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New Mexico men’s soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein said at the weekly coaches luncheon Tuesday he has interviewed for the head job with FC Dallas, a Major League Soccer franchise.
Fishbein, who has coached at UNM for the past 12 years, said he met with Dallas owners Clark and Dan Hunt about the coaching vacancy on Monday after being first contacted a week and a half ago.
The coach said he participated in the interview with the blessing from UNM athletic director Paul Krebs. Fishbein also informed his players of the interview beforehand, he said.
As of Tuesday, Fishbein said he has not been offered the position to replace Schellas Hyndman, who announced his retirement on Oct. 18. According to the Dallas Morning News, Hyndman will stay with the club as a consultant.
Before addressing the question about the interview, Fishbein gave a coy smile before answering. He repeatedly called it “flattering” to be interviewed for a professional club.
“It’s not a distraction. It’s a compliment,” Fishbein said. “And you know what? Opportunities will come, if that’s the direction I decide to take in my coaching career.”
Over 12 years Fishbein has amassed 164 wins and led the Lobos to the NCAA championship game appearance in 2005. This season Fishbein’s squad leads the Conference USA standings with a 6-1-1 mark. The Lobos (10-4-2 overall) can clinch the conference title with a win Saturday against Kentucky.
UNM moved into first place in C-USA after two big wins over Alabama-Birmingham and Old Dominion last week.
It is not unusual for college coaches to be contacted midseason about openings for MLS jobs, Fishbein said. The MLS regular season ended Oct. 27 and is currently in postseason play.
FC Dallas finished its season in eighth place in the Western Conference after an 11-12-11 record.
“It’s a different deal,” Fishbein said. “I see myself as an educator and I work for an educational institution. That’s very different than working for a professional sports organization, so I felt the timing was OK in that it wasn’t going to be a huge distraction to our guys.”
Fishbein said the interview was not only a compliment to his abilities, but to the soccer program and athletic department as a whole.
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“Couldn’t ask for anything more in support. It would take a hell of a lot to get me out of Albuquerque. I’ll tell you that.”
