The Seattle Sounders have signed head coach Brian Schmetzer to a multiyear contract extension, the club announced in a Monday release.
The signing keeps Schmetzer, a Seattle native, with the club he has been affiliated with for much of his adult life, dating back to his playing days when he signed with the NASL iteration of the Sounders straight out of high school in 1980.
Seattle have been a dominant force in the Western Conference under Schmetzer's guidance since he took over as head coach midway through the 2016 season, going to four out of the last five MLS Cup Finals and winning in 2016 and 2019. Since he took over, the Sounders have accumulated a 67W-37L-34D regular-season record and a blistering 15-4-2 mark in the postseason.
"Brian Schmetzer and I have an almost 20-year history of working together. Although I never doubted Brian would be back in 2021 and beyond, I am grateful that he will continue to lead Sounders FC for years to come,” Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer said in Monday's release. “Brian cares deeply for our club and community, he has a deep understanding of our culture and traditions, and no one is better poised to build upon the organization’s recent success.”
Schmetzer, 58, coached the USL Sounders from 2001-2008 before the club's 2009 jump to MLS, where he remained on the coaching staff under Sigi Schmid from 2009-2016.
Following Schmid's departure midway through the 2016 season, Schmetzer was given the job on an interim basis and was hired for the permanent position after leading the Sounders to their first-ever MLS Cup title. Seattle also won MLS Cup in 2019 and finished as the runner-up in 2017 and 2020 with Schmetzer at the helm.
“It is with great pride that I will be able to continue coaching a club with such a rich history, winning tradition and positive community influence,” Schmetzer said. “I’d like to thank club ownership for this opportunity, as well as all of the current and former players, coaches and staff that have helped build something here I’m very proud of. Lastly, I’d like to thank the fans, who fuel everything we do inside of this club. Seattle is my home and I couldn’t be happier to be staying put.”
