Crew name Tim Hanley as assistant coach

The Columbus Crew SC 2020 coaching staff is complete. The Black & Gold announced the hiring of Tim Hanley as an assistant coach on Tuesday morning. Hanley brings 35 years of coaching experience with him to Columbus, including 19 years on an MLS staff.

“Tim is someone who brings over three decades of coaching experience to our Club,” Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in the club’s press release. “As someone who has not only worked in MLS but won trophies in this League, we believe Tim will be a great addition to our technical staff as we continue to put together a team that contends for championships.”

Hanley most recently worked as the goalkeeper coach for the Philadelphia Union in 2018. Prior to that stop, Hanley spent time with the San Jose Earthquakes (1997-1999, 2001-2005, 2015-2017), the Houston Dynamo (2006, 2009-2014) and the LA Galaxy (2007). Throughout his coaching career, Hanley has been to five MLS Cup finals (2001, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012) and won the trophy three times (2001, 2003, 2006). Hanley’s teams have also reached the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on two occasions (2007, 2018).

In addition to his experience in MLS, Hanley served as an assistant coach at Stanford University from 2001-2005, helping the Cardinal to reach the NCAA Tournament College Cup on two occasions (2001, 2002).

As a player, Hanley had a five-year career as a professional goalkeeper, suiting up for the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1980-1981), the Earthquakes (1981, 1983-1984), as well as stints in Scotland with Hibernian Football Club (1982) and Switzerland with Servette FC (1985).

Hanley will join Caleb Porter’s staff that includes assistant coaches Pablo Moriera, Ben Cross and Ezra Hendrickson. Moriera is a longtime assistant of Porter’s who worked with and played for the head coach during his time at Akron as well as with the Portland Timbers before coming to Columbus last year. Cross was promoted by Porter from the Crew’s Academy upon his arrival. Hendrickson joined the staff during the 2019 season after the abrupt departure of assistant coach Mike Matkovich due to health reasons.

“We are pleased to welcome Tim into our coaching staff,” Porter said in the release. “In building a high-performance team, we want to make sure that we add not only quality players, but also top-level staff that help us develop those players. Tim’s experience in MLS is unrivaled and he will further strengthen our coaching.”

Porter’s initial Black & Gold staff also included longtime MLS goalkeeper Matt Reis, but Reis departed the club after the 2019 season to return to California to be closer to his family. Like Reis, Hanley’s job title will not include goalkeeper coach but he is expected to fill a similar role, working with Columbus’ goalkeeping group of Eloy Room Jon Kempin and Matt Lampson.