By TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ
tlopez@star-telegram.com
After years of courting, FC Dallas finally landed Schellas Hyndman as their coach Monday.
FC Dallas owner Clark Hunt played four years for Hyndman at SMU where Hunt was captain as a senior in 1987.
Hyndman coached 24 seasons for the Mustangs and 31 as a college head coach. He will be introduced today during an 11 a.m. news conference at Pizza Hut Park.
Hyndman leaves the college ranks with a 466-122-49 career record. He led SMU to the NCAA quarterfinals nine times and twice (2000 and 2005) to the NCAA Final Four.
"Schellas has had a great deal of success at SMU," FC Dallas midfielder Bobby Rhine said. "He’s run a very successful program, developed a lot of very good players, and comes from a very good soccer pedigree. Clearly, he’s a guy that has had success with his background, and that’s definitely something that we want at this level."
Hyndman was born in Macau and lived in China until he was 8 before moving to Ohio. He played for the Cincinnati Comets of the American Soccer League in 1975 and holds a black belt in karate.
Hyndman, who replaces coach Steve Morrow who was fired on March 20 after one year and eight games, will be the fifth head coach in club’s 13-year history.
Assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi served in the interim to earn a 2-2-1 record.
FC Dallas (4-5-4, 16 points) is third in the Western Conference, two games shy of midseason.
No current FC Dallas player attended SMU, but forward Kenny Cooper committed to play for Hyndman before turning pro and playing with Manchester United instead.
"He’s so well-respected and I was really looking forward to going to SMU and playing for him," Cooper said. "It didn’t happen, but I’m getting a second chance now, so I’m excited for the team because of the kind of credentials he brings. We’re excited for him to, so we’re looking forward to it."
Hyndman bio
Coaching experience:31 years, 24 at SMU
Career record: 466-122-49
Highlights: Led SMU to the NCAA Final Four twice (2000 and 2005); and the NCAA quarterfinals nine times. Under Hydman, SMU has not won fewer than 10 games in a season.
TOBIAS Xavier LOPEZ, 817-685-3868
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