January 3, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – San Jose Earthquakes News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes today announced their full coaching and technical staff ahead of the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
Incoming head coach Luchi Gonzalez will be supported by assistant coaches Ian Russell, Steve Ralston, and Luciano Fusco, and goalkeeper coach Adin Brown. Russell and Brown are new additions to the staff while Ralston and Fusco served as interim assistant coaches during the 2022 season. Brown’s hire was previously announced on Dec. 2.
The Quakes are also welcoming Ron Shinault as Director of Health and Performance, Michael Brown as Head of Physical Performance, and Vander Salas as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.
“We set a clear objective to build a coaching staff with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for Major League Soccer,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “We believe that is an integral part of navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of this league. Our coaching staff possesses 62 years of combined MLS experience, as players or coaches, and another 19 years in the MLS player pathway. This group has been to a combined 10 MLS Cup Finals, produced many national team players, and worked at every level of the U.S. soccer ecosystem.
“I would like to thank Alex Covelo and Chris Wondolowski for their hard work on the coaching staff in 2022. We’re excited that both will remain with the club in other important capacities.”
Gonzalez was most recently an assistant coach with the United States Men’s National Team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Gonzalez previously served as head coach of FC Dallas from 2019-21. During his first two seasons at the helm, his side lost just one regular season home match (17-1-9) and reached the MLS Cup Playoffs twice. He also served as the Director of the FC Dallas Academy from 2012-18 and won four USSDA National Championships while helping develop several future U.S. National Team players, including Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Ricardo Pepi, and Jesus Ferreira, among others. Gonzalez was a 2002 SuperDraft selection by San Jose and played professionally in the United States, Sweden, and Peru.
Russell returns to San Jose as an assistant coach. Russell made 134 appearances in MLS between 2000-07, including 131 for San Jose between 2000-05, helping the Earthquakes win MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and a Supporters’ Shield in 2005. The Seattle native then…
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