December 16, 2008

Sigi Schmid Named First Head Coach of Sounders FC
Guided Columbus to 2008 MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield; No. 2 all-time in MLS league wins

RENTON, WA. – The Seattle Sounders FC named Sigi Schmid as the first head coach in club history, the team announced today. Winner of six major soccer championships, including two MLS Cups, Schmid, 55, signed a multi-year contract.

“We believe Sigi is a perfect fit for what Sounders FC sought in hiring its first head coach,” said Sounders FC Majority Owner Joe Roth. “Sigi is a proven champion in this league and beyond, with an extensive and impressive coaching resume, and a track record for getting the most out of his teams. We believe that with Sigi Schmid as our coach, we have the best possible chance to succeed from the outset.  He is the only coach to have led two MLS teams to the championship. We plan on being the third.”

Schmid ranks second in MLS career victories (113), behind only Bob Bradley (124), current U.S. National Team coach. In nine seasons, Schmid’s teams have won 113 games, lost 86 and tied 57. His combined postseason wins (19) are the highest in MLS history.

This past season, he guided the Columbus Crew to both their first MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield (best regular season point total), while being voted MLS Coach of the Year for the second time. Schmid inherited a sixth-place Columbus team in 2006. The Crew improved their win totals from eight to 11 in 2007 before peaking to 17 in 2008. His three-year mark in Ohio was 34-33-25, culminating with the title.

Schmid first won the MLS Coach of the Year in 1999 while coaching the L.A. Galaxy. His teams reached the MLS Cup final four times and won three division crowns, while compiling a 79-53-32 record during his six-year tenure from 1999-2004.

“Clearly, Sigi is a winner, and there are many reasons why success follows him,” said Sounders FC General Manager Adrian Hanauer. “He has a keen eye for talent and a knack for fitting those talents together to make an even stronger group. Players want to play for him. He creates an intense and competitive training environment. He’s demanding and inspiring. He communicates well with his players, he enables them to develop and gets the most out of his squad. He maximizes his players’ abilities. We have passionate supporters and players, and now we have a passionate coach.”

“There are many reasons for me wanting to come to Seattle,” said Schmid. “First, I feel very comfortable working with our management team, with Joe, Adrian and Chris. I believe we all want to play an entertaining, successful brand of soccer, and to make this a world-class club. Everything I’ve seen and heard since I interviewed here shows this franchise has backed-up their pledge to the fans to make this a very, very special team. I’m excited to be part of that. I couldn’t ask for a better situation, a better challenge for me at this point in my life. This job was attractive to me because this franchise is doing everything at a level of the highest quality.”

Twice Schmid has served as U.S. Under-20 National Team head coach, most recently in 2005 at the FIFA World Championships. Schmid was an assistant to Bora Milutinovic on the Americans’ 1994 World Cup team. He also was head coach for the 1991 World University Games and 1995 Pan American Games.

Schmid has coached four current members of Sounders FC roster at the pro, college or national team level. Peter Vagenas was a member of both championship teams at UCLA (1997) and the Galaxy (2002). Brad Evans played for Schmid in Columbus. Nathan Sturgis was a member of the U-20 National Team in 2005 and Kasey Keller was with Schmid and the national B team in 1989.

Scores of Schmid’s UCLA players have played professionally and internationally, including Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson, a Bruins player from 1989-90. Schmid first forged a winning tradition at his alma mater, UCLA. After serving as an assistant, he was elevated to head coach of the Bruins in 1980, beginning a 19-year run at the helm. His first NCAA championship was won in 1985 at Seattle’s Kingdome. Sounders FC will play its home matches on the same plot of ground, at Qwest Field.

UCLA went on to claim two more national titles in 1990 and ’97. Schmid was named National Coach of the Year following the l997 season. When he left to take over the Galaxy, his UCLA teams had accumulated a record of 322-63-33. Schmid is a member of the National Soccer and UCLA halls of fame.

Born in Tuebingin, Germany, Schmid relocated with his family to the U.S in 1956 and moved to Torrance, Calif., in 1962. He was a four-year starter at UCLA (1972-75). He and his wife, Valerie, maintain a residence in Manhattan Beach. He has four children: Erik, Lacey, Kurt and Kyle. Kurt completed his second season as an assistant coach at UC Irvine in 2008. Kyle recently completed his career at UC Irvine. He redshirted at the University of Washington in 2004.

Schmid’s first MLS game for Seattle will be Mar. 19, 2009, a nationally-televised match against the New York Red Bulls at Qwest Field.

Schmid’s Career Coaching: