Donovan acknowledges ‘steep’ learning curve as Wave coach

San Diego Wave interim coach Landon Donovan knows he faces a “steep” learning curve when it comes to training NWSL players and acknowledges that process will have to happen fast and on the job.

The U.S. soccer legend, who will coach a professional women’s team for the first time, was announced as Wave’s new interim last Friday. Less than a week after his hiring, Donovan will make his debut on the sidelines Tuesday in a Concacaf W Champions Cup match against Santa Fe FC in Panama City, Panama.

“Steep, for sure,” Donovan said at his introductory press conference on Monday. “I have a baseline, I know a lot of the players here [in San Diego] from watching them throughout the last few seasons, but the rest of the league…I’m going to have to lean on people, and I’m getting up to speed fast.

“So I’ve watched a ton of film in the last two weeks trying to understand the league better.”

The 42-year-old will seek to revive the NWSL Shield holders that are currently outside of a playoff position. Past the halfway point of the regular season, the Wave have a 3W-6D-7L record.

“There’s gonna be lots of bumps on the road,” said Donovan. “You will not see a team that’s perfect tomorrow by any means, but there will be progress. I think it will be clear to see. And then ultimately, I think I don’t want to live in fear and we just want to be brave and go and try to do things the way that I know how to do.”

During Monday’s press conference, Donovan also shut down the notion that he sees the job as a stepping stone.

“I’ve been offered four MLS jobs in my life since I started coaching and turned down all of them, and there’s a few reasons,” Donovan said. “One is, in no particular order, I love San Diego. I love working with good people. I told [club president] Jill [Ellis] when I make a decision in my career, it’s about people, passion I have for it and the project.

“I met [sporting director and general manager] Cami [Ashton] and immediately we connected. I’ve known Alex [Morgan] for a long time, getting to know these women quickly, they’re incredible human beings.

“People questioned my motivation when I didn’t play in Europe my whole career, and I was happy to play in L.A. and help grow MLS around good people and have passion for a project that I believed in, and be close to my family. So I’m different in that way, I’ve always been different. I don’t worry about the next job or the next gig or what this means, or the stepping stone.”

If the job is any kind of stepping stone, it could be to a permanent role with the job he just took over, with Donovan hinting there’s a possibility he could stay on with the Wave in the future.

“The door is open, but what we’ve agreed on is through the end of the season and we’ll go from there,” said the MLS Cup champion with the LA Galaxy. “We’ve [Donovan and Ellis] both said, ‘look, if it goes well, let’s have the conversation. If it doesn’t, one side doesn’t want it or the other, no problem.’ There’s no hard feelings, and we’ll move on.”

Following Tuesday’s match in Panama, the Wave will return to NWSL play with a home game against Angel City FC on Aug. 24.

Donovan’s only coaching experience at the professional level was with the now defunct San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship from 2020-22. At international level, he is the only American to register 50-plus goals and assists for the United States.