Tatu Named MISL Coach of the Year
Published on May 6, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release
(Westport, Conn., May 6, 2004) â Dallas Sidekicks head coach Tatu was named the Midwest Airlines MISL Coach of the Year on Thursday. Tatu wins the award after leading the Sidekicks to a 21-15 record and a MISL Western Division Championship. The 21 wins in 2003-04 marked a 12-game improvement for Dallas, which had a record of 9-27 during the 2002-03 season.
"I am definitely honored to receive this award," Tatu said. "It is an award that should be shared with my assistant coaches and my players. Without them, we would not have had all of the wins. Without them, I would not have been considered."
A 12-time All-Star during his 21-year playing career, Tatu recently completed his sixth season as the Sidekicks' head coach, the first five season of which he served as Player-Coach. Tatu has a career coaching record of 84-68 during the regular season (8-4 during the postseason).
"After 18 years of leading the Sidekicks on the field, it was nice that Tatu was able to focus 100 percent of his attention on coaching the team," Dallas general manager Jim Tolbert said. "We made some major adjustments by adding 10 new players to the team. Twelve more wins this season is definitely a step in the right direction."
It's the first MISL Coach of the Year award for Tatu, and the second overall. He won the coach of the year and most valuable player honors following Dallas' 1998 season in the WISL.
One of the greatest players in the history of professional indoor soccer, Tatu totaled 857 goals and 728 assists (716 goals and 643 assists with Dallas). He won four league championships, six most valuable player awards, and 11 scoring titles, during a career that also included stops in Tampa Bay and Wichita.
Voting for the Midwest Airlines MISL Coach of the Year Award followed the conclusion of the League's 162-game regular season, and preceded the MISL Championship Series. A 40-member panel, that included team executives and media representatives from each of the MISL's nine host cities, cast first-, second-, and third-place votes. A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote was worth three points, and a third-place vote was worth one point.
Tatu wins the award after receiving the most voting points (138) and the most first-place votes (22).
The Major Indoor Soccer League is a single-entity organization featuring a coast-to-coast presence with eight teams located across the United States and a ninth team in Monterrey, Mexico. On February 27, the League announced an expansion team in Stockton, CA, set to begin play in 2005-06. On May 4, the League announced plans for an expansion team in Newark, NJ, that will begin play in 2007-08. The MISL is the single major league of indoor soccer, playing a 162-regular season game schedule that concluded on April 5. The 2003-04 MISL Championship Series concluded on May 1, when the Baltimore Blast won its second consecutive MISL Championship. For more information on the MISL, visit the League's website at www.MISL.net.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from May 6, 2004
- Two KiXX Members Selected to Compete with U.S. Futsal National Team - Philadelphia KiXX
- Spalding Scoring Champion Greg Howes named MISL MVP - MISL 2
- Tatu Named MISL Coach of the Year - MISL 2
- Wave Forward Greg Howes named MISL MVP - Milwaukee Wave
- Two Force members to participate in Futsal qualifier - Cleveland Force
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