It should come as no surprise that Caleb Porter was named the next head coach of the Portland Timbers. A report by the league’s own Simon Borg in early July named Porter as one of the top 5 candidates to replace the fired John Spencer. When asked about this report, University of Akron officials dismissed the report as nothing more than a rumor.
Officials were asked again about the Timbers’ interest on Akron’s media day in early August and it was again denied. The truth is that the University of Akron was aware of Portland’s interest in Porter for nearly six weeks.
This wasn’t the first job mentioned for Porter, who has been a hot commodity in the coaching world for several years. The D.C. United job was his for the taking late in 2009, but the situation was all wrong. D.C. had stadium issues and a real lack of personnel for Porter’s attacking style.
The Timbers are in an entirely different situation. Portland is a soccer city, home to thousands of rabid fans who are incredibly loyal to their club. The Timbers have great rivalries with Seattle and Vancouver and this has created a European derby atmosphere at these matches. Portland also has an ambitious ownership, one that was able to pry Porter from a 10 year contract at a school that he was completely loyal to. On the field, the Timbers have struggled at times, but they do have several pieces of the puzzle already in place, including former Akron Zip Darlington Nagbe.
Porter will bring an exciting style of soccer to the Pacific Northwest, something along the lines of FC Barcelona. Keep in mind that Porter revolutionized the college game, a sport that is often bogged down by physical play, long balls, and a lack of creativity. He is a gamechanger in every sense of the word, having transformed the University of Akron into a soccer school in an area of the country known for its American football. Some will argue Ken Lolla started that process, but Porter made the program into a factory for future MLS players. No one can argue with his record, 14 players in MLS (15 if you count Anthony Ampaipatakwong, who recently transferred to a club to Thailand), including 7 players selected in a single draft from the 2010 national championship squad. And no one can match Porter’s intensity on the recruiting trail, noted by this year’s #1 ranked class for the Zips. Porter is a player’s coach, a tactician, and a technical wizard all wrapped in one and there is absolutely no doubt he will be successful. Porter is a winner and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
I was really impressed that Porter stayed on through the end of the college season out of respect for the Akron program. It was a program that he built and he wants to see another national championship before he leaves for the pros. Some people might view the hiring as a distraction back home in Akron, but it might turn out to be a strong motivator. Porter’s players and staff want to send him off with a championship and will work tirelessly to get it done. His players acted very professionally in not speaking directly with reporters during this time, allowing Porter to make a decision in the best interest of his career and family. Porter is loved and appreciated by his players and they were extremely loyal to the end. Even former UA players, including some in MLS, declined to comment directly about the situation even though they were in the know.
Stay tuned to ISN for future updates including the top candidates to replace Porter and reaction from across the U.S.
