NEW YORK — Jay Heaps is set to be named the New England Revolution’s new head coach, according to reports from the Boston Globe on Monday.
Last Wednesday, Revs president Brian Bilello revealed to MLSsoccer.com how the board had lined up 12 potential candidates and that they would be announcing a new manager sometime this week.
Bilello was insistent that New England would not rush into appointing someone, and that a thorough interview procedure would ensue.
“Throughout the head coaching search that I've been doing with Michael [Burns], we're not just looking at a guy and saying who is going to be the best coach,” Bilello said. “We're also understanding what we want to be as an organization and then applying it to the interview process.”
It seems as though they have now found their man, with New Hampshire native Heaps reportedly ready to take charge and turn the Revs' fortunes around, after they finished tied for last place in the 2011 MLS season with a record of 5-16-13. New England’s search for a new manager has been ongoing since long-term head coach Steve Nicol’s contract was not renewed at the end of a disappointing MLS season for the Revs.
Heaps has been working as color analyst during New England’s television broadcasts and played with the side for over eight years, racking up a franchise record 294 appearances in the process. The former Duke University graduate, who was also named the MLS rookie of the year in 1999, made four appearances for the US national team in his playing days.
Heaps is expected to be announced as the Revolution’s new top man on Tuesday, before being unveiled on Wednesday in a press conference, according to the report.
