UPDATE (Nov. 2, 10:51 am ET): Columbus Crew SC assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson has emerged as a favorite to fill the vacant D.C. United head coaching job, according to Steve Goff of the Washington Post.
Goff reports Hendrickson impressed enough in a preliminary interviews to be considered among a group of 5-6 finalists, but the Crew would be owed compensation if hired by D.C. Interim coach Chad Ashton, former New York Red Bulls coach Chris Armas and Jill Ellis are also reportedly in the mix.
D.C. United have held informal talks with former US women’s national team coach Jill Ellis about the club’s head coaching job, the Washington Post's Steven Goff reports.
Ellis, who guided the USWNT to a pair of World Cup titles, had a 106-7-19 record at the helm before stepping down last fall.
It’s still early days in the process of finding a replacement for Ben Olsen, who held the job for a decade. But Ellis, who remains employed by the U.S. Soccer Federation, reportedly impressed in those discussions.
The 54-year-old was born in England before her family moved to the United States when she was 14. She captained the Robinson Secondary School team in Fairfax, Virginia to a state championship before going on to play at William & Mary. The two-time FIFA women’s coach of the year reportedly also interviewed for the English women’s national team coaching position.
Among the other reported candidates are former New York Red Bulls coach Chris Armas, US U-23 coach Jason Kreis and Steve Cherundolo, an assistant coach for the German U-15 national team.
The club already reportedly spoke to Michael Nsien, head coach of FC Tulsa in the USL Championship, with plans to also talk with Tyrone Marshall, an assistant coach at Real Salt Lake, as well as Montreal Impact assistant Patrice Bernier.
