The Chicago Stars recently announced they have parted ways with head coach Lorne Donaldson. The move was made due to the team`s disappointing performance this season, though the timeline for appointing a permanent replacement remains uncertain.
Stars general manager Richard Feuz addressed the media to explain the decision to dismiss the former Jamaica head coach, just six weeks into the 2025 season. The Stars had managed only one win in six matches, leaving them in last place in the league standings. This poor start contrasts sharply with the 2024 season, when Donaldson guided the team to an eighth-place finish and a return to the playoffs.
While the general manager expressed gratitude for Donaldson`s contributions, he emphasized the lack of on-field progression as the key factor behind the change.
Performance as the Driving Factor
According to Feuz and sources within the club, Donaldson was initially brought in to provide stability during the team`s rebuilding phase. He successfully fostered a positive team culture and boosted confidence in the locker room. However, the team`s recent struggles, including nine losses in their last ten matches dating back to 2024, prompted the front office to make a change.
The general manager acknowledged Donaldson`s positive impact in bringing joy and energy to the club but stressed that professional soccer ultimately demands performance. He cited data indicating that the team was not showing sufficient progress in crucial areas such as possession and control of the game.
The Stars have scored a mere three goals in six games this season, a statistic that clearly highlights the team`s offensive difficulties. Feuz conceded that injuries, including the absence of key goalscorer Mallory Swanson, played a role, but maintained that the existing roster was capable of achieving more.
“We expected more progression on our team, on the way to play, on the way to control the game, on the way to be more proactive on the ball,” he stated.
Interim Management and the Search for a New Coach
When discussing the search for a new head coach, the general manager did not provide a specific timeline, indicating that the club intends to take its time to find the ideal candidate. He reaffirmed his support for the remaining coaching staff and the current roster. Feuz mentioned that the club would observe how the team performs in the coming weeks before finalizing the direction of their coaching search.
In the interim, assistant coach Masaki Hemmi has been appointed as the acting head coach while the club seeks a permanent replacement. Feuz commended Hemmi`s leadership qualities and communication skills, describing him as a trusted figure within the locker room.
When asked about the characteristics the club is looking for in its next head coach, Feuz highlighted the importance of character and a clear playing identity.
“In the future, we`re going to look at, first of all, bringing a tremendous human being … I think that would be the first priority of this club. Obviously, having someone [with] shared values, not only on the pitch, but also off the pitch, of this club, and their ambition,” Feuz explained regarding the traits desired in the next Stars coach.
“Part of it will also be the playing style and the identity that we`re going to give to this team, not only in the next couple of months, but in the next couple of years, because we want to build something with identity. We want to build something that when people will see our team playing, they`re going to they`re going to be able to say, `Okay, that`s the Stars playing, because we have a strong identity on the pitch.`”
A Reality Check for the Rebuild
Despite the coaching change, Feuz has not given up on the current season, standing by his roster decisions and expressing belief that the club can still contend for a playoff spot. This marks the second year for both the new Stars ownership and the general manager, and Feuz reiterated the club`s longer-term vision.
“Obviously, with time in the mid and long term, we want to be sustainable. We want to build through stability and cohesion, but we also want to see progress on the pitch, and we want the best standard every single day at training in order to make sure we can also follow and build the methodology in principle we want for this team in the next couple of months and years,” Feuz stated.
“We all have to take ownership also of those results, from management, to the player, staff … but there is also the other part, the data part, on showing that the team for the last couple of months, and not only from the beginning of the season, is not, in our opinion, progressing enough on the pitch, and that`s why we took this decision.”
Looking Ahead
For the Stars, moving forward partly involves finding a leader capable of maximizing the current roster`s potential, implementing a winning strategy, and delivering results both now and in the future.
Lorne Donaldson`s dismissal represents a significant moment for Chicago Stars FC. While his time did contribute to resetting some aspects of the club`s culture, his departure underscores the persistent long-term challenges that go beyond simple rebranding. Attracting top players, maintaining a competitive environment, securing club-specific facilities, and consistently winning are the only clear indicators that the team has genuinely turned a corner – goals they are currently far from achieving.
