The Kansas City Wizards have hired Curt Johnson as the club’s new general manager in charge of player personnel matters, team-related issues and will be involved with the sales and marketing aspect for the organization. His first obligations are to prepare for the 2000 MLS draft, which takes place on February 6, and to finalize the Wizards spring training plans. Johnson served as the vice president and general manager of the A-League Richmond Kickers the last two years. His job responsibilities included marketing, sponsorship sales, ticket sales and signing players. Johnson was originally hired by the Kickers as the vice president of business operations in January 1997 and was promoted in January 1998. “Curt Johnson has demonstrated the ability to build a successful franchise while with the Richmond Kickers,” Wizards Investor-Operator Clark Hunt said. “He has the right combination of talent to help the Wizards improve their performance at the gate and build a championship team.” Previously, Johnson was an assistant men’s soccer coach for his alma mater, North Carolina State University, during the 1996 season and an assistant coach for the A-League Raleigh Flyers in 1995. He served as the Midwest region’s marketing director for adidas from 1992-94. Johnson’s predecessor with the Wizards, Doug Newman, also came out of adidas. The Richmond, Va., native was a four-year starter at defender for N.C. State and was the team captain his senior year, when the Wolfpack, featurning MLS players Roy Lassiter, Dario Brose and Henry Gutierrez, won the Atlantic Coast Championship and advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 1990. Johnson, 30, is married to Susan and they have one daughter, Olivia, who is 16 months and are expecting another child in February. “Curt Johnson is a young, energetic soccer administrator who has learned his craft while leading the Richmond Kickers front office the last three years,” Head Coach Bob Gansler said. “Personally, I have known him for a decade and I expect that we will cooperate well together. Our combined efforts will surely put a better team on the field next season.”