MLS San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes Dominic Kinnear Press Conference Quote Sheet

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


Earthquakes General Manager Johnny Moore's Opening Statement: "I thank you for being here. This is a great day for the club. It is my pleasure to announce that Dominic Kinnear has accepted our offer and as of right now is officially the head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. Let me begin by saying that Dominic is the natural choice for this job and the number one choice for this job. Obviously, Dominic was raised in this area, played soccer in this area, played at the highest level of soccer in this area and has always been a very positive representative of soccer from Northern California.

As a player he was a skillful, intelligent attacking player and I believe that has helped him a great deal in his coaching philosophy. I believe that will help him a great deal in the future. He has played a huge role in rebuilding this club over the last three years, going from last place to first place. Dominic has been there every step of the way and been involved in all of the decisions for the last three years. He knows the players, knows the club and knows the league. All of those factors were extremely important.

I always introduce Dominic as being one of the brightest young coaching minds in America today, and I honestly believe that is the case. Having Dominic accept this job ensures a smooth transition, which is important to the ball club. He has been in charge of the upcoming draft and will completely run that. He is a great leader and I think he will take us to the next level."

Dominic Kinnear's Opening Statement: Thank you Johnny and thank you for those kind words. I would like to thank everyone for coming and to thank my family. My father and brother Hugh are here and I thank them for coming. I would not be where I am today without their support. I want to thank Johnny Moore and the San Jose Earthquakes for offering me this opportunity. This is one of the top coaching jobs in America, and I include Central America in that. To work with such fine players that we have had the past three years gives me a great opportunity to continue the success that we have enjoyed.

Anytime your name is brought up to be a coach, as my name has been in this country, it is an honor. To have your name brought up linked with this club is huge for me, because I have been a fan of this club since back in the 70's. [NASL Earthquakes] It is a great opportunity for me, and I accept the challenge. I think that the team will be happy knowing the transition will not be difficult. I don't plan on changing many things.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Frank Yallop. He brought me here as a coach and he put a lot of responsibility on me, both on and off the field. Without his help and knowledge and his teaching of me, which I have learned not just how to deal with players on the field but in the locker room, than I would not be here. It could be difficult to accept this position, but I think that Frank's help and everything he has done for me makes it easier to do this. We will miss him, but hopefully a few games into the season, we won't miss him too much."

Earthquakes Defender Troy Dayak, on new head coach Dominic Kinnear: "He is in a position right now that not many coaches would even dare to step into. You have to honor that decision. How many coaches would want to come in here and fill those shoes and to have the bravery to do that lets me know that he is ready to take on that task.

General Manager Johnny Moore, on whether he considered other candidates for the job: "We received phone calls and resumes from coaches across the country, but Dominic was always number one. He was the only coaching candidate that we felt would be perfect for the job. That is how strongly we felt about it."

Kinnear, on growing up and playing youth soccer in Fremont, Calif.: "At the time, you don't really think about it and where it will take you. I just wanted to continue to play and play at the highest level. I never thought about coaching or coaching a team like the Earthquakes."

Kinnear, on the 2004 Earthquakes: "As you know some players are out of contract. We would love to have everyone back and have no changes, especially from a team that just won the championship and a team that has such great harmony on and off the field. You never know what will happen, however, and we are going to be discussing that in the weeks to come."

Kinnear, on what fans should expect from his as head coach: "I am a firm believer in that what you have seen the last three years has not only been successful, but it has been entertaining. You won't see many changes. Frank and myself thought the same way about the game. Our ideas about the game and even substitutions were the same. Frank was a good teacher. He helped me out a lot as far as handling players and talking to them not just as a player but as a person in the organization."

Kinnear, on the challenges of being the head coach of the Earthquakes: "I think that one of the challenges, of course the biggest challenge, will be to repeat as champions. In a league with ten teams, that makes it tough - especially with all of the traveling and this year with World Cup Qualifying. That said, I think that with all of our team assembled and healthy, I see no reason why we couldn't repeat. But, you know that each year is a little bit different."

Kinnear, on the Jan. 16 MLS Draft: "There are some good players from around this area. I have seen a lot of them and I have a good idea of who the good players are and who we think will be able to help us."

Dayak, on the Quakes coaching staff and the good chemistry the team has: "I think it is a kind of magic formula. You have to have coaches that are honest and true and that have that integrity to be able to spot that integrity and honesty in players. I think both

Frank and Dom are honest guys. They shoot from the hip and are straight with you. They will tell you when things are not going right and when things are going great. When you have someone as a coach who has those values, then he is going to select the same type of person as a player."

Dayak, on new Quakes head coach Dominic Kinnear: "I think Dominic was the only choice for this job. In 1990, Bob Gansler asked me when I was playing on the full U.S. national team who the best player on the [APSL's San Francisco] Blackhawks was that should be in [national team] camp and I said Dominic Kinnear, first choice. He came into camp on the next trip and had a national team career for many years. I find it ironic that now our General Manager Johnny Moore came to me and asked me whom I thought our next coach should be. Again, my first choice was Dominic Kinnear without even hesitating. I know that he has the endorsement of all of the guys on the team. He has been in the trenches with us, and when you have a guy who has been there with you through everything, you gain a lot of respect for that person."

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