In February 2016, the New York Red Bulls announced a restructuring of their youth development system. Included in that restructuring was the news that long-serving academy director, Bob Montgomery, would take on a new role as the Director of Coaching Education and Youth Partnerships. This transition would see him vacating his position as academy director, one he had held since 2007 when he took over from Giovanni Savarese when he left the club.

The announcement stated, “The search for a new academy director will begin immediately.”

Since then, nothing. No announcement, not even a rumor. In the nearly 11 months since the announcement, it would appear the New York Red Bulls done without a full-time academy director.

Roughly four and a half months before Montgomery’s new role was announced, FC Dallas promoted one of its youth coaches, Luchi Gonzalez, to the position of academy director. On Tuesday (January 10th), FC Dallas President, Dan Hunt, announced a three-year contract extension for Luchi.

To recap: in 11 months, the New York Red Bulls reassigned their academy director, and have not hired a replacement; In 15 months, FC Dallas has promoted someone to the position of academy director, seen him succeed, and signed him to a new three-year contract.

Once A Metro does not know why RBNY has apparently decided to let its academy run without a director, and the club has yet to reply to a request for comment on the matter. Absent word to the contrary, it looks like there is a rather academy-director-sized hole in the New York brains trust - and it is time to fix that.