USL coaching notes and rumors

Brian Schmetzer
Former USL Seattle Sounders head coach, Brian Schmetzer, was named assistant coach by the new head coach of the now MLS Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid. Schmetzer, 46, is a Seattle native and both played for and coached the Sounders. He had record of 100-54-44 as the USL Sounders coach after a playing career that spanned 15 seasons.

“I love this city and I couldn’t have scripted a more perfect career path,” Schmetzer said . “I feel lucky, first to have been chosen to coach the USL Sounders, then to be considered along with Sigi and some other outstanding candidates for the MLS head coaching job. Now, I’m working with a great coach in Sigi in my home city for what is rapidly becoming the best club in the business.”

As an aside, I was sitting with the Dark Cloud supporters last summer in Seattle’s last game at the NSC as a USL team. Schmetzer, who’s always been known as an easy target for the Dark Cloud heckling because of his thin skin, was again pacing the sidelines and yelling at the referee, linesman and fourth official in a constant chatter. At one point I yelled down to Schmetzer, “Hey Brian, where you going to be working next season?” knowing that he would most likely be dismissed when the team moved up to MLS. Schmetzer, uncharacteristically good natured about the ribbing, turned away from the field, put his head down and walked back to the bench laughing and shaking his head.

As it ends up, Schmetzer has the last laugh and stays with the organization. He also gets to learn from arguably one of the best coaches in the US, Sigi Schmid.

Laurie Calloway
That old salty dog, Laurie Calloway, (Laurence John “Laurie” Calloway) is rumored to be taking the newest USL 1 teams vacant coaching position. The stories floating around the USL rumor mill have the 63 year old Calloway being announced as the new head coach of the Cleveland City Stars sometime this coming week.

Calloway, has had a lengthy playing and coaching career both in England as well as in the US. He played for the Wolverhampton Wolves, Roachdale AFC, Blackburn Rovers, Southport, York City, Shrewsbury Town and the San Jose Earthquakes of the now defunct NASL.

He has coached 10 teams in the US, including the MLS San Jose Clash and in the USL, the Syracuse Salty Dogs and the Rochester Raging Rhinos from 2004-07. Calloway has been the Technical Director for the Western New York FC, since leaving the Rhinos.

I had a chance to visit with Calloway a number of times after Thunder-Rhino matches as we shared a pint or two and Laurie Calloway, off the field, is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in coaching and tells some great stories.