University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
LA Galaxy Name UCLA Alum Sigi Schmid Head Coach
July 27, 2017 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – UCLA alum and Hall of Fame inductee Sigi Schmid has been named LA Galaxy head coach effective immediately, announced the club on Thursday. Schmid was the head coach at UCLA for 19 seasons and led the program to three national titles after playing for the Bruins from 1972-75.
Schmid has recorded the most wins in UCLA soccer history and led the Bruins to NCAA titles in 1985, 1990 and 1997, while also being tabbed the national Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1997. He was a former four-year starter at midfielder for the Bruin soccer team and was selected All-Far West in 1975. He played in two NCAA title games and in the NCAA semifinals during his playing career. After graduating in 1976 with a B.S. in Economics, Schmid became a UCLA assistant coach in 1977 and in 1979 before beginning a 19-year career as head coach in 1980. He coached the Bruins to a 322-63-33 record, 16 consecutive post-season appearances and three national titles.
Schmid was elected into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 2004 and in addition has coached five players that have been elected to the Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as one of the first members of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).
Professionally he is a two-time MLS Coach of the Year and two-time MLS Cup winner from his previous time with the Galaxy, Columbus Crew SC and Seattle Sounders FC, is the winningest-coach in MLS history with 254 wins across MLS Regular and Post Season play. Throughout his career, he has captured two MLS Cups (2002, 2008), a record five U.S. Open Cups (2001, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014), three MLS Supporters' Shields (2002, 2008, 2014) and coached one of just two teams ever to capture a CONCACAF Champions Cup (2000).
Throughout his professional coaching career, which began in 1999 as the LA Galaxy Head Coach, Schmid has spent time with the Galaxy (1999-2004), Columbus Crew SC (2006-2008) and Seattle Sounders FC (2009-2016). During his time in MLS, Schmid has compiled a 228-165-113 record during the MLS Regular Season. Additionally, he reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in 13 seasons, while recording 28 MLS Cup Playoff wins, the second most in MLS history. Schmid is one of two coaches in MLS history to guide two different teams to MLS Cup titles and he is one of three to coach in four total MLS Cup Finals.
Internationally, he has twice served as the U.S. U-20 National Team head coach, most recently in 2005 at the FIFA World Championships. Schmid also served as an assistant to Bora Milutinovic on the USMNT 1994 FIFA World Cup team in addition to serving as head coach for the 1991 World University Games and 1995 Pan American Games.
