Cassella Named Sounder Assistant -- Bothell High Coach Considers Return As Player In Planned Women's League

Gina Cassella's appointment as an assistant coach for the Seattle Sounders can be viewed as a natural progression for someone who has kicked down perceived barriers in soccer all her life.

In fact, don't be surprised if that pattern continues. Cassella and the Sounders say she may figure prominently if the newly formed American Professional Soccer League franchise pursues a team in a women's pro league. Cassella could be involved as a coach or a player.

"If we did bring a women's team in, she'd be a logical choice as head coach," Sounder Coach Alan Hinton said. "But she also might want to play. She's young enough, and her knee problems are getting better. We didn't bring her in for these reasons, but it's possible."

Cassella, 28, agreed. "I might want to play. I had four knee surgeries this winter, and have had a total of six operations on it. But believe it or not, it is pretty healthy right now."

Cassella and Hinton emphasize that she was hired to coach the Sounders. And even though she hasn't been able to commit to her new job full time while she prepares her Bothell High School boys team for Friday's KingCo Conference title game against Newport and the state playoffs, both think it's a good fit.

"She's a breath of fresh air around the place," Hinton said. "We split 22 players into three groups in practice (last night). All of them wanted to go work with her. And I think she worked her group harder than the other two. She's great."

She's also used to challenges. Cassella twice won All-American honors at Mariner High School and set a league scoring record with 34 goals her junior year. Her college career at Cal Santa Barbara was cut short by a serious knee injury her freshman season, but she later landed a spot on the U.S. women's national team.

In an eight-year coaching career, she oversaw Bothell's girls team for three years, and became one of the only women to coach a boys team, first with the junior varsity, then with the varsity at Bothell High School. She guided the Cougars to an 10-1-3 record, the state playoffs and their first KingCo championship game this season.

NOTES

-- The Sounders will play their first exhibition match Saturday at 7 p.m. at Renton Stadium against the University of Washington. Tickets $5 for adults, $2 for children. Proceeds benefit the Sounders' innercity program.

-- Escorted by local soccer organizers, a Major League Soccer official toured Memorial Stadium and one other Seattle-area outdoor venue under consideration as interim sites for a team when the league debuts in 1995. Bill Sage, chief operating officer for the MLS, said he was encouraged by improvements planned for Memorial Stadium to replace the artificial turf, widen the field area and eliminate the crown in the middle.

He was less enthusiastic about Sealth Stadium in West Seattle, which, although it has the preferred grass surface, requires many more upgrades than Memorial Stadium.

"We (at the MLS) have got our ideal sitation, which is 20,000 seats with grass," Sage said. "But if someone wants to propose something other than grass we'll take a look at it."

Seattle is one of 28 cities that has expressed interest in bidding for an MLS franchise by the May 17 deadline. The MLS, sanctioned as Division I by the U.S. Soccer Federation, plans to have teams in 12 cities.

Alan Hinton, president of the Seattle Sounders, objects to the MLS's pursuit of Memorial Stadium. The American Professional Soccer League team plans to begin play this summer at Memorial Stadium, the Tacoma Dome and Kingdome.

"We play in Memorial Stadium," he said. "I don't think they're very concerned about our feelings."