The club announced Friday morning that its technical director, Eric Wynalda, will be on the bench for the final time when FC Edmonton comes to town this Saturday. He will continue to hold his title as technical director, but that role won’t include coaching the team.
Jason Smith, who coached the Silverbacks from 2005-2008, will begin his second stint as the club’s head coach, replacing Wynalda on the bench for the remainder of the season.
Wynalda took over the club’s coaching responsibilities before the season and implemented a system that would see him manage the team during games and key practices. The former U.S. Men’s National Team star, who also serves as a TV analyst for FOX Sports, began to see his schedule shift as the NASL Spring Season wore on.
Smith is very familiar with the Silverbacks organization, having managed the team in USL play for four seasons. Under Smith, the Silverbacks reached the 2007 USL Final, where they would eventually fall to Seattle Sounders FC. A former standout as a player at Truett-McConnell College, Smith has also been at the helm of two collegiate programs: Piedmont College and Pfeiffer University.
The Silverbacks host FC Edmonton at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
The Sports Inquirer 
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