The Rapids are expected to remove the interim coach tag from Gary Smith’s title today and confirm him as the fifth head coach in franchise history.
A 1 p.m. news conference is scheduled at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park where managing director Jeff Plush will introduce the team’s head coach.
Smith was named interim coach with 10 games remaining and guided the team to the brink of a playoff spot. Plush said after Colorado’s season-ending tie with Real Salt Lake that Smith was interested in the job full-time. Smith was praised by the front office and endorsed by veteran players such as Pablo Mastroeni and Mike Petke for his efforts, namely his ability to coach tactics and inspire the players.
Although the Rapids have refused to confirm that Smith is the new coach, his friend and former teammate from England, Steve Guppy, spoke Saturday on a New York radio station and confirmed that Smith was the coach and he would be joining him as an assistant.
