Loudoun United FC have found their first coach and he’s a familiar name for D.C. United fans.
Richie Williams, who won three MLS Cups patrolling the midfield for the Black-and-Red has been named the inaugural coach of D.C. United’s USL affiliate, the club announced Monday.
A member of the inaugural D.C. United squad in 1996, Williams made 191 appearances from 1996-2002, helping the club win MLS Cup in 1996, 1997 and 1999, a pair of Supporters’ Shields in 1997 and 1999, a Concacaf Champions Cup in 1998 and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 1996.
After his playing career, Williams served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, before becoming an assistant coach with the MetroStars in 2006. He twice served as interim coach there — in 2008 and 2009 — before coaching U.S. youth teams. Williams returned to MLS as a Real Salt Lake assistant coach in 2015 and was an assistant coach of the USMNT for the last two years.
“I’m honored to be named the first head coach in Loudoun United FC history and I'm looking forward to getting to work immediately,” Williams said in a statement. “I have a long history with D.C. United and spoke with Dave Kasper who is equally as excited about the Loudoun United project. We have a new opportunity to develop players, identify prospects in an area that's rich with soccer talent while also competing at a high level in the USL Championship. We have been working hard behind the scenes to build our roster for 2019 and we've got some work to do before our March 9 USL opener against Nashville. I'm looking forward to the challenge and can't wait to get to know the Loudoun United fans.”
Williams’ hiring comes on the heels of the announcement that Dane Murphy, another former D.C. United player, will serve as the technical director of D.C. United and Loudoun United FC.
Murphy started his professional career with D.C., part of the club that won the 2008 U.S. Open Cup. He went on to play in 2. Bundesliga for VFL Osnabrück from 2009-10 before returning to the United States to compete for the New York Cosmos from 2013-14.
After his playing career, Murphy served as the Cosmos head scout before being named the technical director at Real Salt Lake, a position he held through the 2018 season.
"I started my professional career with D.C. United and I'm excited to return to the club, it’s fans, and this wonderful city as a part of the technical staff," Murphy said. "It's a transformative period with the birth of Audi Field, the opening of a new training ground and announcing Loudoun United FC as our USL affiliate. I'm eager to start working to help the club continue on their upward trajectory in 2019."
