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San Diego Spirit Names New Head Coach

October 25, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Spirit has named Omid (O-Mead) Namazi as the third head coach in club history, general manager Dave Presher announced today. Namazi, an experienced professional player and championship coach comes to the Spirit from the Philadelphia KiXX of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He led the KiXX to three consecutive playoff appearances and the 2002 MISL title as a player-coach, but will retire as a player to take charge of the Spirit.

Release Summary

- Namazi was a five-time NPSL All-Star player and is the KiXX all-time assist leader.

- The West Virginia University graduate played professionally outdoors for four teams prior to the MLS in 1996.

- Namazi and Presher will be available for phone interviews today between 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

- Namazi will be officially introduced to the media on Monday, November 4, 12 Noon at the Allen Field training site.

Namazi, who is a USSF "A" licensed coach and served as a staff coach of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program, was a five-time National Professional Soccer League (now the MISL) All-Star and is the KiXX all-time leader in assists. Namazi coached the KiXX for part of the 1999 season through the present, he will leave the indoor club to begin immediately working with the Spirit. Namazi is a 1988 graduate of West Virginia University where he played his college ball and received a B.S. in Physical Education and Exercise. Prior to coaching the KiXX, as an assistant coach he led the Staten Island Vipers of the outdoor U.S. men's second division A-League in 1999 to a 19-9 mark and the conference quarterfinals. He played professionally in the American Soccer League with the Washington Diplomats and in the American Professional Soccer League with the Maryland Bays, Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the LA Salsa, prior to the formation of Major League Soccer in 1996.

"There will be a big learning curve, but once on the field, soccer is soccer," said Namazi. "I've never coached women at a high level, but I have followed the WUSA, have great respect for the women's game and for the professional players that I will be working with. I know there will be challenges, but I feel if you treat players with honesty and respect, they will respond no matter if they are men or women. I am looking forward to helping the Spirit build a winner in what is certainly a wonderful place for professional women's soccer."

The Washington, D.C. native becomes the third coach in WUSA history to join league with prior professional coaching experience, following Jim Gabarra and Jay Hoffman, both of whom also coached professionally indoors.

"His experience as a professional coach, brings a new dynamic to the Spirit and the WUSA," said Presher. "With the league being only three years old, most candidates are missing some aspect of coaching from their resume. However, I felt that being successful at the professional level was an important quality for our new coach to have, for this team at this time. Bringing in a new, fresh and championship-tested approach will help us establish a formula and an attitude preparing the team to win."

Namazi, 36, is married to Colleen and has a newborn baby boy Julian and an eight-year old son Kyan from a previous marriage.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from October 25, 2002


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