RSL Staff Rose From Playing Ranks To Find Success In MLS

By Randy Davis

Real Salt Lake’s technical staff is a bit unlike any other in Major League Soccer. The group is composed entirely of former MLS players, and most of them had no professional experience in MLS for their current roles prior to joining RSL. The instinctive reaction is that this would leave them at a disadvantage because of their lack of experience. However, this situation creates some unique advantages as well.

Many are probably familiar with RSL’s player-turned -coach, Jason Kreis, a former Dallas Burn player and a Real Salt Lake original. 

Kreis was not the first of the technical staff to come on board with Real Salt Lake. That honor goes to former Kansas City Wizards midfielder Brian “BJ” Johnson, who has been an assistant coach with RSL from the beginning of the club's existence. The first addition Kreis made to the staff was the hiring of former Burn teammate, Jeff Cassar, who previously served as goalkeeper coach in Dallas. The final assistant coach to join the staff was Robin Fraser, an MLS defensive standout who did not have previous coaching experience in MLS.

With four former MLS players - a former goalkeeper, a former defender, a former midfielder and a former striker – joining the ranks, the team just needed some players, and to come together with a philosophy that would enable them to start building a strong foundation.

For bringing in players: that’s where Garth Lagerwey came in. The RSL GM, and former MLS goalkeeper, was the last piece to join the club's administration. His arrival kicked off a feverish stretch of player acquisition that ran from fall of 2007 until late summer 2008. Lagerwey had no experience as a GM, but owner Dave Checketts took a chance on him like he did with Kreis. 

One might describe these coaches as “players' coaches.” Like all coaches should, this staff is clearly interested in getting the most out of their players. One way that they try to do this is to eliminate off-the-field issues for the players. According to defender Nat Borchers, the staff helps them out by making sure that, "We have everything we need to just play soccer. For example, we don’t have to worry about the details of appearances, food, housing, etc."

As former league members, the RSL technical staff has a keen understanding of what their players are going through.

"We’ve been through every possible situation that they will face," Lagerwey told Goal.com.

But it’s important to also listen to the players, especially the experienced players and allow them to have a voice.

Fraser stated, "We know we have some good, experienced players and it would be foolish of us not to draw from their knowledge as well."

However, Fraser also admitted that there can be a potential downside to being so open to contributions from the players. That’s why the team administrators have some very clear boundaries established, so that players know who calls the final shots. It’s also important to bring in the right players who won’t take advantage of the open-door policy and use it for constant complaints.

"We take into consideration very highly every person’s character that we bring into the team and these decisions are not easy," said Fraser. "That’s essential and I think maybe people often overlook the importance of it."

Initial critics of the Kreis and Lagerwey hires felt that the two couldn’t possibly be successful without previous experience in their roles. However, Fraser disputes this view and feels like they were being groomed for these roles throughout their careers.

"A lot of what we have done is not guess work. It’s really believing, and having a lot of conviction in our beliefs as to how a team should be put together," he explained.  

These convictions came from years of playing experience and being in positions of responsibility. "We have always been in positions of being a leader and many times a liaison between the coaching staff and the team. Even as we were playing, we were involved in strategizing and team building.” 

Lagerwey feels like this group does have something to prove. "We don’t have the kind of track record and resume that a Sigi Schmidt and a Bruce Arena have, so for sure we have a lot to prove. I’d like to think we are maybe harder working and more motivated than others are."

However, he feels like management has also set the proper tone for the entire technical staff to be successful,

"One thing that Dave Checketts asked both Jason and myself when we were hired is to always be humble enough to ask questions."

Up to this point, you’d have to say they must have asked the rights questions. Somewhere along the way the technical staff has grown together and developed a cohesive philosophy. Coach Kreis has been at the lead of this with his "the team is the star" ethos and his "fortune favors the bold" approach. Together with the rest of the staff, Kreis has been able to create believers amongst his players. 
 
Randy Davis covers Real Salt Lake for Goal.com

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