Seattle Sounders FC signed head coach Brian Schmetzer to a multi-year extension the club announced through a team release. Shortly after the announcement, Schmetzer met with local media to discuss the extension. Keeping with true “Schmetzerism,” Schmetzer started out the media session spraying complements to assistant coaches, the club’s front office, players, and game-day operations staff. For the local Nathan Hale High School graduate and former player and assistant coach, club, fans, and players come first.
Sounder at Heart
Schmetzer has played and coached the region’s top professional franchises since 1980. He served seven seasons as the Head Coach of the Sounders’ United Soccer League’s First Division club, accumulating a 100-57-41 record from 2002-2008 before making the jump to MLS.
He guided Seattle to two USL-1 championships (2005, 2007), two Commissioner’s Cups for the league’s best record (2002, 2007), six playoff appearances in seven seasons and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal appearances (2007, 2008). He was chosen USL-1 Coach of the Year in 2002 after going 23-4-1.
“Brian Schmetzer and I have an almost 20-year history of working together. Although I never doubted Brian would be back in 2021 and beyond, I am grateful that he will continue to lead Sounders FC for years to come,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “Brian cares deeply for our club and community, he has a deep understanding of our culture and traditions, and no one is better poised to build upon the organization’s recent success.”
SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM
The perplexing question is why did it take so long for the two sides to put pen to paper. Schmetzer has led Sounders FC to four MLS Cup appearances and two titles since taking over in the summer of 2016. He has a 67-37-34 regular-season record, as well as a 15-4-2 mark in the postseason. Asked what took so long for his contract to get signed, Schmetzer did what Schmetzer does, stay humble and showed gratitude.
“It is with great pride that I will be able to continue coaching a club with such a rich history, winning tradition and positive community influence,” said Schmetzer. “I’d like to thank club ownership for this opportunity, as well as all of the current and former players, coaches and staff that have helped build something here I’m very proud of. Lastly, I’d like to thank the fans, who fuel everything we do inside of this club. Seattle is my home and I couldn’t be happier to be staying put.”
DRIVEN WITH DESIRE TO WIN
Schmetzer is also driven with a passion to be the very best. All the great coaches in the history of sports are driven to be the best and know humility and integrity are just as is important. The Seahawks Pete Carroll constantly mentions the intersect of compassion, integrity, and commitment to winning. Like Carroll, Schmetzer believes in those same virtues and believes his role as head coach is to be a steward of the team for the fans.
AN OPEN LETTER TO SEATTLE – BY BRIAN SCHMETZER: https://sndrs.com/7rpt5
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Glad to have Coach Schmetzer with us again! He has Seattle soccer in his blood and will always have our best interest in mind as this quote sums up – “Brian cares deeply for our club and community, he has a deep understanding of our culture and traditions, and no one is better poised to build upon the organization’s recent success.”