Oscar Pareja Reportedly Hired As New Colorado Rapids Head Coach

Read More: Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas

It looks like the Colorado Rapids will finally name a head coach, with FC Dallas academy director Oscar Pareja apparently the man for the job, according to a report in the Denver Post. The move comes with less than two weeks before MLS teams are allowed to open training camp and would signal a significant change in direction for the Rapids.

Assuming this report is true, this would seem to be a positive move for a team that has gained a reputation as one of the more physical in the league under the guidance of former head coach Gary Smith. Pareja is a product of South American soccer, having played professionally in Colombia and for the Colombian national team. At the same time, he's much more of a MLS insider than Smith, logging more than 170 MLS appearances from 1998-2005 and working with Dallas' academy.

The Rapids, who have undergone a rather significant amount of change this offseason, reportedly interviewed Dennis Hamlett, Tom Soehn and Richie Williams in recent weeks. Like Pareja, and unlike Smith, all of these candidates had significant MLS experience.

For more on Pareja's signing, be sure to check out Rapids blog Burgundy Wave and FC Dallas blog Big D Soccer.