MLS Galaxy President & GM DOUG HAMILTON died Thursday at the age of 43 after suffering a heart attack. A three-time MLS Exec of the Year, Hamilton joined the team in January ’02 after serving as MLS Fusion Exec VP & GM. Before joining MLS, Hamilton was at adidas America for six years. Hamilton was returning to L.A. from Costa Rica, where the team had played in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. The Galaxy planned to stay in Costa Rica through Monday to continue training for the MLS season, but will return to L.A. Friday night (Galaxy). AEG President & CEO TIM LEIWEKE said, “It’s a very devastating loss for soccer in this country, for the league, for the Galaxy and for our organization. ... He had a profound impact not only on the Galaxy but on getting the Home Depot Center built” (L.A. TIMES, 3/10). Galaxy coach STEVE SAMPSON said Hamilton was “one of the true pioneers of the game and one that will be dearly dearly missed.” MLS Commissioner DON GARBER said Hamilton’s “legacy of passion and dedication to the sport will always be remembered” (MLSNET.com, 3/10).
