Happy Birthday Coach Newman

Former Kansas City coach Ron Newman turns 80 today. Newman was the first coach MLS hired and became the first coach for the Kansas City Wiz in 1996. In 1997 the team name changed to the Wizards and Coach Newman led the team to a 21-11 record to win the Western Division regular season.

Newman was already in the National Soccer Hall of Fame before joining MLS for his work establishing youth soccer programs in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta. Newman was also the coach of the San Diego Sockers and led them to an incredible 10 championships in eleven years in indoor soccer.

Before his stint at coaching indoor, Newman also led the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and other teams in the original NASL and ASL.

Happy Birthday to one of the most successful and most colorful coaches in US soccer history.