INFORMATION FROM THE L. A. TIMES, ASSOCIATED PRESS AND MLSNET.COM WERE USED IN COMPILING THIS STORY.
GREENSBORO, NC ? The UNC Greensboro athletic department is mourning the loss of former men’s soccer player and Los Angeles Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton, who died Thursday while returning to Los Angeles from Costa Rica.
Mr. Hamilton was a defender for the Spartan men’s soccer program in the 1981, 1982 and 1985 seasons. He was a member of UNCG's national championship squads in 1982 and 1985 on the NCAA Division III level.
“It is a sad day for Spartan athletics,” said UNCG Director of Athletics Nelson E. Bobb, whose tenure began while Hamilton was a student-athlete at UNCG. “Doug rose to the top of the ranks in professional soccer and was always a friend to our soccer program and this University. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Paige, son Aeden and other family members. He will be dearly missed by many in the soccer community.”
Hamilton, 43, died of an apparent heart attack on a flight from San Jose, Costa Rica to Los Angeles according to a TACA airlines spokesperson. He had been attending the Galaxy’s quarterfinal round game on Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The team remained in Costa Rica for training. Hamilton was returning to the United States on a flight with team podiatrist Howard Liebeskind.
The Galaxy, originally scheduled to return to the United States on March 13, has canceled its remaining activities in Costa Rica and will fly home Friday evening.
“He appeared to have symptoms similar to a heart attack,” TACA spokeswoman Sofia Valverde told the Associated Press. Reports said that the crew and Liebeskind tried to resuscitate him before the pilot returned the plane to San Jose.
A seven-year veteran of MLS management, Hamilton was the MLS Executive of the Year each of the past three seasons. Under his guidance, the club reached heights it previously had not seen, winning MLS Cup 2002 in his first season at the helm and capturing the U.S. domestic double -- MLS Cup and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup -- this past season.
“His passion was the Galaxy,” Los Angeles head coach Steve Sampson told the L.A. Times in a telephone interview from Costa Rica. “In retrospect, it's fitting that we won a championship for him this last year because I think he was so passionate about this team and loved every single player and the organization.
“I believe [Hamilton is] one of the true pioneers of the game and one that will be dearly dearly missed. I mean, this team is in absolute shock right now.”
Afshin Ghotbi was an assistant coach on the Galaxy's 2005 championship side and now serves South Korea's World Cup team in a similar role. “I am at a loss for words," he told the L.A. Times by e-mail from Seoul. “I send my deepest condolences and prayers to his family. Doug Hamilton was ... a friend, mentor and an inspiration. I will miss him very much.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of the leaders of American soccer and a truly terrific individual,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The thoughts and prayers of all of MLS, our teams, our players and our fans are with the Hamilton family. Doug will be dearly missed as his legacy of passion and dedication to the sport will always be remembered.”
A former player and coach himself and one of the brightest soccer minds in the league, Hamilton worked closely with Galaxy head coaches Sigi Schmid and Sampson -- who replaced Schmid late in the 2004 season -- to craft a championship caliber club. Prior to the start of the 2005 campaign, Hamilton executed a trade that sent prolific striker Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas in exchange for an allocation that allowed the club to sign U.S. national team star Landon Donovan. The move paid immediate dividends as Donovan led the team to the title.
“He not only understood the business but understood the technical side as well, which is very rare in our sport,” Sampson said.
In addition to his aptitude for soccer, Hamilton was an intelligent businessman capable of making the most out of one of the league's flagship teams and its state-of-the-art facility, The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The stadium opened during the 2003 season, and the following year the club was a massive success at the gate, pulling in an average of 23,809 fans a game and setting a club record for capacity crowds. The team also set an MLS mark for consistency, drawing more than 20,000 fans for 13 of its 15 home games.
Last season, the Galaxy again outdid themselves, drawing an average of just over 24,000 a game for the MLS regular season; seven of the club's 16 home games were sellouts, setting a new club record, and 15 were played before crowds of at least 20,000.
“Soccer in America, the Los Angeles Galaxy and AEG Sports has lost an extremely bright young man and a good friend tonight,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. “Doug's tireless and valuable efforts have helped to create a legacy for soccer in the United States. Thru the tremendous guidance and expertise he has provided to the MLS, to the players and executives in our league, to the millions of soccer fans and to every child who kicks a ball, the sport of soccer owes a great deal of gratitude to Doug. Our heartfelt thoughts go to his wife Paige and their son Aedan who have lost a tremendous husband, father and man who will truly be missed by all of us who knew him,” Leiweke added.
Hamilton proved adept at drawing in corporate partners in addition to fans. From the beginning of 2002 to June 2003, the club's corporate sponsorship skyrocketed 40 percent. Another 25 percent jump came in 2004, and that growth only continued in 2005.
Additionally, prior to last season, the club reached an agreement with FSN West and FSN West 2 that was the first regional television rights deals for which the club received a rights fee from the broadcaster.
Former Galaxy vice president Whit Haskell, now president and general manager of Chivas USA, which shares the Home Depot Center with the Galaxy, had worked alongside Hamilton for the last four years.
“I'm one of many people who owe Doug a lot,” Haskell told the L.A. Times. “Doug built an unbelievable organization. The Galaxy needed some incredible leadership and Doug came in and he gave it that. He knew exactly what he wanted. He was a very honest and direct manager.”
There was another side to Hamilton, though, Haskell said. “As a father and friend, he was a really caring guy,” he said. “He was a friend. I owe him so much.
“One other thing that struck me about Doug from the start was the amazing respect that he had from people throughout the soccer community ? players, administrators and fans.”
Hamilton also brokered an international partnership with Brazilian club Sao Paulo Futebol Clube and spearheaded the development of relationships with Southland youth soccer organizations, including a deal with the Coast Soccer League that provides free training for area youths in various age groups. Hamilton has also helped develop the Galaxy's relationship with the local Hispanic market.
“I was very fortunate to have known Doug Hamilton during the past two years,” said Chivas USA President and Co-Owner Antonie Cue. “Doug was a wonderful human being, a fierce competitor, and someone from whom we all had much to learn. My heart goes out to his family and to the entire Galaxy organization. He will be sorely missed.”
Prior to joining the Galaxy, Hamilton spent two years as the Executive VP and General Manager of the Miami Fusion. Over the course of his tenure with the Fusion, the club saw a near 50 percent increase in attendance and won the 2001 MLS Supporters' Shield as the club with the best regular season record.
Hamilton also spent six years working for adidas America prior to his time with MLS, holding the posts of Director of Sports Marketing Latin America and, prior to that, Business Unit Manager of soccer as well as basketball. In 1997, he won both the Global Soccer Business Unit of the Year Award and the adidas America Business Unit of the Year awards, two honors given by adidas International and adidas America.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Hamilton received a B.A. in Physical Education in 1990. While at UNCG, Hamilton was a member of two NCAA Division III national championship teams and earned All Region First Team and Dixie Conference First Team honors in 1985. After graduating, he became the head coach of the Greensboro College men's soccer team, posting a 59-22-4 record in four seasons.
Hamilton is survived by his wife Paige (UNCG ’90) and his five-year-old son Aedan. Funeral arrangements are pending.