Olsen Named Head Coach

It’s been just under a year since Ben Olsen made the move from player to staff. Olsen was named an Assistant Coach in Curt Onalfo’s staff at the beginning of the 2010 season. After a poor start to the season Onalfo was fired and Olsen was thrown into the headlights as the interim head coach. Now, despite reports from D.C. United front office reports months earlier, that Olsen was too green to take the job on with the permanent title, Olsen has been head coach.

There can’t be any doubt D.C. would be a tough sell to higher priced coaches. The club is still paying off Onalfo, and the rent paid for RFK doesn’t give D.C. a particularly strong financial platform to build off of. While there was certainly positives that came out of Olsen’s stint last season, Goff’s report claiming seven candidates were interviewed makes me wonder if the offer/challenge was just not enticing enough for some higher profile managers.

While this further implies that the club is settling, there is no coach I’d rather settle with in this situation. Ben Olsen, while green, certainly oversaw an increase in positive performances following the departure of Onalfo. Plus, if there’s a player that defines what D.C. United stands for, it’s Ben Olsen.

This may not be the move many wanted to see, me included, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I want Olsen to succeed. Good luck, Ben.

Category: DC United Team News