Fire stays in-house, hires Hamlett

Say this about Denis Hamlett, the Chicago Fire's new head coach: He won't have to change his wardrobe.

Hamlett has been sitting on the Fire bench since the team was formed in 1998. The longtime assistant was promoted to be the team's head coach Friday, ending a process that began when Juan Carlos Osorio resigned Dec. 10.

"There is no other place I would rather have this opportunity (with) than the Fire," Hamlett said at a Friday news conference. "I know this club, its history and the passion."

A native of Costa Rica, 39-year old Hamlett came to the U.S. when he was 10. He played college soccer at George Mason, then played for a variety of teams until MLS began play in 1996. Hamlett was a defender for the Colorado Rapids. He retired as a player in 1997.

Named to the Fire coaching staff by the team's first head coach, Bob Bradley, Hamlett became the team's top assistant under Bradley in 2001. Hamlett continued as assistant to Dave Sarachan from 2003 until midway through the last season.

When Sarachan was fired, Hamlett took control of the team for three matches. In those matches, the Fire tied Colorado 0-0, lost 2-0 to Los Angeles and tied Toronto 1-1.

"It was a great experience under difficult circumstances," Hamlett said. "In the three league games we played, my main goal was to have the team go out and have such a commitment to winning. I think it showed in those three games. Our roster at the time meant we were depleted, but we went out and had a chance to win."

Under Osorio, Hamlett returned to his role as assistant.

"They all had their own style," Hamlett said. "(Bradley) was very direct, to a guy like (Osorio), who was very demanding. You learn from those guys and take a bit from each."

Bradley, now the U.S. national team coach, issued a statement from California, where the team is training in preparation for its Jan. 19 match with Sweden.

Bradley said Hamlet "has played an instrumental role in the organization since the beginning and has the ability to lead the team to great success in the future."

Hamlett has been working with fellow assistant Daryl Shore in preparation for the MLS Combine, which takes place this weekend. The MLS draft is Jan. 18 in Baltimore.

"I'm very well prepared," Hamlett said. "I knew I was in the running for the head-coaching position. (Shore) and I have done a great job on keeping tab of the players who would be at the combine. I'm excited to see the players."

Hamlett said he has already highlighted at least one area of critical need entering the draft.

"If you watched our season last year, one of the positions we need to improve in is the attacking part of the field," Hamlett said. "That's not a disrespect to the players we have here. I feel we need a player that can score goals. As a starting point, that's going to be the focus point, finding a player that can achieve that."

After the draft, the next priority is to put together a coaching staff. Hamlett acknowledged he would like recently retired captain Chris Armas to be a part of that staff.

"I think he's a great member of this organization," Hamlett said. "I would love to have him be part of my coaching staff. This has all happened so fast. But I will get a hold of him and see what he wants to do."