Omid Namazi named new head coach of the Steamers
September 21, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Steamers President & CEO Michael Hetelson announced today that the Steamers have named former Cleveland Force and Philadelphia Kixx head coach Omid Namazi as the new head coach of the St. Louis Steamers. Former player/head coach Daryl Doran will work as the vice president of corporate sponsorship sales and alumni relations.
Namazi, 40, was named the 2005 MISL Coach of the Year guiding the Force to wins in 15 of its final 19 regular season games and a 23-16 overall record, good for a second-place finish in the MISL regular season standings. Cleveland advanced to the MISL Finals but were beaten by the Milwaukee Wave.
"This is a great opportunity for me to come to an established team like the St. Louis Steamers," said Namazi. "I am very excited to continue the great work Daryl Doran has done to get this team competitive. I believe this team can achieve great things and be one of the best in the league next season."
Namazi, who has an overall coaching record of 111-75 in the league, first served as the head coach of the Philadelphia KiXX for parts of five seasons (1999-2002), a stint during which he led that club to the 2001-02 MISL Championship. After departing Philadelphia, Namazi spent one season as the head coach of the San Diego Spirit in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), and guided that team to its first postseason appearance. Namazi then returned to the MISL in December, 2003, as a player for Cleveland. The former MISL Defender of the Year (2001), was named the Force's interim head coach on March 2, 2004, and was promoted to the permanent position in April, 2004, after leading the team to a 5-5 finish and a postseason appearance.
"Daryl Doran will take on a greater role in the front office," Hetelson said. " The team did well and improved with Daryl as head coach but we are lacking in sponsorship to the point that we may not be able to afford to stay in St. Louis without corporate sponsorship. I am hoping that his ties to the community, passion for the sport, and over 20 years of dedication to the team will help us become more financially stable."
Doran underwent successful knee surgery this offseason and if he recovers fully could return to the field. "We are leaving the door open for Daryl to return to the field if he fully recovers from his knee surgery," said Hetelson."
The Steamers are scheduled to open the season on November 26 at Savvis Center versus the Philadelphia Kixx. You can purchase tickets now by calling 314-241-GOAL (4625).
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from September 21, 2005
- KiXX open season versus expansion California on November 12 - Philadelphia KiXX
- Blast to open the season at home on November 11 - Baltimore Blast
- MISL anounces final details for 2005-06 season - MISL 2
- Omid Namazi named new head coach of the Steamers - St. Louis Steamers
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