Ben Olsen out as D.C. United head coach amid miserable campaign

After a decade on the D.C. United touchline, Ben Olsen has been relieved of his duties as head coach, the club announced Thursday.

Assistant coach Chad Ashton has taken over the helm on an interim basis. D.C. United and Olsen are "working together to determine a new role for him within the organization," the club's statement read.

The decision to relieve Olsen of his coaching duties comes on the back of a 4-1 defeat to New York City FC that leaves D.C. United sitting last in the Eastern Conference with just two wins from 16 matches this season.

Asked earlier in the week about his team's poor campaign, the former midfielder said he wasn't thinking about his job security.

"This isn't about me," Olsen told reporters Tuesday, according to MLSSoccer.com's Tom Bogert. "I say this year after year. We have sharp owners; they know what's best for this club. When my time is done, it'll be done. It's as simple as that. I don't spend a lot of time on that. It's wasted energy. It's part of the job. I put quite a lot of pressure on myself to succeed for this club, for the fans. I've done that for 20 years. When that transition happens, it'll happen. I'll walk away happy with my time here. I'll rest knowing I gave this club everything I had."

Olsen, who made 256 appearances with the club over 11 seasons during his playing career, transitioned to coaching after his retirement. Initially an assistant, he was promoted to interim head coach in August 2010 after the firing of Curt Onalfo. The interim tag was removed later that year.

He compiled a 131-89-144 record as D.C. United's bench boss, winning the U.S. Open Cup in 2013, but failing to reach the MLS Cup final.