ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Orlando City president Phil Rawlins wanted someone who fulfilled some important criteria when looking for a new coach 10 days ago.
He wanted a proven American coach, who understood the MLS and had a track record for developing young talent. That led Rawlins and the Orlando City board to Jason Kreis, who was hired Tuesday and introduced on Wednesday as the Lions new coach.
The 43-year-old Kreis, a one-time MLS star, comes to Orlando after short stint with New York City FC last year. But he made his coaching mark with Real Salt Lake, leading the club to two MLS Cup appearances while compiling an 111-87-69 record in seven seasons.
"I'm delighted to say that Jason checks all of those boxes," Rawlins said. "We have a coach who knows how to win in MLS, who has won a MLS Cup. All and all a great track record. He is a young and ambitious coach and as organization we are delighted to have him."
Kreis takes over an underachieving Orlando City club that fired its coach, Adrian Heath, earlier this month and is 4-5-10 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Kreis and his assistants, Miles Joseph and C.J. Brown take over the club on Monday.
"There are some pieces here that are incredibly exciting to build around," Kreis said. "There are some leaders in this group that should be able to be the backbone of this club.
"It's an exciting prospect that I think as we look toward the future we will be able to help turn this club into a consistently successful and consistently competing club. But I do not think, and I want to be clear about this, I do not think that has to happen overnight."
