December 1, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Real Salt Lake News Release
HERRIMAN, Utah – Real Salt Lake President John Kimball today announced that the Club has promoted veteran front office member Kurt Schmid to the role of Sporting Director, serving as RSL’s interim Chief Soccer Officer. During his nearly three years at RSL – with the Claret-and-Cobalt the lone Western Conference team to advance to the postseason in each season – Schmid has played an integral role in building the first-team roster, managing the salary cap and recruiting on-field, coaching and support staff talent to Utah.
Schmid’s vast domestic and international experience building scouting networks and negotiating with players, agents and teams allows him to continue to work closely with Assistant General Manager Tony Beltran – who will bear additional responsibilities – and Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni and others, with the trio guiding both short- and long-term futures across the Club pyramid, now comprised of Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer), Utah Royals FC (National Women’s Soccer League), Real Monarchs SLC (MLS NEXT Pro), and the RSL Academy (MLS Next).
Schmid and the RSL front office oversee all day-to-day team operations, the Club’s expansive player personnel and scouting endeavors, all levels of player pathway development and methodology, and play key roles with both the sporting and business integration of RSL with Global Football Holdings properties overseas.
Kimball also announced that the Blitzer/Smith Ownership group will conduct a global General Manager search, effective immediately, while RSL and former General Manager Elliot Fall remain in discussions regarding his future with the Club.
Additionally, the Club announced that a trio of long-time assistant coaches – Matt Taylor, Brett Jacobs and Ignacio “Nacho” Hernandez – will not be renewed for the 2024 MLS season on the first-team staff. Schmid, Beltran and Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni have already begun the search process to fill those positions prior to both the December 19 MLS SuperDraft and the January 13 commencement of RSL’s 2024 preseason.
“First, I wish to express the utmost gratitude and appreciation for everything that Elliot accomplished during his 17 years with Real Salt Lake,” said Kimball, RSL’s first-ever employee upon its establishment in 2004, returning as Club President in September, 2020. “Elliot’s enthusiasm, positivity, eagerness to learn and his overall love of the game imbued each of his…
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