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Princeton University Athletics
Marsch '96 Named MLS Head Coach
August 11, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Video Interview with Jesse Marsch at Princeton, May 2010
Princeton men's soccer alum Jesse Marsch '96 has been named the head coach of the Montreal Impact it was announced by Major League Soccer on Wednesday, August 10.
This is Marsch's first head coaching job, as the Impact joins the MLS next season.
"It's an honor to be named the first head coach of the Montreal Impact in the MLS," Marsch said in the press release on his hiring. "There are good soccer people in this organization, this is a great opportunity to build something special. My time in the MLS and with the US national team exposed me to this game at the highest level. We will be committed to the process of becoming a winning team."
"Over the past year-and-a-half, he played an instrumental role in the US national team coaching staff," Bob Bradley '80 said in an article on MLSsoccer.com. "Montreal has made an excellent choice with his appointment."
In addition to coaching together with the US team, Bradley was Marsch's coach at both Princeton and in the MLS.
Marsch has spent the past year and a half as an assistant coach for the US Men's National Team under Bradley. He helped the team win its pool at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first time the team won its pool since 1930. The US fell to Ghana in the round of 16 and finished the World Cup 12th, ahead of rivals England and Mexico. At the 2011 Gold Cup, the US reached the final but lost to Mexico, 4-2.
One of the most decorated and respected players in the MLS, Marsch made 358 appearances in his 14-year MLS career, winning three MLS Cup titles and four U.S. Open Cup medals. Prior to his retirement in 2010, Marsch was one of just four remaining MLS Originals and was the first player to win three MLS titles in his career.
He was drafted in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft by DC United. He spent the next two seasons with the team as it won the MLS Cup in 1996 and 1997 and the U.S. Open Cup in 1996.
In 1998, Marsch was traded to the Chicago Fire after the expansion draft under the team's first coach Bob Bradley. Marsch quickly became a mainstay in the lineup , and helped the Fire win four title, including: the MLS Cup in 1998, the U.S. Open Cup in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
Marsch became the first player in Fire history to play in 100 games and is the team's all-time leader in that category. In 2004, he was honored as the Chicago Fire's U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the year.
After the 2005 season, Marsch was traded to Chivas USA and was with them team until 2010. He wore the captain's armband for much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In 2007, he was the winner of the Chivas Regal Award, given to the player who best represents the spirit of Chivas USA.
Marsch was an All-American at Princeton, where he totaled 29 goals and 15 assists in four seasons. He finished 1994 and 1995 as the Ivy League's leading scorer and was on the all-Ivy team both years. He led the Tigers to an NCAA appearance during his senior year, when he scored 16 goals.