When Chris Armas was named New York Red Bulls head coach after Jesse Marsch left to become an assistant coach at Red Bull Leipzig, it created a coaching vacancy on New York’s staff.
On Tuesday, that vacancy was filled when C.J. Brown was named an assistant coach, the club announced Tuesday.
Brown has nine years of coaching experience including eight as an MLS assistant. Most recently he was on Jason Kreis’ staff at New York City FC and Orlando City SC.
Brown spent 10 of his 13 years of his playing career alongside Armas with the Chicago Fire where they won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup in 1998, and went on to win a Supporters' Shield and three more U.S. Open Cups as teammates.
"I'm excited to add C.J. to my staff," Armas said in a statement. "From the early days of Major League Soccer, we spent many incredible years together, learning what real teams are about. C.J. is a winner and a great competitor. Those qualities, along with his experience and work ethic, have turned him into a great coach. He knows our conference and league, he knows our team, and he knows what it takes to win. We're looking forward to getting C.J. quickly integrated with our team and our way of doing things.”
Brown is also no stranger to Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett, who was the Fire head coach in 2008 and 2009 and was an assistant coach from 1998-2007.
"As C.J.'s coach, I watched him develop from a good young player into a true leader," Hamlett said. ”He has a great mind for the game, he understands Major League Soccer, and he's a proven winner. I know his experience will be an asset to Chris and the rest of our staff."
