Schmid named MLS Coach of the Year

Nov 11, 2008 - 4:07 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Sigi Schmid, who guided the Columbus Crew to the best record in the Eastern Conference, was named MLS Coach of the Year on Tuesday.

The second-winningest coach in MLS history, Schmid is in his third season with the Crew. His team posted 17 wins this season, its highest win total since going 19-13 in 1999.

Columbus finished with the top record in the East for the first time since 2004 and has advanced to the conference finals against the Chicago Fire.

Schmid's 113 regular-season wins trails only Bob Bradley (124) in MLS history.

This season, the Crew made the playoffs for the first time under Schmid. Columbus finished 8-15-9 in his first season in 2006 and 9-11-10 last year.

The MLS also announced Tuesday that San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Darren Huckerby was voted the league's top newcomer.

Huckerby recorded six goals and four assists in 14 games after joining the Earthquakes in midseason.

The Earthquakes were 3-9-4 before the arrival of Huckerby, who helped the team finish 5-4-5.

Before joining San Jose, Huckerby, whose professional career began in 1993, scored 32 goals in more than 2,000 matches for the Norwich City Canaries from 2003 through this year.

He also has played for Lincoln City, Newcastle United, Coventry City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.