As the MLS season comes to a close speculation begins on the fate of coaches whose teams fell short of expectations. John Ellinger, for example, has failed to reach the playoffs with Real Salt Lake for the second straight season. Colin Clarke's FC Dallas was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season, again missing a chance to play in MLS Cup at its Pizza Hut Park. Clarke is the third longest-serving coach in MLS, nearly half of whose coaches have been in place for just one season or less.
COACH (team) first season
Steve Nicol (New England) 2002*
Dave Sarachan (Chicago) 2003
Colin Clarke (FC Dallas) 2003*
Dominic Kinnear (Houston) 2004
Peter Nowak (D.C. United) 2004
Fernando Clavijo (Colorado) 2005
John Ellinger (Real Salt Lake) 2005
Bob Bradley (Chivas USA) 2006
Sigi Schmid (Columbus) 2006
Frank Yallop (Los Angeles) 2006*
Brian Bliss (Kansas City) 2006*
Bruce Arena (New York) 2006*
* Midseason hiring.
Note: Brian Bliss is Kansas City's interim coach.