By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

A shakeup at the top has left West Seattle graduate Ian Russell as the interim head coach for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

Russell was promoted Monday from assistant when the club parted ways with head coach Luchi Gonzalez.

"Ian is a very experienced coach who knows our club better than anyone,"' said Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch in a press release.  "We're confident that he's ready to lead us, starting with this Saturday's game against LA at Stanford Stadium."

The Earthquakes are hosting the Los Angeles Galaxy in Palo Alto in their 50th anniversary game.

Russell was named one of San Jose's "50 Greatest Quakes" as a player to be honored at that match.

Russell is currently 48 years old and was born in Seattle on Aug. 30, 1975.

He played at the University of Washington and for the Seattle Sounders in 1998-1999 before joining the Earthquakes as a midfielder from 2000-2005.

Russell helped them win the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 and the Supporter's Shield in 2005.

Russell has been a San Jose assistant coach for parts of 11 seasons overall, and served as the interim head coach for two games in 2014.

His father, Dave Russell, still lives in West Seattle.