Martín Vasquez is no longer the coach of the Real Monarchs, the club announced Monday. Team officials named Jamison Olave the interim head coach.
Vasquez was hired in January to lead the Monarchs, a move the organization described as “ushering in a new era.” He did not last an entire season with the United Soccer League affiliate associated with Real Salt Lake.
Vasquez is credited with developing Real Salt Lake’s homegrown players, such as Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Brooks Lennon, Sebastian Saucedo and David Ochoa. Before becoming the Monarchs coach, he served as the director of the RSL Academy — first in Casa Grande, Ariz., then in Herriman.
“We want to thank Martin for his years of service to the club,” RSL Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Rob Zarkos said in a statement. “He was integral in building our Academy at Casa Grande, helping to design our ongoing development program and in assisting in the fundamental integration from the Academy, through the Monarchs and up to the first team. We wish Martin and his family nothing but success in their future endeavors.”
Under Vasquez’s leadership, the Monarchs had a 6-3-6 record and sat 12th in the Western Conference of the United Soccer League. The club won its last three games before the announcement of his departure.
This will be Olave’s second stint as interim coach of the Monarchs. Last May, he took over for Mark Briggs, who was suspended after The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Briggs was charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of domestic violence. Briggs later resigned after charges were dropped.
Wasatch Legion, a supporters group of the Monarchs, released a statement on Twitter late Monday calling for the return of Briggs as coach. The statement addressed the prior investigation and charges, which, per the statement, were “proven to be built on fabrications.”
The rest of the Monarchs coaching staff remains intact, per the club.
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