Head Coach Caleb Porterand Investor-Operator Dr. Pete Edwards reflected on former Columbus Crew head coach and MLS Cup champion Sigi Schmid, who passed away on Dec. 25, 2018, at the age of 65.
In an interview on Thursday, Jan. 17 with 105.7 FM The Zone, Edwards spoke on Schmid's selflessness and dedication to the soccer community.
"So Columbus lost a friend right at Christmas," Edwards said. "Someone whose heart was so big and love of the Crew was really big, but more than anything, his love of people and his love of soccer was what shown through his whole career.
"Winning national titles at UCLA, winning MLS Cups with [Columbus] and Seattle, he was just a really, really good person and a really good people person, and he was all about soccer. I heard him do an interview once and he said, ‘You know, people say I’m kind of one-sided and that I only have one focus,’ and he said, ‘That’s just not true.’ He said, ‘I love to coach soccer, I love to watch soccer, and I love to talk about soccer, so I am very well-rounded.’ So that was Sigi in a nutshell, and he was a good friend. He had a lot more to give to the soccer community and the soccer world."
Porter, who often visited Schmid and the coaching staff during his tenure at the University of Akron, spoke of Schmid as a role model and how he cherishes the opportunity to continue his legacy with the Black & Gold.
“Sigi was an inspiration to me and served as a role model for my career from college coach to professional manager," Porter said. "I always had the utmost respect and admiration for him as a coach and person. He will be sorely missed but the legacy he left on and off the pitch will last forever. I’m humbled to lead his old club and motivated to bring an MLS trophy to sit beside his.”
With memorial services scheduled for Friday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. ET in Manhattan Beach, Calif., those unable to attend can view the live stream here.
Additionally, the family has asked to please consider a tax-deductible memorial gift to support the men's soccer program at UCLA, with the funds benefitting a scholarship in Schmid's name. Donations may be directed to UCLA Athletics, Attn: Emily Lerner; UCLA Athletics, P.O. Box 24044, Los Angeles CA, 90024. Emily may also be reached via phone (310-206-3302) or email (elerner@athletics.ucla.edu). Donations can also be submitted online. Please note that your gift is in memory of Sigi Schmid. Checks can be made payable to the UCLA Foundation.
