Austin FC names Josh Wolff as first head coach

AUSTIN (AP) — Former U.S. men's national team player and current assistant coach Josh Wolff will be the first head coach of Austin FC, the new Major League Soccer franchise that is scheduled to begin play in 2021.

Wolff's appointment was announced Tuesday. Austin FC will be MLS's 27th franchise when it takes the field. The league opted to expand rather than move the Columbus Crew, one of MLS's bedrock franchises, from Ohio to Texas after a determined effort by Crew fans to keep their team.

Wolff was a striker with the U.S. national team from 1999-2008 and was on the World Cup squads in 2002 and 2006. He scored nine goals in 52 appearances. He spent most of his professional career in MLS with…