Columbus Crew SC announced that Assistant Coach Robert Maaskant will be departing the club, effective immediately, to accept a head coach position in his native country of Holland with NAC Breda in the Dutch First Division (Eredivisie). The search for a replacement on Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s technical staff will begin immediately.
“We want to thank Robert for his contributions and his time spent in Columbus,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “We’re delighted to have a former member of our staff accept a head coaching role in a topflight European league. We will begin the process immediately using our network to find a suitable replacement.”
“This was a difficult decision to make, but it was an opportunity in my home country that I could not pass on,” said Robert Maaskant. “It was a pleasure being a part of this organization and I wish the club and the fans the best moving forward. The progress of the club that I saw over the course of past season in Columbus was impressive. I will look back fondly on my time with Crew SC.”
Maaskant previously joined Berhalter’s staff ahead of the 2014 campaign. Earlier in his career, Maaskant was Head Coach at NAC Breda from 2008-2010 and helped the side qualify for the UEFA Europa League in 2009, ultimately reaching the fourth round of the tournament. Under the guidance of Berhalter and his staff in 2014, the Black & Gold secured their first postseason berth since 2011, finishing third in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.
