Brian Schmetzer

Schmetzer was born and grew up in Seattle where he attended Nathan Hale High School. He learned to play soccer under the tutelage of his father Walter, who coached him with the Lake City Hawks youth team and led them to multiple state championships. Walter, a native of Germany, had played in the German Third Division before immigrating to the United States in 1962, opening a sporting goods store in Lake City. Walter instilled a love for the game in Brian, who became an outstanding youth and high school player.{{cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=March 8, 1980 |title=Walt's ways winning; big-league smile gone |page=D2 |work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=February 21, 1979 |title=Schmetzer wins with the Hawks |page=H7 |work=The Seattle Times}}

After graduating from high school, Schmetzer chose to forego college and signed with the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in June 1980.{{cite news |last=Parietti |first=Walt |date=June 17, 1980 |title=Sounders' Davies: out of strep throat, into Hurricane |page=D3 |work=The Seattle Times}} He spent the 1980 season with the Sounders reserves before playing with the Sounders during the 1980–1981 NASL indoor season. In the 1981 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup, he came on with eight minutes left in the game against Celtic, making his professional debut.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 17, 1981 |title=Schmetzer's father knew best |page=D4 |work=The Seattle Times}} However, he saw no time in the 1981 regular season. Schmetzer debuted during the 1982 season, playing six games, and was later elevated to regular appearances in 1983. He scored his first goal for his club on June 25, 1983, during a 2–0 win over the San Diego Sockers at Jack Murphy Stadium.{{cite news |date=June 27, 1983 |title=Schmetzer's goal helps Sounders blank Sockers |page=B3 |work=The Seattle Times}} Unfortunately, the Sounders folded at the end of the season in September 1983.{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Seattle Sounders: Kicking through the memories |page=C4 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2001921036_sounderstimeline06.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}} During his final season with the Sounders, coach Laurie Calloway called Schmetzer a "different player [than before]", praising his confidence and said that he believed that Schmetzer could become one of the top American players in the league.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 12, 1983 |title=Experience, 'thinking' make Brian better |page=D3 |work=The Seattle Times}}

With the demise of the Sounders, Schmetzer moved to the Tulsa Roughnecks for the 1983–84 NASL indoor season, but later filed for free agency.{{cite news |date=December 30, 1983 |title=NASL trying to keep Tulsa franchise alive |page=C3 |agency=United Press International |work=The Tampa Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30517354/nasl_trying_to_keep_tulsa_franchise/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 11, 2019}} {{free access}} However, the league collapsed at the end of the season.

Schmetzer moved again, this time to the San Diego Sockers. The Sockers had begun as an NASL franchise, but had twice spent the winter playing in Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). With the collapse of the NASL, the Sockers moved permanently to MISL. During the next decade they dominated the indoor league and won championships nearly every season. Schmetzer was with the Sockers for four seasons, winning an MISL title in three of them.

Following the Sockers championship victory in 1985, San Diego loaned Schmetzer to F.C. Seattle of the Western Soccer Alliance. The team was created in 1984 after the Sounders folded to provide local and ex-NASL players an opportunity to play outside of local rec leagues. Jimmy Gabriel coached F.C. Seattle that season. Gabriel and Schmetzer would join up again when Schmetzer became head coach of the Sounders with Gabriel as his assistant. He was joined by his younger brothers Andy and Walt in 1985, signing with the club out of high school.{{cite news |last=Parietti |first=Walt |date=June 9, 1985 |title='FC Schmetzer'? Seattle team gets brotherly boost |page=D3 |work=The Seattle Times}} While Schmetzer played as a midfielder with Seattle, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Brazilian club Santos on June 8, 1985.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=June 10, 1985 |title=Only 4,180 see Seattle top Brazil's Santos, 2–1 |page=B5 |work=The Seattle Times}} In August 1988, Schmetzer moved to the Tacoma Stars.{{cite news |date=August 19, 1988 |title=Stars sign Schmetzer |page=C3 |work=The Seattle Times}} While there, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Stars while also playing. Schmetzer played for the St. Louis Storm of the MISL for the 1990–91 season.{{cite news |date=August 16, 1990 |title=Storm signs Schmetzer |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/08/16/Storm-signs-Schmetzer/8193650779200/ |agency=United Press International |accessdate=August 8, 2024}} At the end of the season in April 1991, he retired from playing;{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Jack |date=October 24, 1991 |title=Schmetzer clan down to 1 in MSL |page=10F |work=The Plain Dealer}} during his indoor career, Schmetzer played 415 matches and scored 67 goals.{{cite news |last=Milles |first=Todd |date=December 9, 2016 |title=Schmetzer's journey takes him to the biggest game |page=B1 |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/soccer/article119856648.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=January 1, 2023}}

In 1994, he came out of retirement to sign a one-year contract with the expansion Seattle Sounders of the American Professional Soccer League.[http://soundercentral.com/men_of_the_moment.htm 1994 Sounders roster] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050322084723/http://soundercentral.com/men_of_the_moment.htm |date=March 22, 2005 }}{{cite news |date=July 3, 1994 |title=Sounders sign 3 players to one-year contracts |page=C10 |work=The Seattle Times}} In 1995, he played for the Seattle SeaDogs of the Continental Indoor Soccer League at the age of 32, after being selected in the league draft.{{cite news |last=Sherwin |first=Bob |date=May 5, 1995 |title=Sounders set to kick off |page=E1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19950505/2119361/sounders-set-to-kick-off |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}}{{cite news |date=April 21, 1995 |title=SeaDogs take Chung with No. 1 |page=D6 |work=The Seattle Times}}

While Schmetzer began his coaching career as a player-assistant coach with the Tacoma Stars, he became a dedicated assistant coach when he moved to the Seattle SeaDogs of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) in 1995. Fernando Clavijo coached the SeaDogs, which lasted only three seasons before the league folded. However, they did win the CISL championship their last season, 1997.{{cite news |last=Almond |first=Elliott |date=December 24, 1997 |title=With CISL dead, SeaDogs weigh their options to keep kicking |page=C1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971224/2579861/with-cisl-dead-seadogs-weigh-their-options-to-keep-kicking |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 11, 2016}} Schmetzer spent a few years with the Emerald City Football Club, coaching youth soccer, while also managing a construction business shared with Dick McCormick.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=August 20, 2016 |title=Who is Sounders interim coach Brian Schmetzer? 'He's a good pro, a hard worker. He's endured.' |page=C1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/who-is-sounders-interim-coach-brian-schmetzer-hes-a-good-pro-a-hard-worker-hes-endured/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}}

After the 2001 season, the Seattle Sounders found themselves without a head coach after firing Bernie James, their first and until then only coach. General manager Adrian Hanauer called Schmetzer and asked him if he was interested in the job, interviewing the then-youth coach at a coffee shop on Capitol Hill.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=November 5, 2016 |title=Five meetings that shaped newly-minted Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer's career |page=C1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/breakfast-with-the-enemy-and-four-other-meetings-that-shaped-brian-schmetzers-career/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 11, 2016}} Schmetzer agreed and took the job in November 2001, with the 2002 season to make his mark on the team's fortunes.{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=November 30, 2001 |title=Schmetzer to push young, local talent |page=D7 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20011130/soun30/schmetzer-to-push-young-local-talent |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 11, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=May 4, 2002 |title=Sounders get an A for new additions |page=D4 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20020504/soun04/sounders-get-an-a-for-new-additions |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}} During his first season as head coach, the Sounders logged a 23–4–1 record, the second-best record in A-League history, and Schmetzer was named Coach of the Year.{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=September 28, 2002 |title=Sounders' O'Brien voted A-League MVP |page=D2 |work=The Seattle Times}} The Sounders' record, including a 14–2–0 start, was credited to Schmetzer's use of veteran players and key free-agent signings to boost offensive capabilities.{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=July 10, 2002 |title=Opponents can't beat Sounders' new system |page=D8 |work=The Seattle Times}} In 2004, he coached the Sounders to the A-League championship game where the team lost to the Montreal Impact. In 2005, Schmetzer again took the Sounders to the championship game (under the re-branded USL First Division), and defeated the Richmond Kickers in penalty kicks to take the title.{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=October 3, 2005 |title=Sounders savoring the title |page=D14 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders-savoring-the-title/|work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=September 30, 2005 |title=Coach's direct approach guides Sounders to final |page=C1 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2002530387_sounders30.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}}

Schmetzer was a finalist for the 2007 USL-1 Coach of the Year Award. Although the team had started the season 1–3–4, they went on to claim the Commissioner's Cup for the league's best regular-season record. The team also had a 15-game unbeaten run that included MLS opponents in the U.S. Open Cup. The Sounders went on to beat the Atlanta Silverbacks 4–0 to win the league championship.{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/othersports/333798_sounders01.html|title=After slow start, Sounders win title, ponder future|last=Gaschk|first=Matt|date=September 30, 2007|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=January 7, 2010}} He amassed a 100–57–41 regular-season record in the A-League and USL-1 and lead the Sounders to two league championships and two U.S. Open Cup semifinals.{{cite news |date=June 30, 2017 |title=Seattle Sounders lifer Brian Schmetzer gets just reward with MLS Cup berth |url=https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/seattle-sounders-brian-schmetzer-mls-cup-toronto-120916 |work=Fox Sports |access-date=January 30, 2019}}

Schmetzer was a candidate for the head coach position with Seattle Sounders FC. The job eventually went to Sigi Schmid, who had previously coached the Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew, while Schmetzer took the role as the top assistant.{{cite news|url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2008550617_sounders23.html?syndication=rss|title=Sounders FC hire Brian Schmetzer as top assistant|last=Romero|first=José Miguel Romero|date=December 23, 2008|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=January 7, 2010}} Schmezter filled in as head coach of the team in place of Schmid on four occasions from 2009 to 2015, winning three matches and losing one.{{cite press release |date=November 2, 2016 |title=Sounders FC names Brian Schmetzer Head Coach |url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2016/11/02/sounders-fc-names-brian-schmetzer-head-coach |publisher=Seattle Sounders FC |access-date=November 2, 2016}}

During his time as assistant coach, Schmetzer was interviewed for head coach positions at Montreal Impact in 2011 and FC Dallas in 2013.{{cite news |last=Meyers |first=Joshua |date=June 12, 2012 |title=Sounders FC's Brian Schmetzer ready for next coaching step |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-fcs-brian-schmetzer-ready-for-next-coaching-step/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 7, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=December 4, 2013 |title=F.C. Dallas target Schelotto |url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/1638922/fc-dallas-target-guillermo-barros-schelotto |work=ESPN FC |access-date=December 7, 2016}}

On July 26, 2016, Schmetzer was named interim head coach of the Sounders after the departure of Sigi Schmid.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=July 26, 2016 |title=Sounders part ways with longtime coach Sigi Schmid |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-part-ways-with-longtime-coach-sigi-schmid/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 26, 2016}} He was announced as the club's permanent head coach on November 2, after leading the Sounders to the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=November 2, 2016 |title=Sounders remove interim tag, hire coach Brian Schmetzer on a full-time basis |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-remove-interim-tag-hire-coach-brian-schmetzer-on-a-full-time-basis/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 2, 2016}} The Sounders would win their first MLS Cup on December 10, 2016, defeating Toronto FC in a penalty shootout, and repeated as Western Conference champions the following season.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Could Sounders enter 'dynasty' conversation if they win MLS Cup? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/could-sounders-enter-dynasty-conversation-if-they-win-mls-cup-would-certainly-rank-among-leagues-all-time-elite/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 30, 2019}} After losing to Toronto FC in a rematch at MLS Cup 2017, Schmetzer publicly set a goal for the Sounders to host an MLS Cup final in Seattle, which would be accomplished two seasons later. Schmetzer said," Great coaches see the full person first, the athlete second. They understand that wins come and losses go, but the lives they shape endure. Master that balance and you lift others beyond constraints.".{{cite web |last=Krasnoo |first=Ryan |date=December 9, 2017 |title=Seattle Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer praises team effort, uses MLS Cup loss as chance to learn |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/seattle-sounders-head-coach-brian-schmetzer-praises-team-effort-uses-mls-cup-los |publisher=Seattle Sounders FC |access-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604011800/https://www.soundersfc.com/news/seattle-sounders-head-coach-brian-schmetzer-praises-team-effort-uses-mls-cup-los |url-status=live }}

During the 2018 season, the Sounders started slowly once again, winning only 4 games, 5 draws, and 9 losses in the first 18 weeks. However, after a week 18 draw, the club would break the MLS record for most consecutive wins in the post-shootout era, winning nine consecutive matches before eventually losing to the Philadelphia Union on September 19.{{cite news |last=Liljenwall |first=Ari |date=September 19, 2018 |title=Amazed at nine-game winning streak, Sounders not ready to talk history yet |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/09/19/amazed-nine-game-winning-streak-sounders-not-ready-talk-history-yet-story.html |agency=Major League Soccer |work=Major League Soccer |access-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601173601/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/amazed-nine-game-winning-streak-sounders-not-ready-talk-history-yet-story.html |url-status=dead }} Seattle then faced the Portland Timbers in the Conference Semifinals, losing the away leg 2–1 and winning the home leg 3–2 to tie the series on aggregate after extra time. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Portland won 4–2; the home leg is considered to be one of the best playoff matches in league history due to its dramatic finish.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Cascadia classic: Sounders' season ends on penalty kicks in wild loss to Timbers |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/one-for-the-ages-sounders-season-ends-on-penalty-kicks-in-wild-loss-to-timbers/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 9, 2018}}{{cite magazine |last=Creditor |first=Avi |date=November 9, 2018 |title=Timbers Outlast Rival Sounders in PKs to Advance After MLS Playoff Classic |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/11/09/seattle-sounders-portland-timbers-mls-playoffs-second-leg-pks-asprilla-ruidiaz |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=November 9, 2018}}

The next season, Schmetzer led the team to a second-place finish in the Western Conference. During the playoffs, the Sounders would defeat the Supporters' Shield winning-team LAFC in the Conference Finals, leading them to face Toronto FC in the MLS Cup final for the third time in 4 years. The Sounders won the game 3–1 in front of a franchise-record 69,274 fans at CenturyLink Field.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/seattle-sounders-fc-3-toronto-fc-1-2019-mls-cup-match-recap |title=Seattle Sounders FC 3, Toronto FC 1 {{!}} 2019 MLS Cup Match Recap | date=November 10, 2019 | access-date=November 11, 2019 | first=Nick | last=Rosano}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/2019-mls-cup-breaks-seattle-sounders-all-time-attendance-record | title=2019 MLS Cup breaks Seattle Sounders all-time attendance record | first=Tom | last=Bogert | date=November 10, 2019 | access-date=November 11, 2019}} It would be Schmetzer's second MLS Cup with the team, and including the two League championships he won as manager of the USL Sounders, his fourth overall championship for Seattle.

In the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, Schmetzer guided his team to win 5–2 on aggregate against UNAM, in which the Sounders became the first MLS team to win the competition, and the first to win any continental championship since 2000.{{cite magazine |last=Creditor |first=Avi |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Seattle Ends MLS's CCL Futility, Routs Pumas to Win Concacaf's Title |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-pumas-unam-ccl-final-video-highlights |magazine=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=May 4, 2022}} It was the sixth competition final that the Sounders had played in the seven MLS seasons Schmetzer had coached the team.{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Paul |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Sounders have chance to make history for MLS, but most of all reward Seattle fans |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/92170/sounders-have-chance-to-make-history-for-mls-but.html |work=Soccer America |url-access=subscription |accessdate=March 16, 2023}}

Schmetzer earned his 100th MLS win on April 1, 2023, against the LA Galaxy in the regular season. It was his 212th match in charge and made him the third-fastest coach in league history to reach 100 victories behind Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena—both during the shootout era.{{cite news |last=Lantz |first=Shane |date=April 1, 2023 |title=Jordan Morris keeps the scoring going as Sounders beat Galaxy |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/jordan-morris-keeps-the-scoring-going-as-sounders-beat-galaxy/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 4, 2023}}

{{updated|19 April 2025}}{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

1.{{note|1}}Team dissolved

2.{{note|2}}Interim as assistant coach; later promoted to head coach

3.{{note|3}}Includes league, U.S. Open Cup, playoffs, Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup matches.

Schmetzer lives in Seattle with his wife Kirstine. They have six children and several grandchildren.{{cite news |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=June 16, 2020 |title=Seattle Sounders' Brian Schmetzer on balance between safety, support as MLS returns to play |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-brian-schmetzer-balance-between-safety-support-mls-returns-play |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=April 13, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=June 23, 2020 |title=Q&A: Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer on managing from afar |url=https://theathletic.com/1888591/2020/06/23/qa-sounders-head-coach-brian-schmetzer-on-managing-from-afar/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |accessdate=April 16, 2023}}

Seattle Sounders (USL)

• USL: 2005, 2007
• Commissioner's Cup: 2002, 2007
• USL A-League Western Conference: 2004
• USL A-League Pacific Division: 2002, 2003
• Cascadia Cup: 2006, 2007

Seattle Sounders FC (as assistant coach)

• U.S. Open Cup: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014; runner-up: 2012
• Supporters' Shield: 2014; runner-up: 2011
• Cascadia Cup: 2011, 2015

Seattle Sounders FC

• CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2022
• MLS Cup: 2016, 2019; runner-up: 2017, 2020
• Western Conference: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
• Leagues Cup: runner-up: 2021
• Cascadia Cup: 2018, 2019, 2021

{{reflist}}

• [http://soundercentral.com/museum/1982%20updates/brian_schmetzer.htm Sounders bio]
• [http://soundercentral.com/museum/1983%20updates/more/brian_schmetzer_1983.htm Article by Schmetzer on his time with the Sounders]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070424151708/http://www.seattlesounders.net/coaches.php Sounders coaches bio]}}
• [http://nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Schmetzer.Brian.htm NASL/MISL stats]

{{Seattle Sounders FC squad}}

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