Sporting Kansas City continues to mourn the passing of Ron Newman, the club's first head coach who died Monday at age 84 in Tampa, Florida.
In the space below, four former Kansas City players reflect on Newman's life and legacy as a free-spirited soccer pioneer who played an integral role in advancing the game during Major League Soccer's early years.
Sean Bowers (1996-99), Jake Dancy (1997-99), Diego Gutierrez (1996-97) and Digital Takawira (1996-99) all played under Newman during his stint as Kansas City's first head coach from 1996-1999. Collectively they remember Newman as a vibrant personality whose enthusiasm for the game was unmatched.