Greg Andrulis, the man who skippered the Colulmbus Crew to an MLS-record 18-match unbeaten run to close out the 2004 regular season, was named MLS Coach of the Year Friday at the MLS Cup Media Luncheon. This is the first Coach of the Year award for Andrulis.
Before a surprising 1-0 defeat in first leg of the Conference Semifinals by a talented Revolution team, Andrulis's charges hadn't suffered defeat in MLS play since June 26. The unbeaten streak was the longest in Major League Soccer history, surpassing the 15-game streak reeled off by the Los Angeles Galaxy against the end of the 1997 season and start of the '98 campaign. In fact, the 18 consecutive games unbeaten by the Crew this season more than doubled the next closest side's run with the Wizards going unbeaten in nine consecutive games.
"To be honest with you, one, I was surprised," Andrulis said, "two, honored and humbled knowing that this should be [Kansas City head coach] Bob Gansler's for all that he accomplished this year, and I mean that sincerely."
"This is a reflection of the team's success, and I'm fully aware of that."
Andrulis also guided his team to the top of Eastern Conference standings and garnered the Crew their first ever Supporters' Shield which is awarded annually to the team with the most points in either conference. The Crew's 49 points is also the highest regular season point total in team history.
| Past Award Winners |
| 2003 | Dave Sarachan (CHI) |
| 2002 | Steve Nicol (N.E.) |
| 2001 | Frank Yallop (S.J.) |
| 2000 | Bob Gansler (K.C.) |
| 1999 | Sigi Schmid (L.A.) |
| 1998 | Bob Bradley (CHI) |
| 1997 | Bruce Arena (D.C.) |
| 1996 | Thomas Rongen (T.B.) |
The movements required of a head coach were evident in Andrulis's mastery of lineup changes throughout the regular season. Although the Crew started the season with three consecutive losses, Andrulis never panicked and guided a team that would drop only three more matches in all competitions during the rest of the season. In all, the Crew finished the regular season with 12 wins against only five losses. The loss total represents not only the lowest number of losses in the regular season in the league this season but also in team history. Columbus's win total also marked the second highest total in the league this year behind Kansas City's 14.
Columbus was actually so far ahead of its Eastern Conference contemporaries that it became the first team to clinch a playoff spot during a 4-2 triumph against the MetroStars in which striker Edson Buddle tallied all four goals. Buddle finished the season tied for second among all goal-scorers despite playing in fewer matches, 24, than all but two players on the Top 10 goal scorers list.
Andrulis's steady leadership was most visible on the Crew's travels. The Crew's 4-8-3 record on the road represented the best winning percentage among MLS teams on the road as well as the fewest losses away from home during the regular season. Focus on defense was also a priority for Andrulis and his squad as the Crew went 8-2 in one-goal games.
Andrulis edged out Gansler and Peter Nowak of D.C. United for the honor. The MLS Coach of the Year is an annual ward given to the league's top coach as determined through votes cast by MLS coaches, general managers players and members of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association.
Danny Polinsky is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
