That Soccer Guy

Tom Soehn’s term as Head Coach of DC United has come to a close Monday evening when he met with Kevin Payne and the rest of the head honchos in the DC United front office. Tom Soehn did not await the decision from Kevin Payne and left on his own terms.

Now the decision comes down to who is next to step up and be the new DC United Head Coach? Two of the names being thrown around is Richie Williams (currently interim head coach of Red Bull New York; former DC United player) and Curt Onalfo (former Kansas City Wizards Head Coach; former DC United player). This will be a very interesting time at the club. They are going to try to put someone in place just prior to the expansion draft so the new coach can make the decisions he wants. I would expect a name within the next 2 weeks at the most. I’m sure United’s front office has started to throw a few names around prior to Soehn leaving since they knew the fans we not satisfied this season and saw this as being inevitable. I wouldn’t mind DC even looking at the USL-2 Richmond Kickers Head Coach, Leigh Cowlishaw. The Kickers won the USL-2 Championship this season and is being inducted into the USL Hall of Fame. Since taking over the head coaching (player coach in some seasons) in 2000, he has not had a losing season. Cowlishaw has ties with United by having many exhibition and US Open Cup matches with DC through out his tenure. He has also sent players to MLS such as United’s own Clyde Simms (and found him after a combine hosted by the Kickers).

I think this is a change that United has needed to spur on another MLS Cup. The next though after a coach is in place is…what players stay and which ones go?