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SANDY — After the Real Salt Lake reserve team exited America First Field in Sandy following a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Tuesday, the team looked like any band of oft-used soccer players looking for playing time, fitness and form that has been common with the MLS Reserve League of recent years.
But there was one major difference this year: the man in charge.
Andy Williams made his debut as head coach of the RSL Reserves on Tuesday, when Devon Sandoval's first-half goal was balanced by Chivas' Caleb Calvert as the two sides split the points. The end of his first match in charge, though, left Williams feeling a lot like he did before head coach Jeff Cassar called him up to the full-time coaching staff in January.
"I don’t see myself with the title yet," said Williams, whose fan-favorite standing with the Jamaican national team led to his nickname 'Bomma.' "I’ve even known the academy kids for three or four years. I just treat it as a friendly match, especially with the kids who come up and they are here for one night or so. It’s an adjustment for them, but the most important thing for us is to give our reserves a match.”
Williams was named the second player in RSL team history, and first pick of the 2005 MLS expansion draft when the new Salt Lake team took him from the Chicago Fire. The Jamaican international also played with Columbus, Miami, New England and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars before finishing his career in Salt Lake in 2011. The well-traveled, fan-favorite Toronto native amassed 332 regular season appearances in MLS, which ranks 10th in league history.
Through his long career, Williams has played with 11 players on RSL's active roster. Almost immediately after announcing his retirement, he was moved to RSL's scouting department, where he worked extensively with the team's Arizona-based academy. The familiarity with the players and continuity with the club have made his transition to the touchline easy.
“Apart from being good players, we have great guys off the field," Williams said. "It’s a little bit easier to say what you want to say, and they take it in and soak it up. You aren’t getting much of a fight back, or any animosity towards the directions they gave you. They accept it, and soak it up. If they use it, we will see.”
Those same players who saw Williams as a fiery competitor and strong locker room presence have enjoyed getting to know "coach Bomma" — even if they don't recognize a change in the man they once worked alongside in the same midfield.
“He’s just being himself," RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said of Williams. "We don’t see him as much anymore, but he’s still our friend, and we’ve always had respect for him. That will continue whether he’s a player or coach.”
Beckerman added Williams' transition to the coaching staff has been "natural" and an extension of the team's philosophy of a tight, close-knit family.
"Andy’s been the same; he’s been the same person that we’ve known all along," Beckerman said. "That’s really important; if you have somebody change, it’s not natural. I think Andy’s been true to himself, and it’s been great for the transition that he’s made."
Williams still doesn't see himself as "coach Bomma." But that's not such a bad thing for the man who spent nearly half his playing career in Salt Lake City.
“I’m not here to coach them," Williams said. "I’m just here to guide them to be what they want to be.” Sean Walker is a local news writer at KSL.com and Real Salt Lake beat reporter. Follow him on Twitter @ReporterSean.
