in early december 2008, seattle sounders fc reportedly offered a coaching contract to sigi schmid, who led the los angeles galaxy to a mls cup in 2002 and the columbus crew to a mls cup in 2008. however, before schmid could respond to the contract offer, the ownership of the columbus crew filed a tampering complaint with the mls that put the offer on hold. the crew's ownership complained that schmid had communicated with sounders fc during the 2008 season, despite being denied permission to do so, and that he shared confidential information with sounders fc after leaving the crew. the mls ruled that no tampering occurred, but ordered sounders fc to financially compensate the crew before signing schmid. sounders fc officially introduced schmid as their first coach on december 16. former usl sounders player and head coach brian schmetzer was retained as the top assistant coach, and tom dutra was selected as goalkeeper coach. retired major league soccer veteran defender ezra hendrickson joined the sounders as an assistant coach in january, 2009. former mls player and everett, washington, native chris henderson was named technical director on january 24, 2008. joining henderson in the front office is longtime seattle seahawks vp gary wright as the senior vice president of business operations. drew carey was named the chairman of the membership association.