COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew today announced that assistant coach Blair Gavin has been appointed to the role of head coach of USL Championship side FC Tulsa and will depart the Crew at the end of the year. Gavin had been elevated to the position of assistant coach of the Black & Gold prior to this season after joining the Crew for the 2021 season as the First Team Video Coach Analyst.
Previously, Gavin gained coaching experience with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship, where he spent the 2018-2020 seasons as an assistant coach.
“We want to thank Blair for his contributions to the Club over the last two years and are pleased to see his growth as a coach in this new head opportunity for him,” said Columbus Crew President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “We wish Blair, his wife Jane, and his entire family all the best in the exciting next chapter of his young coaching career.”
Gavin began his professional career when he was selected 10th overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA following a standout collegiate career at the University of Akron. In his rookie season, Gavin started all 16 matches in which he appeared, scoring three goals and tallying one assist. In addition to his time with Chivas USA, the Scottsdale, Arizona native had a professional career that spanned eight seasons and included stints with the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC.
“I would like to personally thank Blair for all the work he put into our club over the past two seasons and want to congratulate him for this opportunity. I am confident he will make an excellent head coach in his new role,” said Columbus Crew Head Coach Caleb Porter. “Through the end of this year, Blair will continue to be a valuable member of our staff and integral to our video analysis, training and match preparation. I have known Blair for a long time, and it’s been rewarding watching him grow from an MLS player to coach, so naturally I am excited for what’s ahead in this next step of his career. I also look forward to his continued contributions as we close out the regular season and push for our postseason goals.”
Next up, the Crew hosts Inter Miami at Lower.com Field on Wednesday, August 31 [7:30 p.m. ET / Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports App (Stream) / 97.1 The Fan, 971TheFan.com (English); ColumbusCrew.com (Spanish)]. Coverage on Bally Sports Ohio is slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match can be found here.
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