Shortly after Sounders FC announced its USL PRO team, the technical staff started discussing potential options for Head Coach. They looked at a couple of individuals outside the organization before coming to a conclusion very quickly.
That conclusion was that Ezra Hendrickson is a perfect fit as Head Coach of Sounders FC 2.
“He made sense for all of the reasons,” Sounders FC Owner & General Manager Adrian Hanauer said. “He knows the culture, the brand, what we’re trying to accomplish as a First Team, and now ultimately what we’re trying to do with S2.”
Hendrickson has been an Assistant Coach with Sounders FC ever since the club entered MLS in 2009. He was also the Reserve League Head Coach, guiding the team to a 19-13-7 record in the past four years. Because Hendrickson is so familiar with the club, its players, and the Sounders FC Academy, the decision was easy.
Not to mention, Hendrickson wanted to be S2 Head Coach just as badly as the organization wanted him for the role.
“I’m very honored. I’m very flattered. I’m very excited,” Hendrickson said. “I spoke with Adrian months ago and told him it was something that I really wanted to do.”
Hendrickson loves his role as an Assistant Coach under Sigi Schmid – the coach he played under for eight seasons at Columbus and LA – but he had ambitions of being a Head Coach at the professional level.
When the club officially asked him to coach S2, Hendrickson was ecstatic.
“It’s going to be hard [leaving my current position], but this is something that I wanted,” he said. “This is a way that I think I can help the organization, and I’m happy for that role.
“I want to say thanks to the Sounders organization for having the trust and confidence in me, putting me in charge of what I think is an integral part of any club.”
Hendrickson noted the importance of developing players with the goal of them eventually reaching the First Team. Having spent a dozen years as an MLS player, he knows what it takes to compete at the highest level and how to improve year after year.
Hendrickson’s playing career was full of success: three MLS Cups with three different teams, one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, and two Supporters’ Shields. While player development is the top priority, he and Schmid agreed it’s also very important for S2 to win games and entertain its fans at Starfire Sports.
A number of different players will come and go from the S2 roster. It shouldn’t be an issue for Hendrickson, who is familiar with First Team veterans as well as up-and-coming Academy players.
“It’s a unique position because you have to have the respect and be able to communicate effectively with senior professionals, guys who are on the First Team fighting for minutes,” S2 General Manager Andrew Opatkiewicz said. “Ezra’s got that respect, but he’s also got a personality and a coaching style that works really well with the younger guys.”
Hendrickson’s team is scheduled to begin USL PRO play in March.
