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Princeton University Athletics
Marsch '96 Named MLS Coach of the Year
November 25, 2015 | Men's Soccer
HARRISON, N.J. (11/24/15) - Jesse Marsch '96, the New York Red Bulls head coach, has been named the MLS Coach of the Year it was announced on Tuesday.
In his first year with the club, Marsch guided the Red Bulls to the best record in the MLS and the best regular season in franchise history. He is the first coach in franchise history to be named the MLS Coach of the Year.
New York posted a 18-10-6 record to capture the Supporters' Shield. The team had the best goal differential in the league (+19) and the most goals scored (62), while also allowing the fewest goals in the Eastern Conferece. The club set franchise records in wins (18) and home wins (12). His team had the second-most road wins in the MLS at 6-7-4, scored the most road goals (27) and was the only team in the MLS with a positive road-goal differential.
The Red Bulls opened the season with a seven-game unbeaten streak, the longest in MLS this season. New York spent the entire season at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and went 14-5-1 during the last 20 games.Marsch is the sixth former MLS player to win the award. During his 14-year MLS playing career, Marsch played for four coaches when they won the MLS Coach of the Year award: Bruce Arena, D.C. United (1997); Bob Bradley, Chicago Fire (1998); Dave Sarachan, Chicago Fire (2003); and Preki, Chivas USA (2007).
The MLS Coach of the Year Award was voted on by MLS club management, media, and MLS players. Marsch claimed over 50 percent of the votes from club management, and just under 65 percent of the vote from the media.
An All-America at Princeton, where he totaled 29 goals and 15 assists in four seasons, Marsch 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.
One of the most decorated and respected players in the MLS, Marsch won three MLS Cup titles and four U.S. Open Cup medals during his 14-year MLS career. Drafted in 1996, Marsch was a member of DC United (96-97), the Chicago Fire (98-05) and Chivas USA (06-09). The midfielder played in 321 career games, ninth most by a field player in MLS history. He made 286 starts and scored 31 goals and 40 assists in 25,642 minutes. 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.
Following his playing retirement, Marsch was hired by Bob Bradley '80 as an assistant coach for the US Men's National Team. Bradley was Marsch's coach at Princeton, at the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA. Marsch helped the US win its group at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first time the team won its pool since 1930, before finishing in 12th place. The US was the runner-up at the 2011 Gold Cup, losing to Mexico in the final.
In August 2011, Marsch was named the first head coach of MLS expansion team the Montreal Impact. He parted ways with the Impact in November 2012 after leading the Impact to the most successful inaugural MLS team record since Seattle's record 12 wins in 2009.