The big news dropped, the Chicago Stars FC part ways with head coach Lorne Donaldson. The news, while surprising, it’s not shocking. The team has been off to a brutal start. Sitting at the bottom of the league table with three points only. The team has only three goals in six games. Not good.
Donaldson was brought in to change the culture and set a new path for the organization. He only lasted a season and a quarter before his dismissal. Donaldson managed to get the Stars into the postseason last year, but were ousted by the eventual champion Orlando Pride.
Was it fair that Donaldson only managed to get a season and six games into this campaign? That’s debatable. The Stars stumbled at the end last season and limped into the playoffs. This season was a disaster of a start and something needed to be changed.
Granted, in Donaldson’s defense, the team has been without their star player Mallory Swanson all season. There has been a lot of roster turnover and changes and injuries to key players. Ultimately it’s all about winning and finding ways to win, many of the losses had been lopsided and at home.
First assistant coach, Masaki Hemmi, will serve as interim head coach while the team searches for a replacement. Up next, the Stars will head to New Jersey to face Gotham City FC.