Galaxy President Dies During Flight to L.A.
Doug Hamilton, president and general manager of the Galaxy, died Thursday evening while on a flight back to Los Angeles from San Jose, Costa Rica, where the team had played a CONCACAF Champions Cup game Wednesday night. He was 43.
The preliminary cause of death was listed as an apparent heart attack. Hamilton had slumped over in his seat only four minutes into the flight.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. March 11, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday March 11, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 46 words Type of Material: Correction
Soccer -- In some editions of Sports on Friday, an article on the death of Galaxy General Manager Doug Hamilton gave the impression that Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, was quoted. The article did not contain a Garber quote; the words were the reporter’s.
According to Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson, a team doctor who was aboard the LACSA aircraft tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate him, after which the plane’s captain decided to return to the San Jose airport.
Hamilton had become one of Major League Soccer’s brightest and most successful executives during his seven years in the league. He guided the Galaxy to championship seasons in 2002 and 2005, when the team also won the U.S. Open Cup.
He twice was named the league’s executive of the year, and under him the Galaxy became the first team to show a profit in the 10-year history of MLS.
“His passion was the Galaxy,” Sampson said in telephone interview from Costa Rica. “In retrospect, it’s fitting that we won a championship for him this past year because he was so passionate about this team and loved every single player and the organization.
“He will be dearly, dearly missed. This team is in absolute shock right now.”
Afshin Ghotbi was an assistant coach on the Galaxy’s 2005 championship side and now serves South Korea’s World Cup team in a similar role. “I am at a loss for words,” he said by e-mail from Seoul. “I send my deepest condolences and prayers to his family. Doug Hamilton was ... a friend, mentor and an inspiration. I will miss him very much.”
Hamilton’s warm and outgoing personality made him popular with everyone he encountered, and he was considered a fast-rising star within the ranks of AEG, the Galaxy’s parent company.
“He had a profound impact not only on the Galaxy but on getting the Home Depot Center built,” Tim Leiweke, AEG’s president and chief executive, said late Thursday night. “But I think more than anything he was a wonderful father.
“He was a good vibrant young man in good health. You assume God has a purpose here, but obviously it’s a very devastating loss for soccer in this country, for the league, for the Galaxy and for our organization”
Similar sentiments were voiced by Hamilton’s MLS colleagues. Former Galaxy vice president Whit Haskell, now president and general manager of Chivas USA, which shares the Home Depot Center with the Galaxy, had worked alongside Hamilton for the last four years.
“I’m one of many people who owe Doug a lot,” Haskell said. “Doug built an unbelievable organization. The Galaxy needed some incredible leadership and Doug came in and he gave it that. He knew exactly what he wanted. He was a very honest and direct manager.”
There was another side to Hamilton, though, Haskell said. “As a father and friend, he was a really caring guy,” he said. “He was a friend. I owe him so much.
“One other thing that struck me about Doug from the start was the amazing respect that he had from people throughout the soccer community -- players, administrators and fans.”
The Galaxy players and coaching staff were scheduled to remain in Central America until Monday to continue training for the April 1 season opener. Sampson said the team had suspended all activities, however, and would fly back to Los Angeles this evening.
Hamilton is survived by his wife, Paige, and their 5-year-old son, Aedan.
