This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

No longer in limbo, Jeff Cassar spoke of his emotions Wednesday. The three-year contract he signed in his first go as Real Salt Lake's head coach in Dec. 2013 was over, and the 42-year-old wanted desperately for another shot at continuing what he saw as an upward trajectory at RSL.

So when the phone call finally came Tuesday that he'd indeed be back in 2017 — and possibly beyond — Cassar said he was overwhelmed.

"There's only 22 jobs coaching in MLS, and to occupy one of them at RSL is very humbling," he told the Tribune. "We've been in talks about this now for about two to three months. I was confident that we would come to an agreement, but overall, just very humbled and very excited for what's in store for this club."

RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen announced Wednesday that Cassar would be back for a fourth year at the helm in Sandy. Terms of the deal were not initially disclosed, but a league source confirmed the deal is a one-year contract with an option beyond 2017.

During Cassar's tenure, RSL has gone 38-35-29 in regular-season play and has qualified for the MLS Cup postseason two out of the past three seasons. The club also advanced to the knockout stage in its most recent CONCACAF Champions League appearance in 2014-15.

And after two weeks of deliberation on the heels of RSL's 3-1 first-round playoff loss on Oct. 26, Hansen decided Cassar remains his man.

"Jeff deserves the 2017 year to continue our club's competitive growth," said Hansen in a club statement. "His body of work this year — despite the team's late-season slide — and the overwhelming endorsement of him by numerous voices in our locker room confirm my belief that his continuity and our foundation set up Claret-and-Cobalt success in an extremely competitive Western Conference next season."

RSL general manager Craig Waibel said Cassar's pitch to Hansen and the front office was a clear outlook for the club's transition into 2017. And Waibel said the players were in favor of Cassar returning next year, which factored into the decision.

"There was an overwhelming endorsement from the players themselves for the coaching staff," Waibel explained.

While RSL has been part of the MLS Cup playoffs two of the past three years, the postseason has been a struggle under Cassar. RSL is 0-2-1 in three postseason matches in which the club has been outscored 8-1. But inside the nearly-empty locker room after RSL's first-round playoff loss at L.A. two weeks ago, midfielder Luke Mulholland said he has faith in Cassar moving forward.

"I don't know any manager other than Jeff Cassar," Mulholland said. "He's the man for the job in my book."

"I've been able to see Jeff's evolution over the past three years, and he's really made some great strides in his coaching ability, which is very important," right back Tony Beltran said last week. "You have to be a very good leader of men to be in that role, so I hope [Cassar] has the opportunity to continue to grow."

Cassar said he believes RSL has taken "great strides" on the field, in the front office and throughout the organization as a whole during his three years as head coach. He said to qualify for the postseason two out of three years during a time of transition is something RSL "should be extremely proud of."

"I look forward to an even bigger jump next year," he added.

Waibel said the organization felt that the body of work in 2016 (12-12-10, 46 points) as well as the previous two seasons warranted Cassar continuing within the transformation process with the roster and in his evolving formation.

"All decisions will be based on performance and results moving forward," he said. "It's a deal for 2017 that I think will solely be judged on results."

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Jeff Cassar by the numbers:

2016 • 12-12-10, 46 points, 44 goals scored, 46 conceded, sixth overall in Western Conference, lost in first round to L.A. Galaxy

2015 • 11-15-8, 41 points, 38 goals scored, 48 conceded, missed postseason for first time in seven years

2014 • 15-8-11, 56 points, 54 goals scored, 39 conceded, third overall in Western Conference, lost in semifinal to L.A. Galaxy

CONCACAF Champions League • 3-1-2, lost to Tigres UANL in CCL quarterfinal

Overall • 38-35-29

MLS postseason • 0-2-1

U.S. Open Cup • 3-2-2