Lazers Choose Keith Tozer as Coach and Sign Him to a 1 1/2-Season Contract

As expected, the Lazers announced Monday that Keith Tozer would replace Peter Wall as coach of the Major Indoor Soccer League club. His contract will run through next season.

Tozer, 29, formerly player-coach of the Louisville Thunder of the American Indoor Soccer Assn., becomes the Lazers’ second coach and the league’s only American-born coach.

Of the challenge associated with coaching the last-place Lazers (6-18), who have lost eight straight games, Tozer said that the Lazers would work harder than they had under his predecessor, or else.

“I’ve seen them play and I think there’s a lot of talent on the team, but they need new direction and lots of practice,” he said. “I have to find out who’s a winner, and if a player doesn’t perform or give 100%, maybe he should be somewhere else.”

Tozer, who played six seasons in the MISL, led the Thunder to the AISA championship series the last two years and the team is atop the Southern Division at 18-9. His overall record with the club was 75-42.

Said Lazer President Jim Buss: “If I get .500 for the rest of the season, I’ll be happy.”

Tozer’s Lazers will get their first test Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Forum against the 2-22 New York Express.