June 21, 2012
ALL STAR COACH
MLS tabs Olsen to replace Nowak

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer has selected D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen to lead the MLS All-Stars against UEFA champions Chelsea FC on July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Olsen replaces Peter Nowak, who was fired as the Philadelphia Union's coach last week.

Serving as Olsen’s assistant coaches will be Philadelphia Union Interim Team Manager John Hackworth and the D.C. United technical staff of Chad Ashton, Pat Onstad and Sonny Silooy. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, TeleFutura, and in Canada on TSN and RDS starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“Ben Olsen has experience playing in All-Star Games and he has guided his team to one of the best records in MLS so far this season,” said Nelson Rodríguez, MLS Executive Vice President of Competition and Game Operations. “He and his staff also have a relatively short distance to travel and his club does not play a League match on the weekend after the All-Star Game. Adding John Hackworth at his side strengthens the group that will assemble and prepare our team for this important game.”

Hackworth took the reins at the Union on June 13, after serving as Peter Nowak’s assistant since the club’s inaugural 2010 season.