DC United Fires Coach (Again), Seeks New Leader
Curt Onalfo, DC United head coach in his first season has been Fired! Replacing him as Leader, on an interim basis, is first year assistant, and former player, Ben Olsen.
Says Kevin Payne…”This is not about assigning blame. Obviously, mistakes were made by everyone this year. Mistakes are made every year by every team in every sport. It’s how you deal with those mistakes and how you move on with the group that you have that is important. My conclusion, unfortunately, was that we weren’t moving forward, we were actually moving backward. That is why we made the change.”
“I am extremely disappointed,” Onalfo reportedly stated. “It takes a long time to build something, and having had eight short months, it was a limited amount of time, but I understand the profession. This is what I signed up for. I wish nothing but the best for the organization.”
One source, sympathetic to Onalfo’s situation, said that Onalfo “walked into a train wreck and now [United] is panicking.”
On whether the front office had any responsibility for what has happened this season, Dave Kasper says, “Of course. We share responsibility. We don’t take these decisions lightly. It’s a big decision, and one that we took in the best interests of the organization.”
Payne and Kasper made no secret of the fact that Onalfo’s sacking is intended as a message to the club’s fans as well as the playing squad. They view Olsen as the best motivator and leader on the staff, but claim there is no plan to give him the job on a permanent basis.
The search for a new Leader has already begun!