of power TS has going forward. Is it his selection, or KP's? Etcheverry is the obvious choice. I'd also throw in RDA . . . he's the U-17's coach, or something-something like that.

[Hedbal]

I said it in another thread, but the "who" will be important in the sense of what type of power TS has going forward. Is it his selection, or KP's? Etcheverry is the obvious choice. I'd also throw in RDA . . . he's the U-17's coach, or something-something like that.

Would Etch bring too much "star power" to the job? Would he be content to stay quietly in the background and let Tommy take top billing? Somehow I don't think that would be a problem with RDA. On the other hand, I seem to remember that every DCU manager has said that Etch could be a tremendous coach.

[GoDC]

What is John Maessner doing these days?? Or is Llamosa ready to retire yet?

[ButlerBob]

I like the thought of RDA. Not a coach with a DC United background, but ties to Tom; Frank Klopas.

[NicktheGreek]

I like the thought of RDA. Not a coach with a DC United background, but ties to Tom; Frank Klopas.

He's got my vote on the ethnic point alone.

[CHICO13]

He's got my vote on the ethnic point alone.

Huh?

[Bison1997]

I said it in another thread, but the "who" will be important in the sense of what type of power TS has going forward. Is it his selection, or KP's? Etcheverry is the obvious choice. I'd also throw in RDA . . . he's the U-17's coach, or something-something like that.

Last I heard, he was an assistant coach with the U-17's.

[Sanguine]

Huh?

His username is NicktheGreek.

[Sandon Mibut]

I don't know if he'd relocate from Boston, where he is now a very successful youth coach, but I think Francis Okaroh would be a great addition to any MLS staff.

And, he and Soehn were teammates on the Fire so they have some history and familiarity together.

Okaroh, for those that don't know, now coaches for FC Greater Boston Bolts and has won a USYSA national title at the U14 or U15 (I forget which) level. And, as a player he won an MLS Cup with the Fire and was capped a few times with Nigeria.

Robin Fraser, whom Soehn played with in the APSL with Colorado in the pre-MLS days, will likely be a great MLS coach someday and he'd be a tremendous asset to the staff.

That said, Okaroh and Fraser were defenders, as was Soehn, and obviously Simpson was a GK. The technical staff liklely needs a coach with an attacking background. In a perfect world they'd keep it in the family and get an ex-DCU attacking mid or forward.

Marco is the obvious choice but who knows if he and Soehn have a relationship or would be comfortable with each other and the coach needs and deserves to have "his people" as his assistants.

Roy Lassiter is now a youth coach in Texas and while I think he'd be a good coach, I don't know if he and Soehn even know each other besides have faced off on the field.

One offbeat possibility might be former US international Phillip Gyau, who played at Howard and is now a youth coach in the area (and who has a son on the US U15 national team) and played with Soehn in the APSL. He could be a candidate. He was a good forward in the APSL in the dark days between the NASL and MLS.

[Sanguine]

That said, Okaroh and Fraser were defenders, as was Soehn, and obviously Simpson was a GK. The technical staff liklely needs a coach with an attacking background. In a perfect world they'd keep it in the family and get an ex-DCU attacking mid or forward.

Marco is the obvious choice but who knows if he and Soehn have a relationship or would be comfortable with each other and the coach needs and deserves to have "his people" as his assistants.

Roy Lassiter is now a youth coach in Texas and while I think he'd be a good coach, I don't know if he and Soehn even know each other besides have faced off on the field.

Another possibility in the "former United attacker" category would be Steve Rammel. He was an Assistant with the Galaxy last year, but I don't see him listed there anymore - I assume he was let go when Yallop came in.

[John L]

Simpson is definintely a superb coach - Great individual and great person - And brings a lot of experience to his coaching

Other primary assistant - I'm not much concerned about DC United or area ties as just getting best fit availabe

Compatability with Soehn and the FO is top priority - Your coaching staff may have different thoughts and opinions but there can't be any conflicts - And no over the top Type-A Personalities - There's only one head coach - He does all the talking to the media and the brass

Skills and Offensive Experience - Assistant coaches also gotta be good teaching coaches, esp in MLS - If Soehn's talent is Defense, then we really need an Offense and Skills coach

[uniteo]

I don't think you could bring MAE in under a coach who is both 1) in his first year at DCU and 2) in his first year as a head coach...especially with Moreno still playing here (and likely to be in atransitional role this season).

I think it would be perfect to bring him in as director or youth development, then move him onto the staff next season.

[Winoman]

I don't think you could bring MAE in under a coach who is both 1) in his first year at DCU and 2) in his first year as a head coach...especially with Moreno still playing here (and likely to be in a transitional role this season).

I think it would be perfect to bring him in as director or youth development, then move him onto the staff next season.

This is not Soehn's first year with DC. He's been here for three years, although as an assistant.

But I agree with you and others that MAE would have too much caché to be under a rookie head-coach here at DCU.

[asitis]

I wouldn't be surprised to see two or even three new coaches brought in. I think you'll see a second assistant with an offensive (i.e. forward/midfielder) background, plus a dedicated goalkeeper coach.

We haven't heard much about it recently, but I'd also like to see a coach/director named for the new Youth Academy. This is truly an opportunity for us separate ourselves from the rest of MLS and deserves significant attention and resources.

asitis
4/11...5/12

[chayes]

Don't we need someone to oversee the youth programs too since Harkes left?

[Hedbal]

If we do land a couple of South Americans we will have a Spanish speaking attack and an English speaking defense (with Erpen having a foot in both camps.) Perhaps we do need RDA or MAE to deal with the attackers in their native language. However, I still think that Marco has too much star power wattage to work effectively with Tommy Soehn.

[spidergoose]

I think RDA would be a solid choice.

[JoeSoccerFan]

I think RDA would be a solid choice.

I agree. Not that there might be a better candidate that I am not aware of.

[seahawkdad]

I think RDA would be a solid choice.Agree. He'd just have to figure out how to balance it with his US U17 duties.