Omid Namazi was named Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations on June 3, 2010. Namazi becomes the team's second full-time head coach, succeeding Emma Hayes, who coached during Chicago's inaugural 2009 season and the first six WPS matches of 2010.Namazi last coached in the women's game when he was the head coach of the San Diego Spirit of the Women's United Soccer Association. In his 2003 season with the Spirit, he led the squad to its only postseason appearance.
Namazi previously was the Head Coach and Vice President of Soccer Operations for the New Jersey Ironmen (former Major Indoor Soccer League and Xtreme Soccer League team). Namazi has had a successful indoor career as a coach and player. He is a two-time MISL Coach of the Year (2005 and 2006) and was the 2001-02 MISL Defender of the Year.
In November 2009, Namazi founded ON3 Soccer, a soccer academy based in the Tri-State region of New Jersey and Philadelphia. ON3 Soccer includes an academy program, year-round training, summer and holiday camps and coaching clinics.
ABOUT OMID NAMAZI:
Birth date: 12/8/64, in Provo, Utah
College: West Virginia
Previous coaching position: Head Coach/VP of Soccer Operations for the New Jersey Ironmen (Major Indoor Soccer League/Xtreme Soccer League)
Coaching career:
* New Jersey Ironmen (MISL/XSL): 2007-2009 -- MISL quarterfinal appearance in 2007-08
* St. Louis Steamers (MISL): 2005-2006 -- MISL championship appearance in 2005-06
* Cleveland Force (MISL): 2004-2005 -- MISL championship appearance in 2004-05
* San Diego Spirit (WUSA): 2002-2003 -- WUSA quarterfinal appearance in 2003
* Philadelphia KiXX (NPSL/MISL): 1996-2002 -- postseason appearance every season; two-time regular season champion in 1997-98 and 1998-99; 2001-2002 MISL champion
Coaching accolades: 2005 MISL Coach of the Year; 2006 MISL Coach of the Year
Playing career: The majority of Namazi's 19-year professional playing career was in indoors. He was a four-time Major Indoor Soccer League All-Star and voted 2001-2002 MISL Defender of the Year. Outdoors, Namazi played for the Washington Diplomats, Maryland Bays and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and was called up by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer in 1996.
(WUSA: Women's United Soccer Association; MISL: Major Indoor Soccer League; NPSL: National Professional Soccer League; XSL: Xtreme Soccer League)
Charlie Naimo, Technical Advisor
Naimo was previously the Los Angeles Sol General Manager and helped organize a club that posted the best regular-season record (12-3-5, 41 points) during the 2009 WPS season and a place in the WPS title match against eventual champion Sky Blue FC. In the near-term, Naimo will assist GM Marcia McDermott primarily with player personnel recommendations and negotiations, and assistance with the Red Stars coaching search. Naimo will continue in his current role as Pali Blues Soccer Club President of Operations and Head Coach.
Before L.A., Naimo had a remarkable coaching tenure at the United Soccer Leagues W-League level. Naimo is a two-time W-League Coach of the Year and he posted a staggering 65-3 regular-season coaching record in five seasons from 2004 to 2009. Naimo coached the W-League's New Jersey Wildcats (2004-2006), winning two W-League titles and posting a runner-up finish in 2005. He then spent the 2007 season with Jersey Sky Blue and then led the Pali Blues to the 2008 W-League championship.
Nathan Kipp, Goalkeeper Coach
Kipp joined the Red Stars prior to the 2009 WPS season, previously serving as goalkeeper coach for the Duke women's soccer team from 2006 to 2009. During his three-year tenure in Durham, N.C., the Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet Sixteen once and the Elite Eight twice. In coaching stints prior to joining Duke, Kipp was the goalkeeper coach at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in 2005 and he served in the same capacity at Iona College in 2003 and 2004. Hayes was the head coach of Iona College at the time.
Kipp is a native of Gambier, Ohio, and played for the Carolina Dynamo in 2001 and 2002. He went on to capture United Soccer Leagues Goalkeeper of the Year honors after leading the league with a 0.87 goals against average in 2002.