After two successful seasons with the Des Moines Menace Premier Development League squad, head coach Mike Matkovich has decided to not sign a new contract with the team and will work full time with the Chicago Fire U-23s.
The Menace brought in Matko in the fall of 2014 after previous head coach Mike Jeffries left Des Moines for USL-expansion and Colorado Rapids affiliate, Charlotte Independence. In the two years as head coach, Matko put together an impressive resume, including a 21-4-3 record, back-to-back Heartland Division titles, and two straight U.S. Open Cup appearances. In the second round of this year’s Open Cup, the Menace upset the Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL) at home.
Matko was a previous coach of the Chicago Fire U-23s 2002-06 and 2014, split by a stint as an assistant coach for the MLS side. During his time in Des Moines, Matko was still involved heavily with the Fire youth development program.
Menace general manager Matt Homonoff said the Fire pulled Matko back to focus on his responsibilities with the youth program and Academy on a permanent, year-round basis. Homonoff added that the search for a new coach is in the works.
It is unclear at this point if Matko could be in line for a head coaching position with the MLS team. The Fire are tied with Columbus and Houston for dead last in the MLS with 26 points in 27 games, causing some speculation that head coach Veljko Paunovic could be on the way out the door. A coach with a pedigree of Matko’s and tenure with the team could be in the discussion.
Some of the players to work with the coach include the U.S. men’s national team’s Brad Guzan, Jay DeMerit and Ricardo Clark.
Des Moines has been a hotbed for development of college-level players, sending more than 100 alumni through the professional ranks, including current Minnesota United players Danny Cruz (2008 Menace), Brent Kallman (2012), and Justin Davis (2007-2008).
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