- (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rapids named Gary Smith, who was the club's interim manager for the final 11 matches of the 2008 season, the sixth head coach in team history Tuesday. Smith served as the Rapids' interim coach after Fernando Clavijo stepped down. Under Smith, Colorado tied for the fourth most points earned in Major League Soccer and worked its way back into the postseason race.

Smith's record of 5-4-2 included a month of undefeated play in September and three road victories. By comparison, the Rapids had only one road win in nine matches before Smiths arrival.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that the Rapids organization have extended to me over the past season and for the prospect of managing this club next season and beyond," Smith said. "I truly believe in the players that we have and our abilities to focus our efforts to reach what we all know this group is capable of achieving."

Originally joining the Rapids organization in February 2008, Smith brought with him 10 years of experience as a professional player and full-time coach in the English FA. As a professional player, he spent four years with Fulham.

"Over the course of this past year, we have asked Gary to take on many new and difficult challenges within our club," Rapids managing director Jeff Plush said. "His leadership and coaching, as well as the team's response to him on the pitch, were all the proof we needed as an organization to let us know that Gary was the right choice to lead our club moving forward."



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