[MLS] Denis Hamlett didn't need much time to find a new job. The former Fire head coach, who interviewed for the then-vacant Colorado Rapids job after he’d left his assistant-coach position in Vancouver, has been hired as an assistant in Montreal.

Hamlett, 42, joins Mike Sorber and Mauro Bielllo as assistants on the staff of head coach Jesse Marsch. Hamlett is the only one with MLS head coaching experience, having led the Fire to consecutive Eastern Conference titles in 2008 and 2009 with a combined regular-season record of 24-17-19.

“We are extremely excited to add a coach like Denis Hamlett to our coaching staff,” said Marsch in a team press release announcing the hire. “We know the experience and knowledge that he brings will be a great addition to the team. Many of us have worked with Denis before, making him a very good fit for our group.”

The native of Costa Rica played college soccer at George Mason University, and played lower-division and indoor soccer before being selected by Colorado in the inaugural 1996 MLS Draft. He played two seasons before suffering a stroke caused by blood protein deficiency and deciding to retire.

After 10 seasons (1998-2007) as a Fire assistant coach, Hamlett took over as head coach and after departing the Fire coached one season with the Illinois Institute of Technology before being hired as an assistant by Vancouver. The ‘Caps started the 2011 season with Teitur Thordarson as head coach, replaced him after 12 games with director of soccer operations Tom Soehn, and then hired Martin Rennie to take over for the 2012 season. Hamlett and fellow assistant coach Colin Miller were let go by Vancouver in late October.

Hamlett is in Florida with the Impact coaching staff, which also includes goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo and fitness coach Adam Rotchstein. The Impact holds the No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft, to be conducted Thursday in Kansas City.