Brian Schmetzer agrees to new contract, report says

The biggest question mark surrounding the Seattle Sounders’ offseason appears to be nearing an answer with Soccer by Ives reporting that Brian Schmetzer has agreed to a new contract. The report is notably thin on details and sources have indicated to Sounder at Heart that the deal has not yet been finalized.

Asked about the report, Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey stopped short of confirming it but said, “I have never had any doubt that Brian would eventually sign.”

While Schmetzer’s return continues to seem like a safe bet, it’s not yet entirely clear how his coaching staff will look. Schmetzer hinted that one of the early sticking points was taking care of his assistants, and there haven’t been any indications one way or another as to progress on that front. Gonzalo Pineda continues to be prominently linked to the D.C. United head coaching job, while the likes of Djimi Traore, Preki and Tommy Dutra have impressive resumes of their own and would presumably have plenty of suitors if they chose to leave.