PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that Gavin Wilkinson will return as the club’s general manager and head coach for the 2010 USL First Division season. Timbers president Merritt Paulson made the announcement.

In three seasons as head coach, Wilkinson has led the Timbers to two USL First Division semifinals appearances and the 2009 Commissioner’s Cup as the regular-season champion. Wilkinson was named the USL First Division Coach of the Year following his first season at the helm in 2007, and is a finalist for the award in 2009. He has a combined 37-22-29 record through his first three seasons as head coach.

“It was a very easy decision to bring Gavin back,” said Paulson. “He has done an outstanding job putting a quality team together, he has achieved good results on the pitch and he represents the organization well in the community.”

Under Wilkinson in 2009, the Timbers assembled a league-record 24-match unbeaten streak; led the USL First Division in scoring with 45 goals, while sharing the league mark for fewest goals allowed (19); finished in first place with a record of 16-4-10 (58pts) and featured five all-league selections.

Wilkinson has been a member of the Timbers organization since it joined United Soccer Leagues in 2001. As a defender from 2001-06, Wilkinson ranks among Timbers career leaders in games (124) and minutes played (10,181) and served as a player/assistant coach during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. During his 13-year playing career, the New Zealand native traveled the world, playing professionally in six different countries and earned 38 international caps.

With several players returning from the 2009 season, including midfielders Tony McManus and Ryan Pore, Wilkinson already has a core of players in place for the 2010 campaign.