In 2017, the San Jose Earthquakes began an affiliate relationship with a new USL club, Reno 1868 FC. Ian Russell, the current head coach of Reno 1868, has been an integral part of the San Jose Earthquakes for most of his career, first as a player, winning two MLS Cups and a Supporter’s Shield. Then under Frank Yallop, Mark Watson and Dominic Kinnear, Russell served as an assistant coach. He also had a quiet, but important, impact on the first years of the Earthquakes Academy in the development of youth prospects.
Quakes Epicenter caught up with Russell in November for a face-to-face discussion. Selected excerpts of the audio of this interview will be made available on QuakesEpicenter.com. The full audio is available for Quakes Epicenter Patreon subscribers at https://www.patreon.com/quakesepicenter.
Quakes Epicenter: Your 2018 season completed with a 5th place finish in the Western Conference out of 17 teams and then you got your first playoff win — an away playoff win — how do you feel about the way you ended 2018 versus 2017?
Russell: I think that 2017 team really had a lot of potential to win the USL championship that first year. We scored 75 goals, broke the record for most goals ever in a USL season, (and) fell short. We lost in the first round of the playoffs, against Oklahoma City, which was a team that really sat back. We couldn’t get the goal, we couldn’t score. They scored first and really sat.
The 2018 team that we put together wasn’t quite as explosive. We didn’t score as many goals, but in defense we were better. I think we were more…a team rather than individuals. You know, we had a lot of individual players that were really dangerous the year before, and this was more of a — I’d say a possession-style team. Really understood what kind of what I wanted to get out of them in terms of definitive shape and how we were going to press teams, and how we were going to break teams down. So there were differences, but I think overall both teams were very good. We did get a playoff win in Salt Lake, which was pretty good for the club. It was a big deal to get over that hump. And when we went to play Orange County. Very similar to the year before we were all over them for the first 30 minutes. They got a goal against the run of play. It was unfortunate one of their…forwards actually got hurt, so they brought him off at half time and inserted a midfielder, and they sat really, really deep. And that hurt us. We couldn’t break them down. We had two chances, but not great chances. They had a couple pretty big chances on counter attacks (in the) second half, but we were missing Lindo Mfeka who was drafted by the Quakes the year before and our number 10, and he a player when teams sit back, he’s very tidy and he’s the one guy who can unlock a lot of things. He was hurt the last three or four games, so I think he would have helped us. But, you know, Orange County was a really good team, (with) really dangerous strikers…and they ended up beating us.
QE: How did that motivate you coming into 2018 to do something different?
R: I think the guys that were on that team — they knew that it was a season where there was a lot of potential that was kind of lost, because we felt like we were one of the best teams in USL that year. So the guys that returned, they had a chip on their shoulder. And we knew that if we got in the playoffs we could probably go on a pretty good run. So it’s always hard, you know, to get in the playoffs. And we got there — we were fifth seed — we wanted to be fourth seed so we could host our first game. But we ended up going on the road and getting a result against Salt Lake.
QE: So recently Reno 1868 FC general manager Andy Smith announced he would be leaving at the end of the year. Can you talk about what Andy has meant to the start of the club and what do you understand is the process and timetable for identifying the new GM?
R: Andy was instrumental in helping build the club. He was actually there before I arrived…and actually hired me. Him and Chris Leitch were working together to get a coach up in Reno. And when I expressed interest…in that job, him and Andy, you know, talked at length about…what I could bring to the table. Once I got there Andy…was helping me a lot with building the team. I was picking the players for the most part, but he was negotiating all the salaries and doing all that stuff. He was a big help. He had experience in helping to build teams and doing the sponsorships…and the other side of the soccer that I don’t know too well. So he was perfect for that role, and as far as the new GM coming in, I’m not sure. I know that the Quakes and Eric Edelstein, the President at Reno, will be interviewing people rather quickly.
QE: Adding the Las Vegas Lights to USL really created a natural in-state Nevada rivalry for you guys. How do you think the fans in Reno responded to having this rivalry now?
R: It’s been good. I didn’t realize how Reno and Las Vegas…not even soccer, just basketball, football — everything. It’s a big deal. So I think it was perfect for our fan base to get a natural rivalry. And they really don’t like each other. Which for the players and fans is good. It builds that, you know, that rivalry. And there were some really good games between the two clubs this year, and now Eric Wynalda is going to Las Vegas, and I think he going to fit perfectly there. And it should be fun. They had a decent team last year…some of their play on the field was a little different than I’ve ever seen…but I think Eric will do a good job, and it should be fun.
QE: So who were the players on the team who really made the most sides in 2018 as compared to where they were at in the team in 2017?
R: I think Brian Brown is one of them — the striker. There was always a lot of potential with Brian. He was behind Dane Kelly and Antoine Hoppenot as our striker, so he was kind of the third guy coming in — didn’t get a ton of minutes, but a really good holdup player, decent pace, good feet — ended up scoring 17 goals. Brian is a player who was in MLS before when he was 20 years old with Philadelphia, and with Brian it’s all about the mentality for him. The work rate — I felt like he didn’t work hard enough the first year — and I said “hey, if you want to get to the next level, you need to work a lot harder.” He’s done that this year, but there’s still more, though. There’s still more for him to really make that jump to MLS — his work rate has to even go higher. I think he understands that. I hope he gets a look, because he is dangerous, he’s strong, and the Earthquakes don’t have a lot of strikers. Maybe he gets a look, but if not, if he has another big year, I’m pretty sure he would get a look after that year.
QE: So you (had the) 2017 Golden Boot winner in Dane Kelly — he had 18 goals, and then you knew that Chris Wehan was going to get some minutes with the Quakes. How did you approach (last) offseason knowing you were going to need to replace those two guys?
R: Potential is always potential until it’s a reality. Brian was kind of the target for me to sign, because I didn’t have an option on him. So I made him the priority signing. And I just told Brian…this is going to be your chance…You are going to be our number one striker. And then I just tried to find some depth. I knew Antoine (Hoppenot) could play up front or out wide…And so it was — a little scary when you lose your golden boot winner. And then Chris Wehan, who had just a huge season with, you know, 14 assists and a bunch of goals — so I was a little concerned about that, but Brian filled that role well and Antoine had another good year. And then we chipped in with some other guys that started playing well.
QE: What do you think makes that jump for a forward to MLS so difficult? Dane tried it and apparently struggled. What is that Brian is going to need to overcome to make that leap and be successful?
R: Yeah, it’s tough. I think every team is different. If you look at Philadelphia — Burke — he had a big year for Philly this year. He was USL player last year. But you look at Dane — Dane didn’t even see the field. I think it depends on, you know, with Dane — you have to have everything. MLS is, you know, it’s a tough league now. You’ve gotta be able to — if you’re a number 9 like Brian is you have to be able to hold the ball well, you got to be able to finish your chances, you’ve got to work hard not only when your team has the ball but when your team doesn’t have the ball. You have to be good at everything. It’s not just, you know, you can’t just be a fast guy. You’ve got to be good with the ball, so many things now, where MLS has evolved so much that the players are very good and that jump from USL to MLS, especially for striker, has been kind of a hard one. I know there are players that can really make the jump.
I think…certain positions kind of lend themselves better — I think centerbacks. There are a lot of pretty good centerbacks in USL. Aaron Long was a center back in USL. Jimmy Ockford was done a pretty good job for the Quakes…So you’ve got to be polished. I think there’s actually a lot of players in USL that may have gotten drafted…in their first year. They go to…like Sounders 2 or Portland,…and they don’t do well enough. The team doesn’t see a future for them. They’re released. They go, and they play for a couple years, and then they really develop. I think there’s a few gems that you can find in USL like that, like the Aaron Long’s — perfect example. Kaye from LAFC was a Louisville player, and he was the starting center midfielder for LAFC this year…A lot of good players, but the jump is hard. I think there is 3-4 guys every year that can go in and make an impact, and maybe another 5-10 that can make a roster. But would be a lower level 20th guy coming in off the bench.
QE: Antoine Hoppenot seemed to fit right in and take over Chris Wehan’s assists. Was that something you were looking for from him? What is that he brings to your team that’s so special?
R: Antoine brings energy. He’s a really hard player to deal with — low center of gravity — really quick — can turn guys. Decent crosser of the ball once he beats somebody. He’s able to get beyond guys, slide guys in, so — did I think he was going to get that many assists? I didn’t. I thought he’d actually get more goals like he did the year before. But it was great. He really filled in well for Chris and what he did, and he’s just dangerous — dangerous player.
Another guy that wasn’t from the team in 2017 was (Markhus) “Duke” Lacroix — he’s my left back. What he did this year I thought was incredible. He (had) never really played left back. He’s always been a striker/left midfielder. He was in LAFC’s camp for preseason, came off an ACL injury the year before. Bob Bradley brought him in — didn’t make the team — so I was able to get him. I think he’s one of the best left backs in the league by far. And his development over the last probably four months is just, it’s been straight up.
QE: You were able to get amazing performances all season both from JT (Marcinkowski) and Matt Bersano. Can you just talk about what the goalkeepers mean in your particular team? Because it seems you always get amazing performances from your goalkeepers.
R: Yeah, it’s been great for me as a coach to get quality Earthquakes goalkeepers. Last year, Matt was up there, had a great season for me. And then JT came this year, and — the one thing that stands out about JT is his passing ability out of the back. It’s phenomenal. Basically the best I’ve ever coached as a keeper with his feet. And what it does is it allows you to start your attack from your goalkeeper, and you can use him and if they press you, you can find the little diagonal ones — an outside back that’s high or a forward in the channel — he’s been excellent, and the shot-stopping ability was really good. So really a bright future for the Quakes with JT. He’s going to come along and progress. Matt Bersano came in and, for me, Matt was the best keeper in the league in USL when he was with Reno. He had a run of 8 or 9 games that were phenomenal. Every game he’d make one game-saving save. Brought a lot of confidence to the team. He’s a bit older than JT, and has a really good presence about him. He did excellent, so two really good keepers.
QE: (Goalkeeper is) another position that seems (to have a) big jump to MLS. We’ve seen Tarbell do great in USL and then struggle some at the MLS level. We’ve seen guys like Evan Newton, who used to be with the Quakes, and backed up Busch and Bingham…
R: (Evan Newton then) does great in USL.
QE: …Why is it that goalkeepers also have this struggle (to make the transition to MLS) do you think?
R: Yeah, that I don’t know. I just think that everything in MLS is just a bit better. So the finishing is better…In MLS, if you make a mistake, you get punished. In USL…if you’re playing out of the back, and you get stripped, you may get punished. In MLS you do. I just think everything’s a little bit better. And sometimes a keeper can be really, really good in USL, and they hit that next level. The runs are quicker. Like I said, the shots are better. It’s more physical — it’s just everything is better. So you’ve got to really be on your game. And sometimes it may take a keeper going back down to USL to get his confidence up, and maybe the second time they have a better go at it.
QE: What’s your opinion of the state of second division soccer is in the US? Are we closing the gap and are we getting it to the point where it’s becoming easier to make the jump to the first division? Or is it actually becoming more difficult because MLS is bringing in better players every year?
R: Yeah, I think it’s kind of both. I think MLS is getting to be an elite league, and it’s going to keep on going that way with more money coming in. I will say that there’s a lot of MLS players — I think the top end MLS players are way better than when I played — but there’s a lot of players that were on rosters now that would have never made a Quakes roster when I played. Just because there was only 8 teams, 10 teams. So that part is a little bit different. With the USL. man there’s maybe almost 40 teams now. So it may be a little diluted. In the next couple years until it fills in to get it strong. The level is good. There some teams that are very good — I think Cincinnati was excellent this year. Louisville…Phoenix has some players that are MLS style and caliber players on it…there’s some really good USL teams. But there’s a few that are pretty poor. I think the level of the bottom teams needs to come up, and just I think a couple more years it’s going to be really solid, because I think they’re not going to be expanding as quick as they are. Because that just creates new teams and new coaches coming in, but I think the level is good.
QE: Do you think the academies that are being established by the USSDA (US Soccer Development Academy) are going to help feed better talent into NCAA and feed better talent into USL?
Coach Russell: I definitely think the (USSDA) academy is going to really help the USL, and, eventually, MLS…There are some players who coming to the academies and playing. They do need to figure out…our academies’ players leaving to go overseas, and we’re not getting anything for it. So that needs to be solved.
