The Columbus Crew has named Tom Fitzgerald as their full-time head coach, the team announced today.
“This is a very happy day for me,” said Fitzgerald. “I thought this day would not come for several more years, but I am excited for the opportunity.”
Fitzgerald, who was named interim head coach after the midseason resignation of Timo Liekoski, led Columbus on a 9-1 surge that nabbed the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus then pushed the Tampa Bay Mutiny to a decisive third game in their first-round series.
“We are an organization committed to excellence in all areas, and Tom’s results exemplify this dedication,” said Columbus GM Jamey Rootes “He successfully led our team through very difficult circumstances at the end of the 1996 MLS season, and we’re confident he will bring even more improvement to the Crew during the 1997 season.”
Prior to becoming Liekoski’s assistant coach, Fitzgerald coached at Division II power Tampa, leading the team to the 1994 national championship. He also served as an assistant coach on the U.S. national “B” team.
“The last 13 games of the ’96 season proved we can be competitive with anyone in the league,” said Fitzgerald. “We are not going to change the team very much for next season, but we will definitely have a few new faces — about 2-4 players, and probably a couple of new starters.”