Major League Soccer

Kinnear, Nowak are named head coaches of San Jose, D.C. United.

Dominic Kinnear became the San Jose Earthquakes coach today after three years as Frank Yallop's top assistant.

Dominic Kinnear, 36, who spent the last three seasons as the top assistant to San Jose Earthquakes' Frank Yallop, was promoted to the helm of the defending MLS champions. Yallop who resigned to become coach of Canada's national team.

Former Chicago Fire star midfielder Peter Nowak will be introduced as United's fourth coach tomorrow morning in a press conference at RFK Stadium in Washington. He replaces Ray Hudson who was let go after two seasons.

"I always introduce Dominic as being one of the brightest young coaching minds in America today and I honestly believe that is the case," said Earthquakes general manager Johnny Moore whose club also captured the MLS Cup in 2001. "Having Dominic accept this job ensures a smooth transition, which is important to the ball club.

"Dominic was our No. 1 choice as head coach and he is the best man for the job . He has been an integral part of the three most successful years in the club's history."

The Earthquakes claimed MLS Cup 2003 on November 23 with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire. Born in Scotland and raised in California, Kinnear played in MLS with the Colorado Rapids (1996), San Jose (1997) and Tampa Bay Mutiny (1998-2000) . He had six goals and 24 assists in 117 games before joining the Earthquakes' coaching staff in 2001.

Yallop "brought me here as a coach and he put a lot of responsibility on me, both on and off the field," Kinnear said. "Without his help and knowledge, and his teaching of me, which I have learned not just how to deal with players on the field but in the lockerroom, then I would not be here.

"I have had three seasons as assistant coach here and I am looking forward to this challenge. I want to continue the winning tradition here and keep the Earthquakes in the upper echelon of MLS."

"To work with such fine players that we have had the past three years gives me a great opportunity to continue the success that we have enjoyed.

Nowak, 39, had 26 goals and 48 assists during the regular season in five seasons with the Fire and led the team to one MLS title and U.S. Open Cup crowns in 2000 and 2001.

Nowak will be entrusted with the development of 14-year-old prodigy Freddy Adu who will become the youngest player in MLS history.

Adu has already been signed as MLS's highest-paid player and awarded to United which traded to obtain the first overall pick in this month's league draft.

"This will be a new challenge for me,'' Nowak told SportsTicker. "However, I've built my whole career on meeting such challenges and establishing a winning mentality. I expect things to be no different here.''

Nowak, who played five years in Germany's Bundesliga, was captain of Poland's national team for three years and was named the country's best player in 1996.