Marsch Named Head Coach of Montreal Impact

The Montreal Impact and owner Joey Saputo held a press conference to announce the hiring of Jesse Marsch as the team’s new head coach on Wednesday.

Since the departure of Marc Dos Santos earlier this season,  the Impact have been led on the field by current Sporting Director and former coach Nick De Santis.

The Wisconsin-born Marsch, 37, will lead the club beginning with their 2012 entrance into the MLS.  Marsch played the first 14 seasons of the MLS’ existence after graduating from Princeton, playing on three MLS Cup winning sides and four U.S. Open Cup winners.  He played in over 330 league matches for DC United, the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA before joining Bob Bradley’s USMNT staff as an assistant. Marsch was a hard-nosed player throughout his career, who gave no quarter and asked none; while being an articulate team leader and demonstrating a consistent ability to read the game from his midfielder’s role.  Although he’s never held a head coaching role, Marsch has received his ‘A’ coaching license and assisted with the Northwestern University soccer squad during his MLS off-seasons.

“The club has found the head coach that we were looking for,” said Impact president Saputo.  “Jesse Marsch fits into the structure we want to build for MLS. He has the knowledge and experience having worked at the highest level in North America. He is a real competitor and a true winner. Jesse Marsch is a hard working coach, who will bring passion and energy to our club.”