D.C. United sign General Manager Dave Kasper to extension

DaveKasper_SuperDraft

D.C. United sign General Manager Dave Kasper to extension

by Sean Maslin

It looks like DC United General Manager Dave Kasper will be getting a new job and a raise. On Tuesday the club announced that Kasper has received a contract extension and will be given the title of Vice President of Soccer Operations.

As per league policy, the exact length and terms of the deal were not disclosed to the public. Washington Post reporter Steve Goff, through a source, that the deal is for two years. Kasper’s current deal reportedly ends in December 2015.

Kasper has been with the club in one fashion or another since late 2001 when he was hired on as the club’s Technical Director. He took over the position of General Manager in 2007, a position that he has held ever since. It is not clear as of yet if he will hold both titles or if the club will look to find another General Manager.

While his run as Technical Director/General Manager has seen the club reach some strong highs (2004 MLS Cup, 2 Supporters Shields, and 2 U.S. Open Cup titles) there have also been some pretty spectacular lows. The club’s three win performance in 2013 nearly cost him and coach Ben Olsen their jobs. But last season’s 20-10-4 (wins-draws-losses) seems to have squelched talk of a new direction.

Going forward, it will be interesting to what sort of imprint Kasper leaves as Vice President of Soccer Operations. For many years the club has been hamstrung by the stadium issue and crippled financially by having to pay rent to play at RFK Stadium.

Not knowing where they would be in 3-5 years limited their opportunities to grow within the region. That has now changed with ground expected to be broken on a stadium in the Buzzard’s Point neighborhood later this year.

The club has a track record of success with their youth academy (Bill Hamid, Andy Najar) and have already made some efforts to forge stronger ties within the D.C.-Metro area. The club has already announced the creation of a residency program at the Calverton School in Southern Maryland and an affiliation agreement with Evergreen FC to play in the National Professional Soccer League. The NPSL is in the fourth division of US Soccer.