MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Name Dominic Kinnear Head Coach

January 7, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


San Jose (Wednesday, January 7, 2004) – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that Dominic Kinnear has been named the team's head coach. Kinnear will begin his new responsibilities immediately as the Earthquakes prepare for the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on January 16.

"I am honored to take over as head coach of the Earthquakes," said Kinnear. "I have had three seasons as an assistant coach here and I am looking forward to this challenge. I want to continue the winning tradition here and keep the Earthquakes in the upper echelon of MLS."

Kinnear, 36, has spent the past three seasons as the Quakes top assistant coach, helping the team to two MLS Cup Championships. As assistant coach, he worked closely with previous head coach Frank Yallop to organize daily training sessions while also coordinating the team's professional and collegiate scouting efforts.

"Dominic was our number one choice as head coach and he is the best man for the job," said General Manager Johnny Moore. "He has been an integral part of the three most successful years in the club's history. I believe that he is the right man to continue the winning tradition that has been established here. I am looking forward to working with him."

Kinnear was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1967 and grew up in Fremont, Calif., where he led the team from John F. Kennedy High School to back-to-back championships. Before embarking on his professional career, Kinnear helped lead Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY to a NCAA Final Four appearance as a freshman. He joined his first professional team, the San Francisco Blackhawks, in 1989 and spent four years with the team, including the 1991 Championship season. He was named to the First Team All-Western Conference three times in those four seasons.

Kinnear made the first of 56 appearances with the U.S. National team in 1990, and was the team's second-leading scorer in 1993 with seven goals and one assist in 21 matches. He captained the U.S. team in a match against his native Scotland on May 17, 1992 in Denver in one of the highlights of his national team career. An appendectomy in early March 1994 limited his chances of making the 1994 World Cup Team.

Kinnear went on to join Necaxa of the Mexican First Division in 1995, where he helped the team to the championship title and the Mexican Cup. Later in the year, he returned to the United States and joined the A-League's Seattle Sounders, helping the team to the APSL title.

Kinnear began his MLS career the following year when he was allocated to the Colorado Rapids for the inaugural season in 1996. After being slowed by a knee injury in 1996, he was traded to San Jose in 1997 and played one season for the Clash, alongside current Quakes Ramiro Corrales and Troy Dayak. He was then transferred to Tampa Bay, where he played three seasons (1998-2000) with the Mutiny, helping the team to two playoff appearances while playing midfield and filling in as a defender. In his MLS career he played in 117 games, scoring six goals and notching 26 assists.

An avid Glasgow Celtic supporter, Kinnear is married to wife Colleen. The couple resides in Fremont with their three children, David Gareth, Sophia Kathryn, and Grace Frances, who was born this past October. Kinnear currently holds a U.S. Soccer ‘A' level coaching license.

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