The Red Bulls head coaching search was a colossal roller coaster for the organization and their fans. The search for an assistant was similarly turbulent with various names being linked to a wide open and undefined staff.

New York surprised many by choosing local boy and fan favorite Mike Petke to lead the team this season.

Will the technical staff hirings earn similar plaudits?

It may not take long to find out. Both Petke and Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh hope to reveal their choices very soon.

“Andy and I have spoken a lot before my appointment (about the technical staff),” Petke explained. “We are well advanced at that stage right now. We have select people we have our eye on and I think it’s going to be sooner than later – much sooner than later – that we have that in place”

Many names have been floated for the slot. Claudio Reyna was a prominent candidate until he reportedly rejected the team’s offer. Former Red Bull and Metrostar keeper Tony Meola has also been on the team’s radar, recently meeting with Roxburgh behind closed doors at Red Bull Arena. Head Coaching candidates like Jesse Marsch and Robin Fraser could be suitable options for the job after being passed over for the top position as well.

Amongst all the speculation, one thing is certain; since coming onto the fold and being tasked with the coaching search, Roxburgh has entertained many candidates with a specific criteria in mind.

“It will be someone with MLS experience, someone in the U.S.,” he said. “We want to have that in place as fast as possible.

“I have spoken to quite a number of the other players that have played for the club, good guys by the way, who feel a passion for this franchise,” he revealed. “I have already had discussions with a number of people even before Mike and I spoke about him being Head Coach. Even in the last 24 hours, Mike and I have been talking a lot about who that can be, certain criteria we would like to have in place.”

As we have reported throughout the offseason, Roxburgh has a vision for a cultural change within the club centered around an American core. Petke’s hiring is a major part of that, and the coaching staff will likely follow that model.

“New York can’t be a satellite club for Europe,” he said. “It is a club that needs to have it’s own roots.

“The more we can build up – we can’t do it over night – but the end would be to make sure the heart and soul of this club is American based,” he continued. “That’s why this is another element to this jigsaw puzzle and that is to put Mike in the head coaching role.”