Coaches
Fernando Clavijo
Head Coach
Fernando Clavijo, a former United States National Team defender who joined the Colorado Rapids as Head Coach in 2005, will lead the team for a fourth Major League Soccer season.
During his first two years at the helm of the team, Clavijo was able to gather a group of players that discovered their true potential and made it to the Western Conference Championship, only to be defeated by the eventual MLS Champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005 and Houston Dynamo in 2006. In 2007, Clavijo’s charges missed the playoffs by just five points and were not eliminated from post season contention until
the team’s final game.
Among the key acquisitions made by Clavijo have been the successful signings of midfielders Christian Gomez, Dedi Ben-Dayan and Terry Cooke and forward Nicolas Hernandez. His well-trained eye for scouting talent has brought young stars such as Jacob Peterson, Dan Gargan and Bouna Coundoul to Colorado.
Clavijo, a 15-year veteran player of the U.S. Soccer National Team, the American Soccer League, the North American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League, was elected to the Hall of Fame on June 8, 2005 and was inducted on August 29 of the same year.
Clavijo most recently held the head coaching position with the Haitian National Team that participated in the first round of the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers. While in this role, Clavijo brought together scattered Haitian soccer talent from around the world and despite political turmoil in the country, was able to field a team that featured rising stars such as striker Jean Philippe Peguero. He led the team to a 2-1-1 record during the World Cup Qualifiers (10-2-2 overall) that left Haiti short of the Second Round.
During his MLS experience, Clavijo served three seasons as the head coach of the New England Revolution, from 2000 to 2002. With Clavijo at the helm, the Revolution produced some of their most impressive accomplishments.
In 1998, Clavijo served as an assistant coach and helped lead the Nigerian National Team to the World Cup in France, advancing to the Round of Sixteen, beating European heavyweights Spain and Bulgaria along the way.
Clavijo began his coaching career in 1989 while still a player, and began to focus full-time on coaching after his retirement at the age of 38, which took him to the Pacific Northwest in 1994. He was head coach of the expansion Seattle Seadogs of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL), and in just three years, he led the Seadogs to an impressive 27-7 record and the CISL Championship. In recognition of this great accomplishment, he was named the 1997 Coach of the Year.
As a player, Clavijo has an equally impressive resume. After starting his professional career at the age of 16 in Uruguay, Clavijo and his wife, Martha, moved to the United States in 1979. At age 22, he began his professional career in the United States. During the 80’s, as a member of the NY Arrows, San Jose Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm and the Los Angeles Lazers, Clavijo was one of the top players in the history of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He was named to the All-Star Team 12 times, while also being tabbed the MISL Defender of the Year on three occasions. In 1990, MISL named him its player of the decade for the 1980’s. In 1994, his dream of playing in a World Cup came true, as he started and played the full 90 minutes in the U.S.A.’s historic upset of Colombia in the 1994 USA World Cup.
John Murphy
Asst. Coach & Director of Player Development 
As one of the longest serving coaches in Major League Soccer, John Murphy is back for a fourth season with the Rapids, and ninth season overall. As Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development, his responsibilities include work with the first team, head coach of the Rapids Reserve Team and director of the Rapids Youth Academy.
Since joining Colorado in 2005, the Rapids have advanced to the Western Conference Finals twice, and under Fernando Clavijo’s guidance he has helped put together three stellar MLS SuperDrafts. Each has yielded several regular contributors to the first team, and created the backbone of the Rapids MLS Reserve League Championship teams in 2006 and 2007.
In 2004, the Quincy, Massachusetts native played a vital role as Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach with the Columbus Crew. During his time with the Crew, Murphy helped lead the team to an 18-game unbeaten streak, winning the MLS Supporter’s Shield, and setting an MLS record under the helm of Head Coach Greg Andrulis.
Prior to joining the Crew, Murphy served as Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach of the New England Revolution under Fernando Clavijo (2000-2002) and Steve Nicol (2002-2003). In his four seasons, the Revolution won the 2002 Eastern Conference Championship, and were finalists in the 2001 US Open Cup and 2002 MLS Cup. His knowledge of the college game assisted both head coaches in drafting players such as Taylor Twellman, Sharlrie Joseph, Pat Noonan, Clint Dempsey and Andy Dorman in a three year span.
The author of “The Full Season Goalkeeper Training Program,” published by World Class Coaching, and the “Murphy’s Logic” book and DVD series through TrinityOne Marketing of Boston, Massachusetts. As a National Staff Coach for the NSCAA, he is in demand year round for coaches’ clinics and symposiums.
Murphy holds a U.S. Soccer “A” License, a UEFA “A” License from the Scottish Football Association, an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, and an English Football Association “A” Goalkeeper Coaching License. He will complete the prestigious UEFA Pro Badge program with the Scottish Football Association in August 2008.
John and his wife Erin live in Commerce City with their two boys, Shay (five years old) and Eamon, (two years old).
Gary Smith
Assistant Coach
Gary Smith comes to the Rapids with ten years of experience as a professional player and full-time coach in the English FA. His responsibilities include supporting head coach Fernando Clavijo and first assistant John Murphy with the Rapids’ first team. In addition to his first team duties, Smith will also establish the Arsenal Center of Excellence and develop the Arsenal Cup, a club tournament that will be open to American club teams from all over the United States and that will be hosted at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
A UEFA “A” badge holder, Smith began his coaching career with Wimbledon F.C. as a senior level coach. In 2004, he became the assistant first team coach for the Wycombe Wanderers. Following the resignation of Wycombe head coach Tony Adams, Smith filled the role as interim head coach leading the club to a 4-0 record under his leadership.
Smith moved to the position of reserve team coach for Watford F.C in 2005. During his first season with the club, the First Team was promoted to the Premiership.
Throughout 2007, Smith served as a scout for the Rapids’ partner club Arsenal F.C in Spain.
As a professional player, Smith spent four years with Fulham, two years with Barnet F.C. and one year with Colchester United.
Brian Crookham
Director of Coaching, Rapids Youth Academy
Brian Crookham joined the Rapids staff full-time in May of 2007 as the Rapids Youth Academy’s Director of Coaching.
He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Youth Academy and will work with Director of Player Development John Murphy to form a fully-integrated player development structure for the Colorado Rapids.
For the three years prior to coming to the Rapids full-time, Crookham was the Assistant Technical Director for Colorado Youth Soccer. There he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Olympic Development Program and worked in coaching education.
Crookham has also served as the color analyst for Rapids television broadcasts on Altitude Sports and Entertainment since 2004.
Prior to his stint at Colorado Youth Soccer, Crookham served as the Men’s Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Metropolitan State College in Denver. During his nine-year tenure, the soccer team became nationally-recognized, going from a team that had never before been ranked to as high as number four in the NCAA Division II top 25. In 2000 the program made its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Crookham coached three All-Americans, eleven All-Midwest Region players and the 2001 RMAC Player-of-the-Year. The program was also recognized nationally with Academic Honor Awards in each of the last three seasons he was there. In his role as Assistant Athletic Director, he was responsible for managing the student-athlete eligibility, academic progress, and NCAA rules compliance for the school.
A USSF “A” Licensed coach, Crookham also serves as a USYS Region IV staff coach and an instructor in both state and national coaching education programs for US Soccer.
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brian currently resides in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his wife Michelle and their three children, Connor, 5, and 2 year old twins Beth and Sean.
Brett Jacobs
Assistant Director, Youth Academy
Brett Jacobs begins his first season in MLS joining the Rapids as Assistant Director, Youth Academy in November 2007. Jacobs will coach the Rapids U16 team in the Development Academy and assist with the development of the vertically integrated club.
As a semi-professional player and professional coach, he carries fifteen years domestic and international experience.
Jacobs comes to Colorado having previous served as the Director of Coaching for the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association from 2005 to 2007. During his two-year stint in Michigan, he also worked as the First Team Coach for the Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer Leagues, PDL- winning a national championship in 2006 and finishing as national finalists in 2007.
Prior to his tenure in Michigan, Jacobs coached full-time for London’s Wimbledon Football Club in the English F.A. Academy system from 2002-2004. He has previous experience as the Assistant Director of Coaching for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association from 1999-2002 and working as an Academy Director/Player/Coach in the Mass Premiere Soccer Inc. from 1996-2001.
Jacobs began his career as the Director of Player Development for the Pensacola Soccer Complex, before moving on to work as an Assistant Coach for the University of West Florida from 1995-1996.
A graduate of the University of Alabama in Telecommunications, Jacobs is a USSF A licensed coach, holds the UEFA B and is currently taking the UEFA A license through the English Football Association. His playing experience spans over a decade and a half with stops in Ryman Premier and Dr. Marten semi professional leagues in London England USL Division II, Eastern Indoor Professional Soccer League, USISL Premiere Development League and NCAA Division I at the University of South Alabama.
Brett and his wife Jennifer live in Denver with their son Finn (3 years old). They are expecting a new addition to their young family in March.