Jesse Marsch wins 2015 MLS Coach of the Year

Jesse Marsch has claimed the 2015 MLS Coach of the Year award in his first season in charge of the New York Red Bulls.

(Courtesy: New York Red Bulls)

They won the Supporters' Shield for best overall record this year under Marsch, who replaced fan favorite Mike Petke on the bench.

Petke was fired abruptly after guiding the Red Bulls to the Eastern Conference final. Supporters demanded answers and hurled criticism at a town hall meeting in January with club executives, goalkeeper Luis Robles, and Marsch himself.

The 42-year-old wasn't initially accepted as Petke's successor, and had to win over skeptical fans with results.

"They've stuck with the club, and I think they were at a point where they'd had enough," Marsch said. They've stuck with our club for 20 years, through a change in ownership, through many different coaching changes."

The turnaround came quickly. New York jumped out to a seven-match unbeaten streak to start the campaign - the longest in the league this year - and finished strong with a 14-5-1 record over its last 20 games of the regular season.

Now the Red Bulls are searching for an elusive first MLS Cup, but they face the daunting task of reversing a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of the conference final against Columbus.