

Ben Olsen (By Darryl Dyck — Canadian Press)

D.C. United’s Ben Olsen entered last offseason saddled with the worst record in MLS history and a massive rebuilding project ahead of him. He will head into this winter’s break with the coach of the year award.

On Tuesday MLS saluted Olsen for lifting United from the depths of the league (three victories in 34 matches) to the peak of the Eastern Conference (17 wins), the greatest one-year regular season turnaround since the U.S. soccer circuit launched in 1996.

The voting, which involved club officials, players and reporters from around MLS, was predictably one-sided: Olsen received a weighted score of 103 points. Seattle’s Sigi Schmid was second with 47, followed by Columbus’ Gregg Berhalter with 35 and Dallas’ Oscar Pareja at 31.

Olsen is the first United coach to win the award since Bruce Arena in 1997. At 37, he is the youngest recipient ever, one month younger than Frank Yallop at San Jose in 2001.

“To be named coach of the year is an organizational honor that speaks to the success of D.C. United as a whole this season,” Olsen said in a written statement. “General Manager Dave Kasper set this team up for success, and the players, coaches and staff all delivered and have plenty to be proud of. I am thankful for the commitment and belief in me from the team’s ownership group — Erick Thohir, Jason Levien and Will Chang — and I am excited about the future of this great club.”

United finished third in the overall standings, five points behind Supporters’ Shield winner Seattle, before losing to the New York Red Bulls in the conference semifinals. D.C. also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League and qualified for the 2015-16 international tournament.

Despite the 2013 fiasco, United’s executive group maintained its faith in Olsen and Kasper. The duo charted a fresh course by dumping about half the roster and acquiring several veterans from around the league. On paper, United appeared on track to be competitive. It was Olsen’s job, though, to make it work, blending an eclectic mix of experienced newcomers with a core of returning young players.

After showing steady progress, United seized first place for good with a 3-0 victory at defending champion Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 23. Unbeaten in the final six regular season matches, United surpassed the 1999-2000 New York squad for the largest point increase in MLS history (plus-43 to New York’s plus-39, although the then MetroStars played two fewer matches).

In September, United rewarded Olsen with a five-year contract. His previous deal was to expire this month.

Olsen is the longest-serving head coach in club history with four full seasons. None of his predecessors served more than three.

In the other MLS individual award announced Tuesday, Portland’s Rodney Wallace edged New England’s Charlie Davies for comeback player of the year. Seattle’s Stefan Frei was third and United’s Chris Pontius fourth.