News: 2021 new GM search

xbhaskarx · Jul 27, 2021

The latest news on the Quakes’ search for a new GM…

On the San Jose Earthquakes' search for their next Chief Soccer Officer:

➖ Extensive MLS experience a must
➖ No hiring firm, but using a consultancy firm (and Billy Beane)
➖Shortlist of 4-5 candidates, including Chris Leitch
➖Timeline? By Septemberhttps://t.co/RPgnQWGNQZ
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 27, 2021

Also of note: Matias Almeyda is still firmly in the club's plans. But his contract is up after 2022.

COO Jared Shawlee is "not aware of any talks regarding a contract extension" just yet, though cautioned that there could have been discussions between Almeyda and ownership
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 27, 2021

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/how-...approaching-their-chief-soccer-officer-search

xbhaskarx · Jul 27, 2021

#Quakes74 COO Jared Shawlee made the media rounds today, including with ESPN. As others like @Quakes_Talk have noted, Shawlee said that he hopes to have new GM hired by end of September. Shortlist of 4-5 candidates will be done by mid-August.
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

Shawlee said technical director Chris Leitch is already included in the list of finalists. In general, "We do want a background of experience, or at least a very high level of familiarity with MLS, and the rules, roster mechanisms and player pool." #Quakes74
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

Owner John Fisher, Shawlee, Business Ops VP Jed Mettee, other execs and the Board of Directors will all be involved in hiring decision. So will sports consultancy firm Sportsology, and its executive chairman Mike Forde.
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

Shawlee said Sportsology had worked with LAFC, as well as FC Cincinnati and the Chicago Fire on building out those organizations. Definitely a mixed bag there.
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

xbhaskarx · Jul 27, 2021

Shawlee said that in addition to MLS knowledge, a grounding in data and analytics would be required.
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

Shawlee on difference between Nolan Partners (who led search that found Fioranelli) and Sportsology: "Nolan Partners was more that traditional headhunter role versus Sportsology, they're going to be a longer term consultant on the build out of the soccer operations department."
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

Nolan Partners GMs have mostly been bad in MLS, is a different consulting group really the answer?

Does this mean the Quakes will actually have their own data/analytics department?

San Jose is looking to move up. https://t.co/Ztc32zWDYJ pic.twitter.com/XZBr8TMJhd
— Eliot McKinley (@etmckinley) July 27, 2021

(Some of those top teams have not been great tbh)

xbhaskarx · Jul 27, 2021

[emoji848]

Shawlee mentioned that current director of soccer ops Brett Karleen has a strong background in data and analytics. https://t.co/J2meCBwhOm
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

That's a nice thing to say, is it true? pic.twitter.com/DWXFHZ9pOM
— Marc Kerrest (@mkerrest) July 27, 2021

bsman · Jul 27, 2021

xbhaskarx said: ↑

[emoji848]

Shawlee mentioned that current director of soccer ops Brett Karleen has a strong background in data and analytics. https://t.co/J2meCBwhOm
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

That's a nice thing to say, is it true? pic.twitter.com/DWXFHZ9pOM
— Marc Kerrest (@mkerrest) July 27, 2021

Click to expand...

It neglects to mention that he's a dungeon master on the weekends...

SalinasQuakesFan · Jul 27, 2021

bsman said: ↑

It neglects to mention that he's a dungeon master on the weekends...
Click to expand...

What edition does he roll with?

xbhaskarx · Jul 27, 2021

Just spoke to Quakes COO Jared Shawlee about San Jose's GM search and some other topics.

Main takeaways:

1) Quakes are moving towards a shortlist of 4-5 people for GM role. Goal is to bring those people to San Jose for interviews in Aug and come to a decision by end of Sept.
— Alex Morgan (@quakes_talk) July 27, 2021

3) Quakes have been working with the Santa Clara Fairgrounds for two years on a project to build a new training center for the first team + academy.

County Board of Supervisors votes on land-use terms on Aug 17. If they approve, club will move forward with building design.
— Alex Morgan (@quakes_talk) July 27, 2021

4) Club are working on an infrastructure project to rebuild the supporters' section for the San Jose Ultras. Idea is a permanent installation that seamlessly connects the main stand to the field level.

Goal is to have it completed by the beginning of next season.
— Alex Morgan (@quakes_talk) July 27, 2021

Scott Rohde · Jul 27, 2021

I'll bet Ewan Sharp is on the short list if they want someone with analytics experience.

Boysinblue · Jul 27, 2021

The fact that Sportsology worked with LAFC before and MLS experience is apparently highly rated makes me think Will Kuntz will be on the shortlist

https://www.lafc.com/will-kuntz

Boysinblue · Jul 28, 2021

Scott Rohde said: ↑

I'll bet Ewan Sharp is on the short list if they want someone with analytics experience.
Click to expand...

Looking through his Linkedin he strikes me more like a guy to head an analytics department than a GM, also he used to be at NYRB then joined Toronto as an assistant in 2021, hopefully he wouldn't hire Chris Armas and hires his fellow assistant coach Ian Russell instead

Boysinblue · Jul 28, 2021

xbhaskarx said: ↑

[emoji848]

Shawlee mentioned that current director of soccer ops Brett Karleen has a strong background in data and analytics. https://t.co/J2meCBwhOm
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) July 27, 2021

That's a nice thing to say, is it true? pic.twitter.com/DWXFHZ9pOM
— Marc Kerrest (@mkerrest) July 27, 2021

Click to expand...

lol after seeing this he deleted his experience as a restaurant manager, its gone from Linkedin. He also cut the description from his time with the Gals as a youth camp coach(so not academy) and stage manager for gameday operations

jeff_adams · Jul 28, 2021

If they don’t hire Leitch it’s going to turn into a clown show and they will get Fioranelli’d again.

markmcf8 · Jul 28, 2021

Boysinblue said: ↑

lol after seeing this he deleted his experience as a restaurant manager, its gone from Linkedin. He also cut the description from his time with the Gals as a youth camp coach(so not academy) and stage manager for gameday operations
Click to expand...

So he’s angling for the job. That’s nice.

Go Quakesfans!!

- Mark

QuakeAttack · Jul 28, 2021

Ok smart people who follow the league more than I do. Who would/should be included in the list 4-5? Any assistant GMs (does the position exist) who are with orgs which are successful? Seattle? KC? other?

Beckham7 · Jul 28, 2021

QuakeAttack said: ↑

Ok smart people who follow the league more than I do. Who would/should be included in the list 4-5? Any assistant GMs (does the position exist) who are with orgs which are successful? Seattle? KC? other?
Click to expand...

Craig Waibel would be one. He's with Seattle right now.

nivla · Jul 28, 2021

Not anyone or combination of Doyle, Dom and Yallop. Grateful for their contribution and respect their legacy but we need someone who understands the modern day MLS and how to navigate.

jeff_adams · Jul 28, 2021

nivla said: ↑

Not anyone or combination of Doyle, Dom and Yallop. Grateful for their contribution and respect their legacy but we need someone who understands the modern day MLS and how to navigate.
Click to expand...

Amen to that.

Scott Rohde · Jul 28, 2021

Shawlee said the person they're looking for doesn't have to be currently employed in MLS but must have MLS knowledge.

The "doesn't need to be currently employed in MLS" is referring to Kinnear I bet.

I won't be surprised if Dom is on the shortlist.

JazzyJ · Jul 28, 2021

Scott Rohde said: ↑

Shawlee said the person they're looking for doesn't have to be currently employed in MLS but must have MLS knowledge.

The "doesn't need to be currently employed in MLS" is referring to Kinnear I bet.

I won't be surprised if Dom is on the shortlist.
Click to expand...

I doubt that Dom would be on the short list, but it's possible. That would be a poor choice IMO. I think he prefers coaching, and he was part of that whole "no more boring soccer" movement that saw the release of Doyle, and eventually Dom also. The "no more boring soccer" thing might have come from Kaval mostly but I can imagine that others in ownership had similar perceptions or were at least influenced by that perception.

Boysinblue · Jul 29, 2021

QuakeAttack said: ↑

Ok smart people who follow the league more than I do. Who would/should be included in the list 4-5? Any assistant GMs (does the position exist) who are with orgs which are successful? Seattle? KC? other?
Click to expand...

Brian Bliss or Ned Grabavoy. If we hire someone instead of Leitch I'd prefer to be someone really, really experienced like Bliss. I'm not very knowledgable about Grabavoy but Portland fans spoke well of him. I'll second Waibel as well, but he joined the Sounders this year iirc and has ties to Seattle.

https://www.sportingkc.com/club/technical-staff/brian-bliss/
https://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/...mbers-front-office-as-technical-director.html

run_it_out · Jul 30, 2021

Investments in infrastructure make me cautiously optimistic. Lucy keeps pulling the football away though, so I'll wait to see some outcomes first.

markmcf8 · Jul 30, 2021

JazzyJ said: ↑

I doubt that Dom would be on the short list, but it's possible. That would be a poor choice IMO. I think he prefers coaching, and he was part of that whole "no more boring soccer" movement that saw the release of Doyle, and eventually Dom also. The "no more boring soccer" thing might have come from Kaval mostly but I can imagine that others in ownership had similar perceptions or were at least influenced by that perception.
Click to expand...

Some years back, when he was still involved with the team, Kaval told me that he, CL, Dom, and Doyle used to have weekly meetings about the team, and that he and CL argued for more exciting soccer while Dom and Doyle wanted to bore other teams into submission.

So I believe and I hope that one of the Old Guard are on the short list.

Also, I think that Jared Shawlee wants winning and exciting soccer. He doesn’t get any input on the soccer side, but he does get to chip in on the GM hiring decision. He’s going to vote for CL. I’m all but certain of that.

If it were up to me, the short list should include people from SKC, RSL, and Philly. That is, folks from successful teams that operate on a budget.

Go Quakesfans!!
Fisher OUT!!!

- Mark

xbhaskarx · Jul 30, 2021

The Athletic:

Lacking an identity, the San Jose Earthquakes offer next general manager a blank canvas

https://theathletic.com/2739425/2021/07/29/san-jose-earthquakes-gm-search/

“Shawlee also confirmed that the Quakes have hired consultancy firm Sportsology to assist in the hiring process and help build out the club’s soccer operations department after the new GM is appointed. Sportsology worked with Chicago, Miami and Cincinnati — all sitting near the bottom of the MLS standings — to hire their current CSOs. The organization also helped LAFC build its sporting department ahead of the club’s expansion season of 2018 and has worked with a number of NFL and NBA teams. San Jose worked with Nolan Partners, another sports consultancy firm, in the hiring process that led the club to Fioranelli.”

So they’re 1 for 4 with MLS teams, with the one success being a wealthy big-market superclub coached by Bob Bradley spending big bucks on DPs like Vela and Rossi. And the three failures all spend way more money than the Quakes too.

What reason is there to think this will turn out any better than it has with 75% of current Sportsology MLS clients?

xbhaskarx · Jul 30, 2021

“The sources who spoke to The Athletic about San Jose don’t expect Fisher to significantly increase the budget for the Quakes, which ranked 22nd in the league in payroll when the MLS Players Association released its list of player salaries on April 15. That’ll make it difficult for the new GM to build a team that can compete for trophies. It also gives this hire added importance.”

Meanwhile even the A’s who drawing almost no one for games and are about to bail for Vegas are getting a increase in payroll:

A’s did get some cash in the Washington deal, per Forst. Also said ownership allowed them to increase payroll.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 30, 2021

xbhaskarx · Jul 30, 2021

Six Simple Steps to Hiring the Right Earthquakes General Manager

https://quakesepicenter.com/2021/07...hiring-the-right-earthquakes-general-manager/