Williams in mix for Red Bulls manager
Interim coach went 3-3-2 after taking over head job
In his second stint as interim coach, Williams was 3-3-2 down the stretch for the Red Bulls. Although the team finished with the worst record in the league, Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said he saw a marked improvement in the team under Williams.
"I think he's done an outstanding job," Stover said. "It's a pretty tough position to take over. Obviously morale was very low, we had a lot of injuries and he showed his mettle. For my money he should be a finalist and we're going to work through that."
However it's not Stover's call, at least not entirely. He said on Tuesday that the first order of business is to hire a sporting director and that person will be primarily responsible for hiring the new coach. Stover said the club is in the process of "vetting those candidates, making sure we make the right decision and seeing who else might be interested."
"There's no date because we want to make sure we make the right decision and we don't want to hurry it," Stover said. "Obviously we're running out of time, but we don't really feel pressure with it yet."
Veteran defender Mike Petke also backs Williams for the job. He said it was Williams' subtle changes, including an emphasis on team defending, that made the difference for the Red Bulls down the stretch.
"I can't say enough about Richie," Petke said on Saturday. "He's a guy who has put the work in for five years now in this league, he's won the respect of players. If you look deeper than the record and look at how we've played, defensively as well as offensively, you can tell in the little time he's had, he's definitely made some improvements. I wish him all the luck and I would love to play for him next year."
Red Bulls captain Juan Pablo Angel was also impressed with the job Williams did under less than ideal conditions.
"The last 8-10 games have been very good and he obviously has done what he has to do," Angel said on Saturday. "He has turned the mentality around, he has given us his report and the results have been there. Hopefully we make the right decision, but the next person who is going to be in charge, whether it's Richie or someone else, we make sure that we get the job done."
Williams, who was on hand as the last piece of sod was laid down at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday, believes he has proved himself enough in two interim stints to earn the right to coach the team on a full-time basis.
"I would love to be here, love to be part of the Red Bull organization," Williams said. "Of course, it's such a beautiful stadium, the best stadium in the country, it would be nice to be here on opening day next season."
But Williams said, if necessarily, he'll coach elsewhere. He's got close ties to D.C. United, where he played from 1996-2000 and again in 2002, and there are expansion teams that could come calling. But that's not his preference.
"If people want to talk to me, I'd be interested in talking to other teams and seeing what's out there," Williams said. "But right now I'm very happy here with the Red Bulls and I'd be very happy to be asked to be the head coach here. That would be great."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
