HAMLETT TAKES THE REIGNS
The Chicago Fire announced Friday, Jan. 11, that longtime Fire assistant coach Denis Hamlett has signed a multi-year deal to be the new head coach for the team. Now the fourth coach in the Fire's 11-year history, Hamlett is currently in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. participating in the 2008 MLS Player Combine.
Hamlett, 39, a member of the Chicago Fire coaching staff since the club's inaugural 1998 campaign, will return to Chicago for his eleventh season on the Fire bench. Hamlett has held the position of Fire top assistant coach since the 2001 season, while also serving as Community Relations Department liaison. With Hamlett's guidance, the Fire has won the 1998 MLS Cup, four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006), four Conference championships (1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), as well as the MLS Supporters Shield (2003). Most recently, Hamlett helped the "Men in Red" reach the Eastern Conference Championship game through the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.
CHICAGO FIRE READY FOR 2008 MLS SUPERDRAFT
On Friday, Jan. 18, the Chicago Fire will participate in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Md. Fans of the "Men in Red" can catch the first round live on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m. CT and follow every pick of all four rounds on the www.mlsnet.com DraftTracker.
KLOPAS, NOWAK, AND WHITFIELD UP FOR HALL OF FAME VOTING
Today the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum released the 2008 Player's Ballot to over 100 media personnel from the print, broadcast, and on-line communities, National Team, qualified MLS Coaches, national soccer administrators, and Hall of Famers. Included on the ballot are former Chicago Fire forward Frank Klopas (1998-99), former captain and midfielder Peter Nowak (1998-2002), and former midfielder Evan Whitfield (1999-2004). Players who receive votes on 75% of the ballots cast will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Induction 2008 is planned for the weekend of Aug. 22-24 at the Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, N.Y. Complete 2008 election results will be available on the Hall of Fame website, www.soccerhall.org.
DEFENDER OSEI TELESFORD WITH TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO NATIONAL TEAM
Fire defender Osei Telesford has joined a squad of home-based professionals that will begin training at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, this Tuesday, Jan. 14. The team will train in the build-up to their international friendly against Guadeloupe at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
FIRE ACADEMY WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708-496-6577 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Monday, Jan. 14: OFF
Tuesday, Jan. 15: Training at Bridgeview Golf Dome, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 16: OFF
Thursday, Jan. 17: Training at DeKalb Sports & Rec. Center Field House, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 18: OFF
Saturday, Jan. 19: OFF
Sunday, Jan. 20: Training at Bridgeview Golf Dome, 7:00 a.m.
CHICAGO FIRE POWER SOCCER TEAM PLAY IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Congratulations to the inspirational wheelchair athletes of the Chicago Fire Power Soccer team who competed this past weekend in the 2008 United States Power Soccer Association's Western Regional tournament in Tempe, Ariz. The Chicago Fire Power Soccer team represented themselves and the Fire badge proudly as they defeated their competition to qualify for the championship game.
The Chicago Fire Power Soccer team played for the championship without their captain and lost 0-3 in a very competitive game to the number one seed from Minnesota. The 2008 United States Power Soccer Association's Western Regional tournament was the first time the Chicago Fire Power Soccer athletes participated in since wearing the Chicago Fire official jerseys in early November.
BARRETT TO BE HONORED AT COMCAST SPORTSNET SPORTS AWARDS
The Chicago Fire will be represented at the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards dinner on Monday, Feb 11, at the Hilton Chicago, located at 720 S. Michigan Ave., in Chicago. Fire forward Chad Barrett will be honored at the event along with athletes from the other major sports teams in the city. Since 1987, the event has raised more than 5.5 million dollars to support the March of Dimes' mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For more information on the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards, visit www.csnsportsawards.com.
