Spring Break
Hyndman departs SMU for FC Dallas, MLS
Zack Wehner, Sports Editor, zwehner@smu.edu
Issue date: 7/1/08 Section: Sports
|
After 24 seasons as the Mustangs' coach, 31 total at the collegiate level, Hyndman departed the college ranks to coach Major League Soccer's FC Dallas.
In his 24 seasons at SMU, Hyndman recorded 368 wins as head coach. That places him atop the career victories list at SMU for any coach in any sport while at SMU. Hyndman leaves college soccer 12th on the all-time wins list with 466 career wins.
Hyndman accomplished many different things in his career at SMU and turned the Mustangs into a perennial top 10 program in all the polls. The only thing that seemed to elude him during his tenure at SMU was the College Cup.
Hyndman's sudden departure may have shocked some, but it came as no surprise to senior striker and Coppell native Scott Geppert. Geppert was "not too surprised he took it because he had the option [to coach FC Dallas] in the past."
Hyndman's timing leaves SMU without a head coach less than three months before the Mustangs' season opener. Geppert believes that the timing is "definitely an issue that the team will have to deal with. However, we have great assistants…and a senior-heavy team, which really helps going into the fall."
Hyndman has left the Mustangs in a good position going into the fall. The Mustangs return eight seniors to the squad and will feature a 15-member recruiting class that will add significant depth to an already crowded SMU roster. A deep and experienced roster is undoubtedly Hyndman's parting gift to SMU.
Players believe in team
While it would be easy for players to lose faith in the team after losing a coach as established and respected as Hyndman, the Mustangs seem confident and upbeat about the upcoming season.
Be the first to comment on this story