Major League Soccer renamed its Coach of the Year award the ‘Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year’ award, following the passing of coaching legend Sigi Schmid late last year. MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the honor during Friday’s SuperDraft in Chicago.
Schmid won Coach of the Year twice in his 20 year MLS coaching career, in 1999 with the LA Galaxy and in 2008 with the Columbus Crew.
Honoring a legend of the game.
Moving forward, we’ll be presenting the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award as part of our year-end honors. pic.twitter.com/Y5moEZBJEO
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
“Sigi was an important part of our league from the very early years in our history, and he had a significant impact on everyone he touched throughout his life and coaching career,” Garber said in statement “While he will be remembered by many in the soccer community for his success on the field, it was his kindness and his great qualities as a father, husband and mentor that made him such as special person.”
.@thesoccerdon makes his remarks and shares a special announcement about the Coach of the Year award. https://t.co/5xU8E9d2da
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 11, 2019
Garber made the announcement prior to the commencement of the SuperDraft, after remembering the legacy that Schmid left behind. Despite the numerous accomplishments of Schmid’s career, including two MLS Cups (2002 and 2008), five Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (2001, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014, and three Supporters’ Shield titles (2002, 2008 and 2014), Schmid is remembered for the personal connections he made with players he coached and the staff he worked with.