Seattle native Schmetzer named Sounders coach

Seattle native Schmetzer named Sounders coach

Friday, November 30, 2001

By MOLLY YANITY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Seattle native Brian Schmetzer, a 17-year soccer pro, is the new head coach of the Seattle Sounders, the team announced yesterday.

Schmetzer begins his first stint as a professional head coach by replacing interim coach Bernie James, who left in a dispute with the team.

James contends he was fired for not playing the son of Neil Farnsworth, the team's chief executive officer and managing owner.

Schmetzer doesn't expect to have the same issue in his new job.

"Chris (Farnsworth) is going to be like any of my younger players. I will give him good opportunities to play, but it will be up to me whether or not Chris can contribute," Schmetzer said, with Neil Farnsworth seated at his side.

Schmetzer, 39, a graduate of Nathan Hale High School, played professionally in Tulsa, San Diego, Tacoma and Seattle. He served as player/coach with the Seattle SeaDogs of the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1995 and assisted during the team's 1997 championship season.

He serves as the coaching director of the Emerald City Futbol Club and coached the Lake City Hawks over-30 team to the national championship last year.

"I have been an admirer of Brian's for a long time," Farnsworth said. "The biggest thing I am impressed with is his approach to young players. We need to develop young players."

The Sounders have produced 22 players who have gone on to play Major League Soccer. Schmetzer said one of his goals is to double that number.

"What we want to do is bring young Americans to the club, and teach them something," he said. "We want to help them be pros, and be a stepping stone to the MLS."

After the Sounders won the A-League Pacific Division title in 1999 with an 18-7-1 record, James took over in 2000. Under James, the Sounders were 13-12-1 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

P-I reporter Molly Yanity can be reached at 206-448-8295 or mollyyanity@seattlepi.com